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Medical Negligence
Diagnosis of Cardiovascular Disease

Diagnosis of Cardiovascular Disease

Cardiovascular disease is one of the main causes of death in the UK. A prompt recognition of the condition may save the patients life.

What is cardiovascular disease?

Cardiovascular disease refers to a range of conditions affecting the heart and blood vessels, usually associated with a build-up of fatty tissue in the blood vessels which might increase the development of blood clots and increase the risk of heart attack.

Impact of cardiovascular disease

According to the British Heart Foundation, cardiovascular diseases account for the following astonishing statistics:

  • An average of 420 people die each day in the UK from cardiovascular disease
  • Approximately 42,000 people under the age of 75 die from cardiovascular disease in the UK each year
  • More than a quarter of deaths in the UK each year are caused by cardiovascular disease

Diagnosing cardiovascular disease

An early diagnosis of cardiovascular disease is necessary to prevent the further deterioration of the patient. With a clear diagnosis, it may be possible for medication and life-style changes to reduce the patients risk of a serious development of their condition.

A failure to diagnose the condition can allow the patient to deteriorate or suffer a heart attack.

Symptoms of cardiovascular disease

A patient who is developing this condition might present to their GP with the following symptoms:

  • Chest pain
  • Chest tightness
  • Shortness of breath
  • Fatigue
  • Pain or weakness in the arms or legs

Cardiovascular disease is not necessarily easy to recognise and the patients broader history and life-style should be taken into consideration when assessing the possible causes of their symptoms.

Risk factors of cardiovascular disease

When a patient attends their GP with the above symptoms and is also associated with one or more of the risk factors below, cardiovascular disease should be considered as a possible diagnosis.

  • A family history of cardiovascular disease might indicate that the patient has the same problem
  • Patients who smoke may be more like to develop the condition
  • Patients who have high blood pressure or high cholesterol are more susceptible to heart problems
  • Patients who are diabetic are more vulnerable to the condition
  • Patients who are overweight may be more likely to have cardiovascular disease

Medical negligence

A delay in diagnosis can be fatal. Alternatively, it may cause the patient to have a stroke or a non-fatal heart attack, both of which can, nonetheless, cause life-changing symptoms and require the patient to undergo surgical procedures.

If you or a loved one have suffered significant, long-term symptoms due to a failure to diagnose that you were suffering with cardiovascular disease, it may be appropriate to consider making a claim for compensation.

Contact us to discuss your situation with a specialist medical negligence solicitor.

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