The BHF Heart Hero Awards are here! Here are three inspiring BHF-funded projects shortlisted for the research award that are tackling some of the biggest challenges into heart and circulatory disease.
⭐ Professor Massimo Caputo at University of Bristol who has developed a ground-breaking 'heart plaster' that could stop children needing repeated heart surgeries.
⭐ Dr Rhodri Davies at UCL and Barts Heart Centre roll-out in the NHS of 'superhuman' 20 second AI to detect heart disease at record speed.
⭐ BHF Professor Hugh Watkins at University of Oxford and his CureHeart team’s £30m research to correct DNA mistakes in deadly inherited heart muscle diseases.
If you’d like to learn more about the research, you can also watch these short videos on the research here: youtube.com/playlist?list=P... and vote for your favourite research project by visiting bhf.org.uk/researchstoryvote. Voting closes on August 20th at 6pm.
Which is your favourite? Hope you all have a lovely week!
Thanks,
Amy
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Aww amazing I saw this on Instagram! ❤️ Amazing research there doing ground breaking! I think detecting heart disease at record speed is the way to go will save so many people!
Thank you for posting this. I think all 3 are incredibly inspiring and will help the heart community massively.
Hu @BeKind28-,
Thanks for your message.
Firstly, I am sorry to hear about how you are feeling in regards to MH. The BHF has some great resources on Mental health and your heart which can be found here: bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...
Unfortunately we have had to restrict some members due to recent innapropriate behaviour within the community. These members were sent warnings and were only removed following the third strike. I understand your frustration and concern but in order to support a healthy community, innapropriate content has to be acted on.
If you have any further concerns please don't hesitate to reach out via private message.
If someone gives bad medical advice that is one thing, but telling jokes, helping people cope with their anxieties, being inspirational, should surely be encouraged?
Improving Health outcomes is secured by a variety of different ways and is not restricted to medicine.
Where or who is the best way to contact someone by PM regarding concerns? I've tried contacting the mods just a couple of times over the years but have never ever had a reply
Hi BeKind28- ,
Please check your inbox, I can see a reply from myself made a few weeks ago. Let me know if you are having trouble seeing it.
Wouldn't this list of inspiring pieces of heart research be better placed on the main forum board , rather than the social thread.Pretty sure these are heart related items and the majority of the community would like to look at them and discuss them as part of "on topic" interests.
Otherwise , building an awareness of the positive breakthroughs in heart research may be lost if it's moved over to pinned posts under a social title.
And , heart health related debate might overtake ,or be confusing to users , on the social check in and the social and mental health discussions that they need to have on there might get lost in the enthusiasm to talk about heart research.
Hope you do not mind the suggestion , take care all , Bee
Thanks for that information.Makes it even more worthy of it's own post on the main thread as well then , because a lot of users , especially new HU members or international members might not be signed up to the Heart Matters email yet and had chance to see it.
So a mention of Heart Matters on the same post might get them more subscriptions and more traffic to the voting page too.
Totally agree! It was the same with the previous Social Thread where I think many members will not have read about the London to Brighton Challenge and the death of a competitor. As I have said previously I think the Social Thread should rely be for general chit chat and one line jokes!
Thanks for your response , I did actually miss the post you are talking about, I must try and find it to catch up or I'll look it up online , it might be quicker to find it there . Onwards and Upwards and a virtual hug for all of your hard work , Bee
Amy, why did you ban TWU, a long time member who was really helpful to anxious people who didn't understand their home ECG readings and couldn't get to see a medical professional for weeks?
Well I almost missed this, I tend to stay off the social perhaps this should also be posted on the main feed.I am probably not the only one who does this.
Twu was the one who first helped me, I was for some strange reason feeling rather sorry for myself, lieing in a hospital bed with a brand new scar and a shiny quad cabg.He responded to a fairly sniveling post and with compassion and understanding got me through.
And moderation has got rid of our British record holding athletic star.
