Investigation

Medical investigations take up a lot of time and does very little for your confidence, especially if at each test, the result suggests another test - ECG, ultrasound, treadmill, angiogram. This of course on top of cholesterol tests, blood pressure levels and heart pace tests. Everyone around you is worried, and you try to keep your nerve for their sake. You are not alone! Up and down the country there are Cardiac Support Groups and where there isn’t one, the Government has created the right environment for one to be formed in laying down the standards it requires for coronary care in the UK.

The British Heart Foundation is the focal point for Community-based Cardiac Support. It has lists of support groups around the UK (you can follow the link on my useful links page).

Why community-based, rather than using the professionals at the hospital? Because support groups are composed of people who have experienced everything you are going through whether a carer or a patient and can give you first hand advice on how to cope with your situation.

Whatever you are experiencing, someone has experienced it before. The angina pains, the shortness of breath, the swollen ankles and those operation pains after CABG. Carers have experienced the mood swings, frustrations and limitations of their partners, family members or friends.

Whatever your role in heart disease, Cardiac Support Groups are a must for your secondary and sustained rehabilitation. After all a trouble shared is a trouble halved. Cardiac support looks toward maximising your fitness, irrespective of your health handicap.