Sarah.theheartdoc

Sarah.theheartdoc Mum of 2, wife, heart doctor, enthusiastic optimist. Women in Cardiology Representative & founder of

It’s Heart Failure Awareness Week (27 April – 3 May) so I wanted to touch on one of the most misunderstood topics in the...
27/04/2026

It’s Heart Failure Awareness Week (27 April – 3 May) so I wanted to touch on one of the most misunderstood topics in the cardiology world - heart failure.

I see it all the time - people coming across the term heart failure but not actually knowing what it is 🫀

Heart failure doesn’t mean that the heart has stopped and it also isn’t as dramatic as people expect it to be initially.

Symptoms can be subtle and very easy to brush off which is why people often present later than they realise.

Swipe right to learn what heart failure is, what causes and some of the most common symptoms associated with it ➡️

And please do save this post and share it with a friend if you found it helpful 👍

24/04/2026

Too many patients with heart failure are still being missed because they’re not being coded correctly 🫀

In this week’s episode of Beatwise The Podcast, I sit down with Helen Kilminster to unpack why something that sounds “administrative” can directly impact diagnosis, treatment, funding and ultimately patient outcomes.

We discuss:

▫️ Why accurate coding matters more than most realise

▫️ How missed patients are being found through NT-proBNP and case-finding

▫️ Why inconsistent terminology causes real problems

▫️ How coding shapes commissioning and service design

▫️ Practical ways to improve coding in everyday practice

This is a really important conversation for anyone working in cardiology, primary care, or heart failure services.

Comment PODCAST and I’ll send you the link 🎙️

Produced in collaboration with the British Society for Heart Failure.

Amyloidosis is still too often recognised late.Earlier suspicion and faster diagnosis can make a real difference.I’m del...
20/04/2026

Amyloidosis is still too often recognised late.

Earlier suspicion and faster diagnosis can make a real difference.

I’m delighted to be organising an in-person Amyloid Training Day on 20th May 2026 at Hilton Bournemouth, bringing together expert speakers from across cardiology, imaging, haematology, neurology and more.

We’ll be covering practical recognition, modern treatment strategies, imaging, red flags, service development and multidisciplinary care.

Suitable for allied healthcare professionals with an interest in amyloidosis.

There is no delegate fee.

If you’d like to attend, DM me for registration details.

Keeping it real because even experts aren’t perfect and I think the best ones are honest about that 🫀I don’t live in som...
12/04/2026

Keeping it real because even experts aren’t perfect and I think the best ones are honest about that 🫀

I don’t live in some “perfect heart health” bubble. Some weeks look great, others are just… normal life.

What matters isn’t perfection, it’s what’s consistent over time.

That’s the standard I hold for my patients - and for myself.

Hit follow for more!

08/04/2026

There’s been a very effective message circulating about statins and I hear it almost every clinic:

❌“I’ve heard they’re dangerous.”
❌ “I read something online.”
❌ “I’m worried about side effects.”

What I hear far less often is concern about the risk of not taking them. And yet, that’s the conversation that matters.

Statins aren’t about trends or opinions. They lower cholesterol, reduce inflammation, and lower the risk of heart attack and stroke.

In people who’ve already had a cardiac event, the benefit is clear.

And when someone is admitted at 4am with a heart attack, this debate rarely comes up.

If you’ve been prescribed a statin and feel unsure, that’s valid. But it’s worth understanding both sides of the risk - not just the one that’s louder online.

We need better conversations, not more fear.

Let me know in the comments what statin stories you’ve heard and make sure to follow for more ⬇️

Most people have never come across the word amyloidosis and that’s part of the problem.It’s a cause of heart failure tha...
05/04/2026

Most people have never come across the word amyloidosis and that’s part of the problem.

It’s a cause of heart failure that still gets missed, even when the clues have been there for years.

The condition happens when abnormal proteins build up in the organs.

When the heart is involved, the muscle becomes stiffer and thicker, making it harder for the heart to function the way it should.

The warning signs - things like unexplained breathlessness, carpal tunnel syndrome, or a fatigue that just doesn’t add up - can appear long before anyone thinks to look at the heart. That gap between first symptoms and final diagnosis is what makes awareness so important.

I recently sat down with Mr. Paul Pozzo on Beatwise The Podcast to talk about his own journey to diagnosis, the advocacy work he’s doing, and why getting the word out can genuinely change outcomes for patients.

Search ‘Beatwise The Podcast’ wherever you listen 🎙️

🚨 Chest pain isn’t just a “man’s problem”… and it doesn’t always look like you think.That tight chest feeling? It could ...
04/04/2026

🚨 Chest pain isn’t just a “man’s problem”… and it doesn’t always look like you think.

That tight chest feeling? It could be your heart.
But for many women, it’s back pain, jaw pain, breathlessness, or just feeling “off.”

And here’s the scary part…
👉 Heart disease is rising in younger women, and angina (heart-related chest pain) is often the first sign

We’ve been taught to look for one “classic” symptom — but women don’t always read the textbook.

💡 Your risk isn’t just about cholesterol or smoking:
• Pregnancy complications
• Irregular periods or PCOS
• High blood pressure early in life
• Stress + lifestyle

All of these can quietly shape your future heart health.

❤️ The good news?
Small changes, early awareness, and actually listening to your body can make a huge difference.

✨ So next time something feels off — don’t brush it off.

👇 Have you ever ignored a symptom because it didn’t seem “serious enough”? What made you finally get it checked?

Have a look at the publication here:
Carolyn M Webb, Peter Collins, Stable angina in young women, European Heart Journal, 2025;, ehaf728, https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehaf728

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