Lifestyle Advice

Alcohol

It is common for social events to include alcohol, and it can be hard to be different from your friends.

Talk to your doctor about what’s safe for you, as it can vary from person to person. Once you know what’s safe, make thoughtful decisions about drinking. It’s important to think about how alcohol fits into your life and health.​

Alcohol and heart conditions

Drinking alcohol, especially as a young adult, is common, but it’s more challenging for those with a heart condition due to both medical and social factors. Alcohol can also interact with medication, such as Warfarin, so it is important to know the risks. Please contact your medical team, or ask in clinic, for advise around drinking alcohol.

Medical Risks of Alcohol

Drinking large amounts of alcohol regularly poses risks such as liver disease, reduced fertility, high blood pressure, increased risks of cancer and heart attacks, this is something to be aware of when deciding how you approach alcohol. Alcohol can interfere with medications – please speak to your nursing team/cardiologist if you have any questions

Moderation and Safety Tips

Moderation is key. Recommendations include knowing your limit, alternating alcoholic drinks with water, eating before drinking, sticking to lower alcohol options, planning safe transportation, and using apps to track drinks.​

Stimulant / ‘Energy’ Drinks

Beverages like Red Bull or Monster can affect the heart negatively, causing an instant rise in blood pressure and heart rate. Please speak to your cardiologist about your specific heart condition and the effect stimulant drinks can have.

Social Considerations

Social pressure to drink can be significant, but it’s essential to know your own limits, trust your judgment, and not succumb to peer pressure. Strategies like drinking non-alcoholic beverages or avoiding drinking games are suggested.

Personal Choice

Ultimately, the decision to drink alcohol is personal, but it’s crucial to be aware of the risks and make informed choices based on individual health considerations.

Endocarditis

What is Infective Endocarditis?

In brief, infective endocarditis is an infection where bacteria affect the inner lining of your heart, usually around the valves. It can be a serious infection and requires urgent treatment. For more information on the seriousness of endocarditis, please see the Leeds Congenital Heart Unit website.

Alright, let’s dive into the world of keeping your oral health in check – it’s interesting!​

How do you reduce the risk of Infective Endocarditis ?

Keep your teeth game strong! Good dental care and oral hygiene are a top priority. If you have questions, speak to your medical team and they can signpost you to the appropriate dental service for you. Brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and go easy on the sugary snacks and drinks.​

Need a family dentist? Look up the NHS website – they’ve got the information you need on local services. If you’re in a dental emergency and don’t have a family dentist, give NHS 111 a call.​

Tattoos, piercings and beauty

It is important to be informed and make decisions about tattoos, piercings and beauty treatments. Know the facts.

Getting tattoos, piercings, or any beauty treatments that use needles can be risky, especially if you have a heart condition. When you break the skin, it can let germs into your body. We want to support you make the right choice for you, so here are some useful things to know before heading to the salon:​

• Ear piercing, body piercings or tattooing can lead to infections which may cause endocarditis.​
• Microblading, lip fillers and other aesthetic procedures are best avoided as may cause endocarditis.​
• Patients at increased risk of endocarditis are best avoiding these procedures.
• If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to give your Nurse Specialist team a call. For further information, the team at Leeds Congenital Heart Unit have some great resources.

Tips for Healthy Eating

• Eating the right foods is important.
• Try to avoid too many snacks and focus on having balanced meals.
• Learning to cook can be really helpful.
• Planning your meals ahead of time can make it easier to eat well.
• It’s okay to have a takeaway occasionally

but try not to rely on fast food, as they contain a lot of salt and fat, which isn’t good for anyone, especially those with heart conditions.

Mindfulness

Personal and Social Wellbeing Support

Lu, our Family Support/Youth Worker is available when you need to talk and support you if needed. Email lucy.mcmahon@chsf.org.uk or call/message on 07933 185146

Leeds Psychology Service

The Leeds Congenital Heart Unit has it’s own Psychology Service. They are a small team of Clinical Psychologists and Counsellors, who are dedicated to supporting patients and families living life with a heart condition. Find out more.

Teen Connect

Teen Connect is a helpline for 11–18 year-olds. Teen Connect can offer up to an hour of support either by phone, text or online chat. You can have up to an hour with one of their trained staff each night to talk about what you’re going through. Find out more

Leeds Recovery College (18+)

Leeds Recovery College provides free workshops, courses, and training to explore, improve and maintain our mental health and wellbeing. Find out more

Leeds Autism AIM (18+)

Drop-ins, mentoring and advocacy available for autistic adults in Leeds who receive little or no funded support. Find out more

Support national

To access immediate emotional support, teens in the UK can text SHOUT to 85258 for 24/7 crisis text support, call Childline at 0800 1111 for free confidential counselling, or visit YoungMinds for expert-backed wellbeing resources and a dedicated parents’ helpline.

Sex and Relationships

As you get older you might start exploring your sexuality and thinking about relationships.

You may have had sex education lessons at school, but did you know for tailored advise, specific to your needs, you can speak to the cardiac nursing team?

There will be some of the same information, but we can help sign-post you to the most appropriate support when thinking about sex, relationships and family planning. We recommend speaking to your Nurse Specialist team for these kind of questions.​​

It is important to remember when thinking about a sexual relationship, it is about personal choice. It can sound cliché, but it is important you ONLY do things that you want to do. Don’t think about what your friends have done, or what others expect from you. It is up to YOU to decide what is right for your body!

Please email the CCNS team if you would like any more advice: ccns.lgi@nhs.net

If you have moved to the adult service, contact the adult congenital nurses at leedsth-tr.achdnurse@nhs.net

Find more info about Periods, Contraception and Pregnancy on the LCHU website here.​

Helpful resources

Yorkshire MESMAC

This is a Yorkshire-wise support service. HIV & STI testing, 1:1 support, counselling, outreach, condoms, and support. Plus social groups for men who have sex with men, and transgender men. Find out more

C-Card

This is a national service and you can find services local to you once you are enrolled. Individuals aged 13 to 24 are eligible to enroll in the C-Card program.​ The C-Card initiative provides complimentary:​ Support and advice about sexual health;

Condoms, femidoms, lube and dams; Chlamydia screening; Pregnancy testing (selected places).
When used correctly, condoms are the only type of protection that help prevent sexually transmitted infections (STIs) as well as pregnancy. Find your local service here.

Find Your Sexual Health Services

Find sexual health services (www.nhs.uk) is a resource for young people to find their local clinics across the UK.

Rape, Sexual Abuse, Harrassment or Violence

Rape Crisis England & Wales provides free, confidential support for anyone affected by rape, sexual assault, sexual abuse, harassment, or any form of sexual violence – whether it happened recently or in the past. Specialist support is available through a 24/7 support line, online chat, and local Rape Crisis centres across England and Wales.
If you or someone you know has been affected by sexual violence, you are not alone, and support is available. Call free on 0808 500 2222 or go to the website to start a free online chat.