BHF - Fighting for families with inherited heart conditions
12 May 2014 02:13 PM
Today we're launching our
new Fight For Every Heartbeat campaign to highlight the urgent need
for more research into the inherited heart conditions hidden in so many
family trees.
We now estimate that
around half a million people in the UK could be
living with a faulty gene putting them at unusually high risk of developing
heart disease or dying suddenly at a young age.
What is an inherited heart
condition?
Inherited heart conditions are heart conditions which are often
passed on through families, because of a single faulty gene. There are several
different types each affecting the heart in a different way. For many families
the first sign there is a problem is when someone dies suddenly, with no
obvious explanation.
This deadly legacy can span
generations – someone living with an inherited heart condition has a 50/50 chance of passing it onto
their children. Previous estimates suggested up to 380,000 people could be
living with a faulty gene but underdiagnosis means this figure may be much
higher.
Fighting back through
research
Despite advancements in research into inherited heart
conditions, many of which we've driven, lots of these faulty
genes still remain undiscovered. Finding those genes through lab
research is the first step towards developing improved genetic tests to
find people at risk. An early diagnosis can mean the difference between life
and death.
Our Medical
Director, Professor Peter Weissberg, said:
We urgently need to accelerate
research into inherited heart conditions.
“We
urgently need to accelerate research into inherited heart
conditions.
“Over recent years
researchers have made great strides in identifying some of the genes that cause
inherited heart conditions. A genetic test in a child of an affected parent can
save their life. More research is now urgently needed to identify all the genes
responsible for these deadly disorders.
“Pinpointing genes which
cause inherited heart conditions will allow affected children to be protected
and, in the long term, will lead to new treatments to overcome the effects of
the faulty gene.”
The campaign launches today on
television and online and features a baby, Zara, whose mum,
Caroline, discovered that she had a faulty gene for an inherited heart
condition before she became pregnant. She knew that there was a 50:50 chance it
could be passed onto her baby.
Find out more about
the campaign and the BHF’s life-saving research
Related links
We
are calling for people to
text FIGHT to 70707 and
give £3 to join the fight against
inherited heart conditions or to donate online.
Donate now