Heart Failure Awareness Week

On Tuesday May 10, I spoke in response to a Ministerial statement on Heart Failure Awareness Week. My comments (from Hansard) are below.

Heart Failure Awareness Week

Mr. Gerrard: Madam Speaker, heart failure is all too frequent, with about 750,000 people in Canada with heart failure–number which is increasing. This means about 30,000 in Manitoba, and it is one of the most common reasons why people go to hospital. The health-care costs associated with heart failure are estimated at $2.8 billion a year for Canada, which is about $100 million a year for Manitoba.

Heart failure occurs when the heart muscle doesn't pump blood as well as it should so that blood backs up and fluid builds up in the lungs, causing shortness of breath and swelling in the legs.

As a physician, I can vouch for the fact that it's tough to see a person suffering and having difficulty breathing in end-stage heart failure. But, thankfully, many with heart failure can be treated and heart failure can certainly frequently be prevented. Although often, there are big demands on caregivers.

Among the causes of heart failure are coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, abnormal heart valves, abnormal heart rhythm, anemia, hyperthyroidism and sleep apnea. Much can be done to prevent or treat heart failure: general measures, physical exercise, avoiding smoking, having good nutrition and managing stress well can be helpful in preventing the development of many forms of heart failure. Preventing diabetes and the optimum treatment of diabetes are important, as are treating high blood pressure, anemia, hyperthyroidism, sleep apnea and abnormal heart rhythm.

Hearth Failure Awareness Week is important to all of us, as a reminder of the nature of heart failure and the importance of preventing it and of treating it well. We would also do well to have a full provincial plan to address heart failure announced, perhaps even this week.

Thank you.

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