Brian Blessed (pictured)
British Society for Heart Failure’s F Word Campaign
We live in immensely stressful times — and in its line of duty, the heart responds magnificently to protect us from the rigours of everyday life.
Heart, mind and soul are one to me. The heart is our dear friend and minder. Love and compassion make it vibrate with happiness and help us seek out good company.
Peaceful living
By that, I mean good music, a love of nature and the countryside and deep peace. Do this, and the heart will respond to your endeavours. Look to the stars: “We are the children of stardust yearning for the stars.”
I am 86 years old (a baby!) and have climbed Everest and reached the magnetic North Pole and completed space training in Star City Moscow and NASA on Reunion Island — all with the aid of a pacemaker, senior physiologists, doctors and nurses. I owe them a debt of gratitude.
Heart failure is treatable, and it is possible to live well with the right care.
Recognising symptoms
I would like to suggest that if you recognise — in yourself or others — any of the symptoms of heart failure such as fighting for breath, fatigue or fluid retention, please seek medical help early. Heart failure is treatable, and it is possible to live well with the right care.
We are all in this together. With the help of our wonderful medical professionals — we will succeed. Be cheerful, be happy and don’t let heart failure stop you from fulfilling your dreams.