If the mods had actually read what he said perhaps we would still have his presence.
Hi Amy can you repost the 'link' to be able to vote please? Not working on my mobile. I can only assume it might be the same for others & prevent a few votes. Thank you
I am finding it so frustrating that the right to reply keeps being switched off before I have a chance to comment! I don't receive my email summary of recent posts in time it would seem.
Is it possible to have an explanation of why BHF don't appear to value heart anxiety related posts as equal to say heart exercise or heart diet posts. Am I missing some research on the topic?
My anxiety/stress level impacts my HR quite dramatically and instantly surely this is valid on a forum for hearties yet people like myself are being told to go elsewhere??! Moderation of some posts and people being banned seems to suggest the BHF condone this.
I don't understand! "BHF condone this". I would say they have accommodated users request for social support that goes beyond specific heart mechanical or medication type of conversations that you find on the original forum page. It is easy to move between the two pages depending on what you want out of the forum. They are just trying to encourage people to post there comments on the appropriate page. In my opinion it is working pretty good, on the social page you can reply 100 times to every comment if that is what helps you. Posts get turned off when people start right fighting, that kind of conversation only causes undue stress for everyone including Amy.
Thank you for lifting and quoting me out of context. My message was clearly addressed to the moderator and I actually said 'seems to suggest the BHF condone this' two quite different statements. I am simply looking for some clarity and reassurance from the admin team. I'm glad you find the website easy to use and to go between different threads. I do not. I can only access on the small screen of my mobile phone. I can only assume from your comments that my access is somewhat dissimilar to yours. I have not witnessed any fighting but have seen some bullying from people who remain members.
I merely hoped it would be part of Amys admin job to reply to my enquiry. I am endeavouring to reduce stress not increase it as your reply has done.
You did post to Amy in an open forum, and you made statements about the forum I found confusing. Social means anybody can post. You seem to have found this page on your phone. You could have your chat about why your think BHF is not supporting anxiety discussions with other members who feel the same. No need to be asking Amy for another explanation. I took nothing out of context, I was making a statement on why threads are being cut off. Nothing personal to yourself, I have no control over anybody's anxiety except my own, so right back at you.
Right back at you?! Really? On a supportive network of people seeking help from our moderators? How seriously unpleasant you are. Good bye I will not waste any more heart beats on engaging with you.
I sincerely hope you find happiness in someway in your life to compensate and dilute your unpleasant attitude.
"On a supportive network of people seeking help from our moderators? How seriously unpleasant you are. Good bye I will not waste any more heart beats on engaging with you." I sincerely hope you find happiness in someway in your life to compensate and dilute your unpleasant attitude.
It's not that easy for some members to go between the two pages, depending on device used and familiarity with the technology.
It is, however, easy to scroll past something we (individually) aren't interested in. For example, I didn't often engage with the jokes and gym updates, etc as I was looking for something different... but I just moved on to the next post *without complaining or reporting) as I know some folk relied on that interaction as part of their recovery journey.
Mental health support is not always the same as social chit chat, although the two can go hand in hand depending on what the individual needs at the time.
I totally agree with your point. At no time yesterday did I suggest mental health was not important, and that the power of conversation wasn't important. I have my own issues and read both threads everyday. My post yesterday was asking for clarity on what they wanted from Amy. It is my understanding that the social page was designed to help those members who need support for their mental health recovery , leaving the other page free for the more physical heart health type of conversations. Finally, on a topic dealing with mental health, I was insulted called an unpleasant person and an unhappy person, I was to blame for giving them anxiety, I should not have responded to the post etc.. It is inappropriate.
I do agree with you. Posts that are obviously related to the effect of Mental Health on our heart health, and posts which are a plea for help that are clearly from a person whose mental health issues are effecting their physical heart symptoms should remain on the main thread because they are not 'social' posts .
