New test for heart disease

Posted 17/01/2013

The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) has backed the use of a new test which can detect Atrial Fibrillation (AF). This abnormal heart beat is thought to be implicated in the incidence of heart attacks. The new test can be done in a similar way to a normal blood pressure reading and can identify those who have AF. If diagnosed early, steps can be taken to regulate the heart beat and therefore remove the risk factor.Trefine Maynard, a clinical negligence specialist at Ashtons Legal, says: “This new test is welcome if it is as easily administered as is being suggested. Prevention is always better than cure and if it is both as reliable as is being suggested and as easy to carry out, then it may be a huge step in combating the high incidence of heart attack. The cost has not been mentioned in anything I have read but it sounds as though it would be a relatively low cost investigation. Steps such as this to treat any abnormality (subject to the evaluation of the effectiveness of subsequent treatment) and to prevent later problems are an exciting advance in the battle against the prevalence of heart problems.”