A Tasmanian study exploring the use of laser therapies to reduce damage caused by stents could revolutionise the outcomes of patients with cardiovascular disease.
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Funded by the Clifford Craig Foundation, cardiologist Dr Rohit Barthwal and general practitioner Dr Michael Fox are leading the project - the first of its kinds to be carried out on humans.
While stents are used to improve the flow of blood to the heart, Dr Fox said many patients experienced subsequent heart damage, with existing treatments either expensive, or painful.
"When you go from having not much to suddenly, within seconds, having a much better blood supply you can get heart damage," he explained.
"We have seen that for decades. There's been lots of research done about the ways we might be able to reduce it, but they have all been either difficult to do, painful, or expensive.
"We hope to prove lasers can be used to do these kinds of things, and be cheap and easy to apply."
Heart disease remains Australia's biggest killer, affecting one in six people. Tasmania has one of the highest rates of heart disease in the country.
Dr Barthwal said the impact of the study could be significant - particularly for people requiring acute care.
"In Northern Tasmania, we have one of the highest rates of cardiovascular disease, cardiovascular mortality and the highest rate of not receiving treatment," he said.
"There are also lifestyle factors to consider - not smoking, regular exercise, diet modification. All of that is just a part of the bigger picture.
"If we look at laser therapy for people having heart surgery, and it reduces the amount of heart damage and perhaps helps in the healing process ... we will be able to extend it to people having heart attacks.
"Because that is where the biggest benefit is going to be."
On October 6 the Clifford Craig Foundation's annual Run and Walk for Your Heart fundraiser will return to UTAS Stadium.
The five kilometre event encourages people to make a commitment towards improving their heart health, while also raising funds for medical research.
To register or for more information, visit cliffordcraig.org.au.
Jessica Willard
Being a health reporter to me is about more than just reporting the problems. It's about asking why they are happening in the first place and what needs to change to fix it.
Being a health reporter to me is about more than just reporting the problems. It's about asking why they are happening in the first place and what needs to change to fix it.