They need to be seen quickly and responded to patiently and with as much care and attention as those from people whom are describing an increase in their physical symptoms . Doing so , helps them to get tips to manage these symptoms and can help build awareness in the greater community of things which are available to help within the NHS to control the MH/Heart issues that they may not feel confident enough talking about.
Putting them on the social thread may mean they aren't answered for some time or aren't seen by people whom could have information to help but don't ever look in the social thread.
Mental Health Tips and techniques are equally as important to ask questions about within the broader community as questions about improving your medications , physical treatment. diet and exercise are in improving our ways to prevent future events and manage our daily symptoms.
Mental Health strategies and mental health causes producing changes in our symptoms are medical topics and are considered as so in the health services we all use.
In fact , Stress Management, Pacing Activities ( for the mind as well as the body ) Mindfulness courses and talking therapies are at the forefront of current thinking in preventative care in all forms of conditions, including Cardiac ones.
If the medical community funds and acknowledges the need for Mental Health assistance in heart care I think that we as patients should do our bit to acknowledge and respect it too.
Change takes time though , especially on certain issues, so please , if you ever feel anxious and feel the need to talk but don't feel confident to add it to a post , or want to put it in the social thread , private message me, I will always be happy to listen and help if I can , hugs , Bee
I think this site has become very much focused on the physical, medical side. There are a large number of components that go towards making a recovery and leading a full life, and the physical side is only a part. It is obvious how anxious some people are on this site and helping others to deal with that is every bit as valuable as knowing the correct medicines.
Moderator, many of us will be waiting to hear why the behaviour of those you have canceled was inappropriate. They don't know and nor do we who use it. We are all adults and don't need excessive nannying.
Hi Amy how do I leave some of these communities I no longer want to be in. When I joined I got a bit carried away joining some of which aren’t relevant to my conditions.
If you click into the forums, at the top of their main home page you should see a tick which means you are a member. If you click on that tick, it will give you the option of removing/exiting the group if you feel they are no longer relevant to you. I am using a mobile device btw. It may be different on another device.
I think the research into DNA for inherited diseases is absolutely incredible. I watched a programme just yesterday about just how DNA research was started, the early problems and how it's being done now plus the moral issues. The future possibilities are mind blowing.
Yes I know that thanks. It's more when you are just on the site with a general question. There's an option to contact a mod then a couple of names but I have never had a reply.
I absolutely don't mind you replying personally... I think it's important to say what's on your mind in whatever fashion is easiest and you're always very respectful in this.
I don't think I'd be alone in begging you not to leave as you're often such a light on here... you know the struggles with MH and you don't want people to feel so alone with it. I've struggled with mine too although I think I manifest/deal with it differently... as we all do.
That's why I think these forums can be a real help when people are looking for others that can relate to them when sometimes their nearest and dearest can't. This place was a lifeline for me when my partner and friends got fed up hearing me go on about how my condition was affecting me and my MH, as well as physical.
I'd love for the site to keep going and providing that light for others who feel they are in the dark.
I hope that makes sense... I'm a little sleep deprived today! X
Well, BK, that reply sounds positive, doesn't it? Let's hope that our admin are having conversations so that everyone can get what they are looking for on this forum in terms of their mental and physical health.
I also want to add to the voice of Captain_Birdseye and ask you not to leave this group. You really do play an important part in helping other people, despite the fact you feel so lost yourself.
I can see posts on this thread that you wrote two days ago, yesterday, and today, especially the one saying what HU replied to you. Does that help or is it something else you'd like me to check?
Aw still awake got acid reflux not sure what's caused it its a nightmare had it for a few hours getting well fed up 🥴😢😩. Stupid acid reflux I was fine when I was on omeprozole but it's not on repeat prescription any suggestions on how to calm it with out omeprozole?? X
oh wow sympathy for me 😅. I'm definitely gona do that getting so fed up this constant burning sensation in my thought and discomfort in my chest near my ribs 🥴x
How long before that should resolve the reflux cause I gotta try and get some sleep I'm exhausted plus I had a bath and washed my hair still need to dry it x 🥴
Hey Tos yeah it did thanks so much!! I've woken up just now and I'm still tired 🥴😅. I did go to bed at like 2 something then woke up at 4 to go toilet 🤭. X hope your acid reflux settled ok and you was able to sleep!
