Reds legend Fowler undergoes cardiac screening for World Heart Day
The Liverpool legend lost his dad to a heart condition
Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler has gone under cutting edge heart screening tests to raise awareness of World Heart Day 2021.
He was joined by former sports stars, professional footballer Neil Mellor and former professional rugby player Martin Johnson, who were also screened.
They all attended Venturi Cardiology, the North West’s first independent healthy heart clinic for their calcium score heart tests carried out by two of the clinic’s preventative cardiology experts and founders, Dr Scott Murray and Dr Thomas Heseltine.
Venturi Cardiology in Warrington is on a mission to make world-class heart care accessible, affordable and more personalised.
As well as providing routine diagnostic cardiology services, Venturi’s primary objective is to treat the cause of heart disease, currently the UK’s biggest killer.
Every 25 minutes someone in the Northwest dies from heart or circulatory disease, with healthcare costs relating to these diseases estimated at £9 billion each year.
Coronary heart disease is the most common cause of heart attack and was the single biggest killer of both and men and women worldwide in 2019.
The aim of World Heart Day 2021 is to improve awareness, prevention and management of cardiovascular disease globally.
During their visit, the sporting heroes, who all called for greater awareness of heart health, had a calcium score test to assess the likelihood of them having coronary heart disease. The test takes approximately 15 minutes, is non-invasive and pain free.
Dr Scott Murray, who was inspired to become a cardiologist after his grandfather died suddenly of a heart attack, said:
“Heart disease is a constant pandemic, it has never gone away despite our endless list of new "wonder drugs".
“The only way to change the current sick care, sudden symptom paradigm is to awaken individuals to the power of prevention.
“Small lifestyle changes can make a huge difference to someone’s risk profile. Getting the message out early - encouraging people to quit smoking, eat better, exercise more and to get tested when necessary, can and does save lives.
“On World Heart Day we gave cutting edge heart screening and bespoke risk scores to some of our most famous and diverse sports celebrities.
“If, through this awareness event, we can go on to find one dad, grandad or mum who is at very high risk for a devastating event and change their life course, then this will have been very worthwhile.”