Michaela Meade
A Tarneit resident is taking part in a genetic heart study after her brother was discovered to have a fully blocked artery, with no symptoms.
Chris Brown said she is taking part in the study at Baker Heart & Diabetes Institute’s Clinical Trial and Research Centre in Hoppers Crossing to arm herself with greater knowledge about her health following her brother’s scare.
“He could have had a heart attack at any time,” Ms Brown said.
“They couldn’t even perform any procedure [because] his body had built its own bypass system.
“He had no symptoms… no pain, no shortness of breath, he’s fit and active.”
Ms Brown said the study is important for the community because of what it could reveal.
“[My brother’s situation] highlighted for me that… you could be walking around with this disease and not know it.
“[The study will] bring awareness to people that they could be going about their normal business but could have serious conditions.
“If they could be able to predict a likelihood in the community, that speaks volumes.
“[They could] make people aware that even if you aren’t having any chest pain, you could still experience these conditions.”
A call-out for participants in the study is ongoing.
A Baker Institute spokesperson said the study “offers important advice on reducing your risk factors for better heart health” and is free, personal, confidential, and voluntary.
Institute director, Professor Tom Marwick, said the primary goal of the centre, overall, was to find better ways to keep people out of hospital and in the community for longer.
“If we can support people to avoid a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes or help them to manage their heart disease so that they don’t suffer another heart attack or stroke, then this approach could become a model for high-risk communities nationally,” Professor Marwick said.
The Clinical Trial and Research Centre was officially opened last week by Werribee MP Tim Pallas, who toured the facility and met some of the research participants.
Details of the genetic heart study: baker.edu.au/research/clinical-trials/edcad-pms.