Sorry to hear sounds like that happens to you alot, my mum suffers terrible with acid reflux she coughs so much she's sick 💔so glad I don't have it that bad, yeah I will definitely be heading back to the GP on Tuesday x they gona be sick of seeing me there I'm always there just lately 😅🤭x
When I opened this post I only read the first few words and thought I will nominate MichaelJH but obviously had totally the wrong end of the stick. Having met Michael after all he has been through I think he is a real life super hero. The behaviour of social services was appaling but I think it is in general for older people. For the appaling job they do social workers should not get 3 - 4 times more than carers. I am talking about elderly (pensioners) here. Those that deal with children seem a far better group.
I think all of the projects are excellent but would pick the AI rapid diagnosis. The problem I see is access as so many struggle to see a GP and all to often are dismissed.
I thought I wouldn't be able to do my walk to have Spanish omelette today but it is brightening. The decision is which paper to buy as I imagine the majority wl be trying to put a positive spin on the Tory by-election disaster. I think they are all as bad as each other. When our council went LD I hoped for some real positives but they are an even bigger disaster. As they say "Such is life"
They say when policeman look young then you are definitely getting older. How old do you feel when a twenty five year old is elected as an MP? Whatever their political party surely there should be a minimum age of at least thirty and, to be fair, a maximum age of, say, seventy.
I think some life experience should be needed before running for government personally... and they should have experience in the department they go into (doctors or scientists in department for health, teachers in department for education for example) - and they should be resident in the area they represent so they know the issues their constituents face.
I don't really agree with career politicians. If you want to do politics, that should probably disqualify you 😂😂😂
How wonderful to read about these marvellous research projects benefitting hearties of all ages.I couldn't possibly choose between them as that seems quite trite and shallow. I look forward to hearing more about research in Heart Matters magazine which I enjoy reading. Now, as this is the social thread should it not be where we can chat, be lighthearted and perhaps even crack a joke or two or am I misreading the latest guidance on using this forum!
I live not too far away from the observatory in Kielder, Northumberland. It’s a dark skies area but unfortunately there’s always too much cloud to see anything. I would love to see the northern lights but the best we get up here is a bit of a green shimmer occasionally. X
Gym day today, go in the evening now it's way better burned off over 300 calories! Heart rate remained at a steady pace was about 140 something which is great. Hope you all had a good evening x
So you have been a member for a week according to your profile? Yet you seem to remember a time before the main members of this once useful and lively forum were removed. I would just like to point you in the direction of my profile and click on replies. I posted on a member called sanpedro2019 a little while back who has now passed. If you click on his profile and view his replies you will actually see that years ago, before I was here, before the fun police came along this place was actually fun. Something all heart patients need. Clearly you are 1 of the barred and re joined, cause trouble, barred and re joined. Thank you for your helpful input.
I think you will find that if someone accidentally puts a post which appears more "social" to yourself on the main thread people like myself will still answer them in a caring way. As these posts which may seem irrelevant to some members are usually a plea for support because the poster is either struggling mentally with their condition , or, are quite often alone and housebound and need someone to talk to ; often on bad symptom days. These posts are seldom as light as they may appear.
Many people answer these posts with kindness instead of complaint because they realise that the help that people require to come to terms with their heart conditions, and the change in lifestyle caused by it , does not only require medical information and only cardiac specific details , it requires words of reassurance, empathy and occasionally a little humour , even if this is a heart illness based forum.
Many of the people whom answered people with these needs are not banned , and are not what you call part of a "social media brigade", they are just people that understand from their own experience of both heart and other long term chronic health conditions that different people have different needs while coping with an illness. And each of those needs is equal to another.
