A local man who underwent a life-saving heart transplant last year is urging people to take advantage of free cardiac health screenings at an event in Great Yarmouth later this month.
Matt Bexfield, 40, from Lowestoft, was diagnosed with heart failure in 2022 after experiencing symptoms while on holiday in Rhodes with his wife and two young children.
“We were at a waterslide park, and I was busy going up and down slides with the children. I noticed that I was really breathless when climbing the stairs to the top of the slides – and was hoping there would be queue at the top so I could have a rest,” said Matt.
Back home, Matt’s symptoms worsened, with increased fatigue and breathlessness – and eventually he ended up in A&E at the James Paget.
Scans showed he had an enlarged heart – and then further tests, including wearing a 24-hour portable ECG monitor, resulted in a diagnosis of heart failure, with Matt’s heart performing at just 10% of its capacity.
Treatment involved various drugs and an operation to fit a Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Defibrillator (CRT-D), a device that can providing electrical shocks to the heart if it develops potentially dangerous rhythms.
As a result, Matt’s condition stabilized temporarily for more than a year – but then in 2024, began to feel unwell again and was re-admitted to the Paget’s Acute Cardiac Unit.
Whilst also being under the guidance of the Royal Papworth Hospital, the UK's leading heart and lung hospital based in Cambridge, further tests revealed that Matt was suffering from a rare genetic condition called Emery–Dreifuss muscular dystrophy, which can cause heart failure.
Complications, including concerns over his liver and kidney function, resulted in Matt being put on the heart transplant list and being admitted to Papworth where Matt underwent his heart transplant operation on 15 August.
The operation was a success, and after four days in critical care and a further three weeks on a ward, he was discharged home.
Six months on, Matt is recovering well and is able to exercise lightly.
Now, he is keen to encourage others who may be worried about their heart health - or have a family history of heart issues - to take advantage of the free checks taking place later this month.
“You don’t have to be old to have heart failure. I was just 37 when I was diagnosed. What is crucial is early diagnosis as it can be managed and treated,” said Matt.
“That’s why the heart health screening event in Great Yarmouth on 19 March is such a golden opportunity – and I would urge people to go along if they are experiencing a combination of symptoms such as breathlessness, exhaustion or ankle swelling.”
Matt was supported throughout his treatment by James Paget Heart Failure Nurse Specialist Mickey Cox, who has been instrumental in organising the heart health screening event.
Mickey has worked closely with key partners including East Coast Community Healthcare, the UEA and the heart failure charity Pumping Marvellous, who have developed the BEAT campaign which urges people to speak with their GP if they have Breathlessness, Exhaustion and Ankle Swelling.
“The event on 19 March will be the latest in a series that we have organised together for local people. Last time, we carried out more than 500 free heart health screenings at two local sessions.
“For the majority of people, the screenings gave reassurance that their heart health was good. But some needed referral into hospital after the checks revealed undetected issues – so the screenings were incredibly important for them.
“However, even if the screening does reveal a heart-related issue, it’s important to emphasise that only a small percentage require surgical intervention, with most treated through medication and lifestyle changes,” added Mickey.
Staff at the event will be carrying out a range of checks for heart failure including blood tests, electrocardiogram (ECG) tests and echocardiogram ultrasound scans.
The free heart health screenings event will take place between 10am and 3pm on Thursday, 19 March at Market Gates Shopping Centre, Great Yarmouth.
No appointment is necessary – you can just turn up.
For more information on the heart failure charity Pumping Marvellous, please visit; https://pumpingmarvellous.org/
