Rayleigh man supports Heart Failure Awareness Week

That was six years ago in 2017. The dad, from Rayleigh, had suffered chest pains - the “scary” symptoms of heart failure - and later had to undergo a lifesaving heart transplant.

Now, he is behind an NHS campaign to raise awareness of the symptoms of heart failure in a determined effort to help others.

He recalls the Saturday night in 2017. He had a few drinks and a meal with the family. But the following morning, Steve, then 48, visited Southend Hospital’s A&E department after waking with chest pains.

The following morning, Steve, then 48, visited Southend Hospital’s A&E department after waking with chest pains. Basic heart tests led to a three-year journey filled with treatments and visits to the Essex Cardiothoracic Centre, Basildon, and the Royal Papworth Hospital, Cambridge, which is a specialist transplant hospital.

Four months later, he learned he had just a ten per cent heart function and spent weeks in critical care.

Frightening - Steve spent weeks in critical care (Image: Steve Symmons)

The 54-year-old said: “It was scary as my heart had some rhythm problems, but they sorted that out and I went home. I had lost so much weight - I was only 65 kilograms.

“Things improved a bit, but I couldn’t get back to a normal active life. In September 2018, I started to feel worse again, so I went back to hospital. They told me the right-hand side of my heart had started failing, and I was then put onto the urgent transplant list.

“It was so hard for my family. I was away for so long and my wife, daughter, and son had to cope without me.”

Unexpected - Steve and his family enjoyed a holiday in the sun just the month before he was taken ill (Image: Steve Symmons)

In Essex there are around 500 new cases of heart failure diagnosed a year, with a further 600 cases going undetected.

Steve plays an important role in supporting those affected by chairing a new patient support group called ‘Pump up the Volume’.

The dad-of-two explained: “We have met recently, and we are hoping to have another meeting at the end of May. We talk about our experiences and support each other with what’s happened to us.

“It’s really affected me and my family emotionally. I can’t fault the treatment but trying to get your head around what’s going on is really hard. But I am here and owe my life to medical science.”

Welcome home - Steve's son was delighted to welcome his daddy home from hospital (Image: Steve Symmons)

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This week is Heart Failure Awareness Week. Reflecting on his diagnosis, Mr Symmons urged: “Don’t ignore things if you’re feeling strange, get a blood test, see someone and get yourself checked out, it might just save your life.”

Doctor Henry Oluwasefunmi Savage, a consultant cardiologist and heart failure specialist at Essex Cardiothoracic Centre, echoed Steve’s comments.

The campaign is supporting the British Cardiology Society to help reduce deaths from heart failure within the first year of diagnosis. It aims to slash deaths by 25 per cent in the next 25 years.

Dr Savage said: “Early detection of heart failure is crucial in improving patient outcomes, the severity of their symptoms, their quality of life, and reduction of risk of hospitalisation and death.

“Currently 80 per cent of people with heart failure are first diagnosed during a hospital admission. I want to change that.

“That’s why I am passionate about raising awareness of this condition, working with clinical colleagues. We are using this week for campaigning to kick heart failure into touch.”

The early symptoms of heart failure include breathlessness, fluid build-up and fatigue. People experiencing these symptoms should seek help from their GP.

“People assume it’s a death sentence and ask me ‘when am I going to die?’,” said Dr Savage.

He continued: “I always say if we catch you early, we can help you return to a full life.”