Students at the University of Warwick were officially declared ‘hale and hearty’ following a two day heart screening health initiative on campus.

Third year History student, Bianca Nobilo, is the founding member and Chairman of the charity, ‘Student Heart Health Trust’. Alongside her studies at Warwick, she has managed to set up the charity, recruit a board of Trustees and secure funding to pay for 200 students to have ECG and heart scans.

With support from the University’s Registrar, Ken Sloan and expert medical input from Professor Franco Cappuccio from Warwick Medical School, Bianca has placed heart health firmly at the top of the student health agenda.

She explained: “Cardiovascular disease and heart disease is the number one cause of morbidity and disability in the UK, and numbers are rising. Increasing numbers of young people are being struck down by heart problems that can lie undetected in seemingly young, healthy students. And following the experience of losing several close friends, I am absolutely committed to increasing awareness and encouraging young people to learn how they can adopt more healthy lifestyles to reduce their risk of developing potentially life-threatening conditions.”

The ECGs were carried out on campus last week by cardiac testing specialists, Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY); any abnormalities shown in the ECG or potential high risk family medical history, meant that the student had a cardiac ultrasound taken straight away.

With recent high-profile cases such as Fabrice Muamba, the footballer who collapsed on the pitch mid-match, young people are starting to realise that they should look after their heart.

“The 200 free appointments were a filled so quickly, we could easily have filled another day. Everyone was so complimentary and supportive which has made me even more determined to continue fundraising to try and establish further events,” added Bianca.

 Notes to Editors:

Picture shows Registrar Ken Sloane with organiser Bianca Nobilo (right) and Olivia Digby (left)
For further information contact Kate Cox, Communications Manager on +44 (0)2476 574255/150483, m: +44(0)7920 531221 or kate.cox@warwick.ac.uk.