Heart Diseases: Older People

(asked on 31st January 2017) - View Source

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of heart valve disease among people aged over 65 to ensure early diagnosis of that disease.


Answered by
 Portrait
David Mowat
This question was answered on 8th February 2017

Public Health England has recently run a Be Clear on Cancer campaign to raise awareness of respiratory symptoms, including breathlessness, which can be a symptom of heart disease.

The campaign aimed to encourage those with inappropriate breathlessness or a persistent cough lasting three weeks or more to go and see their general practitioner. It was primarily aimed at earlier diagnosis of heart and lung disease, including Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and cancer, with scope to reduce premature mortality and to improve the quality of life of those living with these conditions.

The activity is aimed at men and women who are over the age of 50 from lower socioeconomic groups, and their key influencers, such as friends and family.

The campaign ran from 14 July to 16 October 2016 and appeared on national television, radio, print, online and face-to-face events in shopping centres.

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