Interview with NHS staff nurse

What is a heart attack in its simpliest form?
"Death of the heart muscles"

What area of the hostpital do you work in?
"Accute general medical womens ward"

What percentage of people do you look after that suffer from heart disease?
"80 - 90% of patients suffer from Corony heart disease in my ward. This seems a huge amount but the main reason for this is because the majority of them over the age of 60 and therefore more vulnerable to CHD for a number of reasons. One of which is that the older people get the less they exercise and their diets usually worsen which contributes to a build up a fat, which damages the heart directly.

In your opinion what lifesytle habits contribute most to heart disease?
"Stress, alcohol, smoking and lack of exercise"

How aware do you think the general public are towards having a healthy heart?
"Very few people are aware of how damaging alcohol to the heart; I therefore think much more should be done to promote the damage that alcohol causes to the heart disease and in turn heart attacks. I think that people are aware that exercise is vital in ensuring a healthy heart, but I don't think that people actively do anything with the information; more needs to be done to get people more active. I feel that the labelling on cigarette packages has done alot for heart health awareness and the damage smoking does not only to the lungs but the heart as well. I aslo feel that the effects of stress on the heart is something that most people are aware of, but I don't think enough is done to reduce the effects of stress in the workplace and the need for people to have enough leisure time to relax.

What is done if heart disease is caught early enough?
"Alot more can be done medically if heart disease is detected early enough; this will only be caught early enough if the symptoms are something that everyone is able to recognise and acknowledge. Many more lives would be saved with the increased awareness and the early detection of problems relating to the heart"

I would like to thank Joanne Elford, the NHS staff nurse that took the time for me to interview her.