problems have left you shaken and uncertain about your future, or if you are concerned about heart disease, a new educational support group, Heartline, is ready to help.

Formed by Bermudian cardiologist Dr. Shane Marshall, and patterned on a similar programme he ran in Canada, the local organisation is designed to provide constructive tuition to people with heart-related problems on such topics as diet, exercise and sex, medication, and nutrition.

Heartline co-ordinators are registered nurses Miss Philippa Franklin and Miss Debbie Rogers, both of whom have had extensive experience in cardiology.

"The reason we wanted to start the group was to help people who, despite having received some sort of counselling from their hospital or doctor, are released back into the community with questions unanswered,'' Miss Rogers explained. "Follow-up is not always as thorough as the patient needs.'' Heartline aims to assist patients suffering from all forms of heart disease, those returning from surgery abroad, and also those considered "at risk''.

"Heartline is not just for heart attack victims,'' Miss Rogers assured. "Our clients include people with any type of heart disease: angina patients who are potential heart attack victims, those who have had post-cardiac investigations like angiography, post-angioplasty, and major cororonary artery bypass grafting.'' "At risk'' people include those from families with a history of heart disease, and smokers.

"Ideally, we would like to get people before they have a heart attack,'' Miss Franklin noted. "In addition, when people who have been away for open heart surgery come back there is nothing for them. Heartline will offer extra support and information.'' Unlike many support groups, Heartline is not a forum for people with a common problem to sit around swopping stories and experiences. Instead, through six-part courses, the group aims to educate and improve the lives of those for whom heart disease is a reality.

"Heartline is a learning environment, and meetings are structured,'' Miss Rogers said.

The objectives of each course are: To understand the heart and how it works.

To identify the risk factors leading to heart disease.

To reduce risk factors by adapting existing lifestyles.

Learning how to lead a full life after a heart attack, coronary artery bypass grafting or angiography.

For each of the six weeks, a specific topic will be addressed: Understanding the heart.

Medication.

Psychology of a heart attack and stress reduction.

Nutrition (two parts).

Exercise and sex.

"Dr. Marshall takes the first topic, someone from the hospital's pharmacy department the second; a colleague from the Intensive Care Unit the third; a registered dietitian discusses nutrition, and a physical fitness instructor discusses exercise and sex,'' Miss Rogers explained. "We do two weeks of nutrition -- one theory, the other tasting when the dietitian actually cooks a three-course meal for sampling.'' Discussing risk factors, Miss Rogers said: "In Bermuda it is very important to address this because there is such a high incidence of blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease and stroke for the size of the community. In fact, heart disease and stroke is the number one killer not only in Bermuda but the western world.

"Our aim is to reduce risk factors. While you can't do anything about some risk factors -- e.g. males, post-menopausal women and people born into families with a history of heart disease -- you can correct others, like making lifestyle changes: controlling diabetes, exercising, eliminating stress, not smoking, and doing blood pressure maintenance.'' Miss Rogers explained that, while Heartline was open to everyone, the group was particularly anxious to reach people who were at risk but who, for a variety of reasons, were not getting the advice they needed -- for example, retirees who, because of the high cost of cardiac medication, did not renew vital prescriptions; smokers, labourers and so forth.

Heartline courses take place in the King Edward Hospital's conference room on the first floor. Each two-hour session begins at 7 p.m., and the fee for the entire course is $120, although that may be waived.

"Heartline is not a registered charity, it is not Government funded, and it is not insurance company funded,'' Miss Rogers explained, "so unfortunately we have to ask for a remittance of some description. If patients don't have the money we don't turn them away, but we do need funds to defray expenses.

Also, Dr. Marshall wants to send Philippa and I away on a cardiology course.'' Unfortunately, the fee cannot be claimed under existing health insurance plans.

"In the United Kingdom, the emphasis is on healthcare prevention rather than curative medicine because it is cheaper to keep people out of hospital,'' Miss Franklin explained. "Dr. Marshall is going to approach the insurance companies to see if they are interested in preventive medicine, but unfortunately there doesn't seem to be much emphasis on health care prevention here.'' Miss Rogers stressed that courses were kept small -- approximately eight to ten people per course -- and conducted informally, with opportunities given for open discussion with the speakers. Refreshments were served.

"We get to know the people and have a really good rapport with them,'' Miss Rogers said. "We find patients confide in and ask us things they don't ask their doctor. It has been very rewarding so far.'' For information on the next Heartline course, please contact Miss Rogers or Miss Franklin at 236-2345 extension 1380.

TAKE HEART -- Co-ordinators (left to right) Miss Debbie Rogers, RN and Miss Philippa Franklin, RN have joined forces with cardiologist Dr. Shane Marshall and other King Edward Hospital staff to form Heartline, an educational support group for those who have heart disease and want to know more.