Research Timeline - the 1960s

High blood pressure treatment

Effective drug treatments were refined in the '60s, improving the condition of patients with high blood pressure. The progressive development of new drugs and improved awareness of the risks associated with high blood pressure have led to a reduction in heart failure, strokes and coronary heart disease.

Open heart surgery made possible

Thanks to the development of the heart-lung by-pass machine that takes over the function of the heart and lungs, open heart surgery became a practical and successful form of treatment for people suffering from heart disease. Today, open heart surgery has become 'routine' in hospitals which perform cardiac surgery.

Pacemakers begin to transform lives

Implantable pacemakers first became available in the mid 1960s. Their role is to stimulate an excessively slow heart rate which causes breathlessness and sometimes life-threatening loss of consciousness. Over the years, their use has been refined enabling thousands of heart patients to enjoy a better quality of life and return to active work.

Patients receive life-saving heart transplants

Cardiac transplantation became feasible and developed rapidly as a successful technique in suitable patients. It is, however, limited by the shortage of donor organs.

New drugs reduce heart attack risk

Multi-purpose drugs - with the capability of controlling numerous heart problems - were first introduced.

Called 'beta-blockers', they are extremely effective in slowing down a fast heart rate, reducing the heart's need for oxygen, preventing angina attacks and lowering blood pressure. And they can reduce the risk of a heart attack in those who have already suffered from one.

The use of aspirin and of statins to lower cholesterol more recently has also been of benefit.

> The 1970s

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