A little kindness at the right time can be the difference between someone managing to keep on the road to improvement or being left to feel they struggle alone until their physical symptoms also become worse.
Those people need support and guidance , not made to feel worse when they've only asked for a little support from people whom should understand how they feel .
Yet often they were rudely told that they haven't put their post in the right place , or that their concerns are not considered to be relevant.
Posts finally taken over by squabble when they could have just as easily been filled with words of support and caring that wouldn't just be read by the poster but also by many in the silent majority of a forum whom also found those kind comments and posts comforting.
The BHF have even created a rule, you may not have seen the post from Amy about this as you were not a member at the time, requesting for these comments on the rules by members to stop because of the negativity it causes in the forum.
I'm glad that you feel that the forum has begun to give you what you feel you require from it , but I also hope that you will be more understanding of those with other needs as well and care that others receive what they need here too.
Because , although most of the cardiac specific information ,questions and answers are available widely to everyone through pinned posts, the acknowledgment of someone's individual struggle and their need to get a few words of empathy and kindness at a specific time are not.
We can all just pass by these posts without comment , just as those whom sometimes comment that they find a post too overwhelming because of the detailed medical information are regularly told to pass those medical posts by.
Take care and I hope you receive the type of help you require from this forum going ahead on the main thread and drop into the social check in if you ever need it, Bee
Thank you so much .It's nice to know how much support there is in the BHF Community about the need to help people for all different heart illness related issues and not just the physical illnesses themselves.
I'm happy to point out the need for this awareness because of the amount of support I've received over the last few months for doing so from members like yourself.
Keep positive. Keep well. and take care, hugs , Bee
Yup, we all have differing needs at times. It's not just about the purely medical or physical side but also the mental side as well that needs supporting. I just wish the "fun police" would simply scroll past the social or banter threads rather than getting all high and mighty. It's not compulsory to read every thread or indeed comment. There's plenty I don't read.
Ooh , I don't know those dogs appear very much like they are desperately looking around for a handy tree or lamp post. If all dogs do , as they say , go to heaven and there is a severe shortage of canine toilet facilities I might be tempted to wait by the pearly gates instead!😆😆😆😆
"social media brigade"? What a derogatory-sounding term. I am a member of no social media outlets or forums whatsoever, nor to I want to be, however I am a member of this site and enjoy both the educational posts and posts from those asking for assistance which I read on the main forum and offer help where I can, and also the social platform here for a more light-hearted option which cheer me up on a miserable day. Amy BHF kindly set this social area up for that very reason and I can choose to read either option, as can the rest of the HU members which I think is appropriate.
Isn't there a poem along the lines of "I got to heaven & looked around & saw everyone I didn't expect to see! And they were all standing staring with mouths wide open, because they weren't expecting me!"
And you'd need a long time in the gym to burn it off too Cee-Cee1. Are you well at present? I do hope so.
I had a 2month delay in being told to increase my Bisoprolol dose due to a mix up at the GP, but now I am taking the extra tablet I feel better & not quite so tired.
Now i'm begining to go walking again & need to lose weight so none of those BLT's for me!
I'm not a gym bunny but hoping that one near work might have a pool as we get a couple of free access sessions a month & I used to love swimming. But sometimes it's hard to take that first step through the door when you have to go alone. I'm back on the office next week so will hopefully be brave enough then.
I'm grand, thank you 1234. All well here and, since the increase to 5mg (up from 2.5mg) bisoprolol daily in December, I've the no further episodes of fast heart rate and the ectopics have all but disappeared. It's hard to believe that it's been 18 months since the HA and triple bypass and I'm very grateful to be feeling so well. I've never been a gym bunny either, but do try to get my walks in and eat a much healthier diet these days (less sitting on my behind/more walking and less biccies and buns/more healthy grub seems to be working!)😅 It's amazing how small changes can make such a big difference to our health. Carol x
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Midweek Social Check-in! 17/05
