Norfolk Heart Trust: National Heart Month 2025
February is National Heart Month, a time to raise awareness about heart health and the groundbreaking work being done to improve cardiovascular care. The Norfolk Heart Trust Fund, administered by Norfolk Community Foundation, helps to fund innovative research, early detection initiatives, specialist cardiovascular equipment at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, and community engagement to help people across Norfolk live longer, healthier lives.
Campaign Update: Miracle Magnets 4 Hearts
For the past 3 years, a dedicated group of cardiologists and fundraisers have been campaigning for donations to purchase an MRI scanner for the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to help save lives. This month, they are excited to announce the arrival of the Miracle Magnets 4 Hearts MRI Scanner at the NNUH Community Diagnostic Centre. This comes at a vital time, as many patients must travel out of Norfolk for scans and are faced with long waiting lists as a result. This revolutionary machine is set to transform how cardiovascular disease is detected and managed in Norfolk.
Using advanced magnetic resonance imaging techniques, the scanner enhances diagnostic precision, reducing the need for invasive procedures. With improved early detection, the Norfolk Heart Trust can help to ensure timely interventions and better long-term outcomes for patients with heart conditions. This represents a major leap forward in cardiovascular care and offers improved prognoses for many.
Pioneering Research into Heart Function
In another significant development, Dr. Zia Mehmood has begun his Norfolk Heart Trust-funded Fellowship at NNUH. His research focuses on how blood flow changes within the heart and aorta contribute to heart disease progression.
By using state-of-the-art imaging technologies and computational modelling, Dr. Mehmood aims to advance the treatment of structural valvular diseases. His work could lead to improvements in minimally invasive procedures like transcatheter aortic valve replacement. These innovations could help refine risk assessments and treatment strategies, ultimately saving lives by enabling more personalised care.
Join the Norfolk Heart Trust team at the ‘Pumping Marvellous’ Event
Representatives from the Norfolk Heart Trust Fund advisory committee are proud to be attending the upcoming Pumping Marvellous event—a free and accessible opportunity for people over 40 to check their heart health. The event at The Forum, Norwich, will take place on 7th March from 10am – 2pm. At the event, people will be able to check their heart health by filling out a simple questionnaire, getting a blood pressure check and heart rhythm test, receiving a finger-prick blood test and heart scan (if needed).
If results suggest a potential issue, the findings will be shared with their GP for further evaluation.
Why Does This Matter?
Many people don’t realise they have high blood pressure or an irregular heartbeat, both of which increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes—yet these can often be prevented with early detection and medication.
Heart failure is also far more common than most realise. Leisa Freeman from NHT committee highlights:
“We estimate that there are 22,000 people in Norfolk with heart failure, but only 8,000 are diagnosed. The remaining 14,000 may be experiencing symptoms like breathlessness, exhaustion, or ankle swelling without realising they have a serious condition. Through free and convenient testing, we hope to identify those at risk and encourage them to get checked.”
Take Control of Your Heart Health
National Heart Month is a reminder that small steps can make a big difference. Whether it’s through cutting-edge research, improved diagnostics, or community events like Pumping Marvellous, the Norfolk Heart Trust Fund and Advisory Board is dedicated to saving lives and improving heart health for all.
