Graham Jackson - Heart Health

| Acknowledgements

It would have been impossible to write this book without the help of Richard Warner and the team at Class. They helped me write plain English and were supportive when it all seemed overwhelming. I am grateful to Ronnie Corbett for providing such a warm foreword. Dr Richard Wray, Dr Ian Baird, Tony Wierzbicki and Mike Kirby reviewed the text and provided extremely helpful suggestions and identied areas that I had not made clear or helpful. Azmina Govinda, with her expert knowledge as a consultant nutritionist, has made sure that the sections on diet and lifestyle make sense. I would like to thank Linda Moore for the delightful cartoons and David Woodroffe for the clear illustrations. I need to acknowledge all my patients who have gladly provided most of the questions and have in turn helped me answer them I hope in a way that is helpful and clear.

| Appendix 1

PRACTISING WHAT I PREACH

What do you do, as a doctor, to prevent heart disease?

W ith this question, people are really asking whether we, as doctors, follow our own advice. Not often, is the honest answer, but here is what I do. First, I have a family history of heart disease, so Im more concerned with prevention as a result. This is very important.

I dont smoke.

I avoid salt and salty foods.

I take regular exercise, walking briskly 2 miles a day, four times a week. I avoid lifts and take the stairs.

I watch my weight. I eat sensibly but am not obsessed about it (see ).

I enjoy wine.

I have my blood pressure checked once a year.

I try to stay calm!

What would you do if you had angina or a heart attack?

F irst, I would be disappointed that I had not been able to prevent it.

I d have my cholesterol checked again.

I would take aspirin and medications prescribed.

I would want to know how I did on an exercise test and how my pump performed on an echocardiogram.

What drugs would you take?

I would take aspirin, statin, ACE inhibitor or AII antagonists. I have mild asthma so I probably could not tolerate a beta-blocker.

Would you have an angiogram done?

I would not hesitate to have an angiogram or CT angiogram if this was recommended to determine the extent of the problem. I would want to look at it myself!

Would you have an angioplasty or surgery if recommended?

A gain, I would have no hesitation in agreeing to whatever is
appropriate. I would select my surgeon, cardiologist or anaesthetist carefully. I realise that I would have better information about this than a layman.

Would you return to your normal workload afterwards?

I would look carefully at my workload and almost certainly cut back on my commitments. I would try and reduce my hours, avoid committees and cut down on lectures and unnecessary travel. I would spend more time with my family, recognising that I should have done this much sooner. I would try to remember that no one on their deathbed wished they had spent more time at the ofce.

Do you think heart disease would affect you psychologically?

Y es. Like most doctors I have an unhealthy feeling of invincibility regarding my own health and it would shatter the myth! Being positive by nature would help me pick up the pieces, although I would have to recognise that those who told me so were right.

| Appendix 2
Useful addresses and websites

If you write for information from any of these organisations, it is helpful to enclose a large self-addressed envelope. We have not included email numbers as these change frequently.

American College of Cardiology

Website: www.cardiosmart.org

A highly recommended website for information, articles and news.

American Heart Association

7272 Greenville Avenue

Dallas

Texas TX 75321

Tel: 00 1 800 242 8721

Fax: 00 1 214-706-2139

Website: www.americanheart.org

Promotes healthier life styles by training volunteers throughout the USA.

ASH (Action on Smoking
and Health)

First Floor

144145 Shoreditch High Street

London E1 6JE

Helpline: 0800 169 0169

Tel: 020 7739 5902

Fax: 020 7729 4732

Website: www.ash .org.uk

National organisation with local branches. Campaigns on antismoking policies. Offers free information on website or for sale from H.Q. Catalogue on request.

Blood Pressure Association

60 Cranmer Terrace

London SW17 0QS

Tel: 020 8772 4994

Fax: 020 8772 4999

Website: www. bpassoc.org.uk

Offers information and fact sheets about high blood pressure and the various ways it can be treated. An SAE A4 size envelope requested with two rst class stamps.

British Acupuncture Council

63 Jeddo Road

London W12 9HQ

Tel: 020 8735 0400

Fax: 020 8735 0404

Website: www.acupuncture.org.uk

Professional body offering lists of qualied acupuncture therapists.

British Dietetic Association

5th Floor

Charles House

148149 Great Charles Street

Birmingham B3 3HT

Tel: 0121 200 8080

Fax: 0121 200 8081

Website: www.bda.uk.com

Professional association supporting dietitians.

British Heart Foundation

14 Fitzhardinge Street

London W1H 4DH

Helpline: 08450 708070

Tel: 020 7935 0185

Fax: 020 7486 5820

Website: www.bhf.org.uk

Publications order line:
0870 600 6566

Funds research, promotes education and raises money to buy equipment to treat heart disease. HeartstartUK arranges training in emergency life-saving techniques. To contact local support groups tel. 020 7487 7110. The BHF also produces education materials. For information or to order a Publications and videos catalogue, visit the website, or call the Publications orderline. You can download many of the publications from www.bhf.org.uk free of charge, though a donation is welcome.

British Herbal Medicine Association

PO Box 583

Exeter EX1 9GX

Tel: 0845 680 1134

Fax: 0845 680 1136

Website: www.bhma.info

Offers information , encourages research and promotes high quality standards. Advises members on legalities for importers, vets advertisements and defends the right
of the public to choose herbal medicines and be able to obtain them freely.

British Holistic Medical Association

PO Box

Bridgwater

Somerset TA6 9BG

Tel: 01278 722000

Website: www.bhma.org

Promotes awareness of the holistic approach to health among practitioners and the public through publications, self-help tapes, conferences and a network of local groups.

British Homeopathic Association

Hahnemann House

29 Park Street West

Luton LU1 3BE

Tel: 0870 444 3950

Fax: 0870 444 3960

Website: www.trusthomeopathy.org

Professional body offering lists of qualied homeopathic practitioners.

British Hypertension Society

Clinical Sciences Building

Level

Leicester Royal Infirmary

PO Box 65

Leicester LE2 7LX

Tel : 07717 467 973

Website: www.bhsoc.org

Professional body disseminating guidelines to health care professionals.

British Medical Acupuncture Society

BMAS House

3 Winningtom Court

Northwich

Cheshire CW8 1AG

Tel: 01606 786782

Fax: 01606 786783

Website: www.medical-acupuncture.co.uk

Professional body offering training to doctors and list of accredited acupuncture practitioners.

Cardiomyopathy Association

Unit 10, Chiltern Court

Asheridge Road

Chesham HP5 2PX

Tel: 01494 791224

Fax: 01494 797199

Website: www.cardiomyopathy.org

Offers information for health professionals; also support and information for people with cardiomyopathy and their families.

Chest, Heart and Stroke Association (N. Ireland )