Beatwise The Podcast

About Beatwise The Podcast

Welcome to Beatwise The Podcast, hosted by Dr. Sarah Birkhoelzer. My mission is to bridge the gap between healthcare experts and patients, making cutting-edge medical research accessible and relevant to everyone. Join me for engaging conversations, expert interviews, and practical advice that empower you to make informed decisions about your health and well-being. Tune in to stay informed, inspired, and connected with the latest advancements in healthcare. Let's build a healthier future together! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

Publisher

Sarah Birkhoelzer

Category

education · health & fitness · health & fitness

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

21 Aug 2024

Latest episode

8 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

56 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   8 Oct 2026

   Episode #55: Heart Failure: What the New ESC Guidelines Mean for Your Care

   What do the new ESC guidelines actually mean for people living with heart failure? In this episode of Beatwise The Podcast, I speak with heart failure nurse Becky Hyland, chair of the British Society for Heart Failure Nurse Forum, about how updated European Society of Cardiology guidelines should translate into everyday care in the UK. We explore changes to heart failure definitions and staging, and why recognising people at risk could help shift services towards prevention and earlier diagnosis. We also discuss foundational medical therapy, including MRAs and finerenone, and the practical challenges of getting treatments to the patients who could benefit. But a recommendation is only useful if we can put it into practice. Becky shares her perspective on the barriers facing heart failure services, from commissioning and workforce pressures to prescribing and follow-up. We discuss who checks blood results, who adjusts medication, and who patients can contact when they need support. We also explore why a heart failure diagnosis should be the beginning of the investigation. Understanding the underlying cause - whether coronary artery disease, valve disease, an inherited condition or cardiac amyloidosis - can make a difference to the treatment offered. Finally, we discuss when to consider devices and valve interventions, recognising advanced heart failure earlier, and how specialist referral and palliative care can support patients and their families. Throughout the conversation, we return to the importance of working together and ensuring that patients are involved in decisions about their care. Key issues addressed: Changes to heart failure definitions and ejection fraction categories Heart failure stages and the shift towards prevention Foundational medical therapy, MRAs and finerenone Access to treatment and follow-up for patients with HFpEF Monitoring kidney function and potassium, and adjusting medication Identifying the underlying cause of heart failure The role of cardiac imaging, genetic testing and amyloidosis assessment When to consider CRT and valve interventions Recognising advanced heart failure and referring earlier Palliative care, symptom support and planning around patients’ wishes Workforce, shared pathways and education in UK services Helping patients understand and participate in their care EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: 00:00 What Do the New Guidelines Mean for Heart Failure Care? 02:19 Changes to Ejection Fraction Categories and Heart Failure Stages 04:37 Prevention, Earlier Diagnosis and Teamworking 08:47 Foundational Medical Therapy and MRAs 11:28 Blood Tests, Medication Monitoring and Follow-Up 16:16 Why We Need to Find the Cause of Heart Failure 17:25 Imaging, Genetics and Amyloidosis 21:08 Devices and Heart Valve Interventions 25:47 Recognising Advanced Heart Failure and Referring Earlier 30:51 UK Priorities: Workforce, Shared Pathways and Education 35:18 Where Are the Gaps in Your Heart Failure Service? 38:31 Closing Thoughts If you enjoyed this episode, please like, rate, and subscribe to Beatwise The Podcast. Your support helps me reach more listeners and continue providing valuable content. Don't forget to follow me on social media @sarah.theheartdoc for the latest updates, behind-the-scenes content, and more engaging discussions. Stay connected and be part of our growing community! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

2. 

   4 Sept 2026

   Episode #54: The Comeback of Digoxin? Rethinking Its Role in Modern Heart Failure Care

   Has digoxin been pushed aside too soon in modern heart failure care? In this episode of Beatwise The Podcast, I speak with Prof. John Cleland about the evolving evidence for digoxin and other digitalis glycosides in heart failure, and whether these long-established treatments still have a role alongside contemporary guideline-directed medical therapy. We revisit the original DIG trial and explore why digoxin fell out of favour, from concerns around sudden cardiac death and arrhythmias to the arrival of newer heart failure therapies. Prof. Cleland explains how modern treatments including beta blockers, MRAs, ARNi, SGLT2 inhibitors and device therapy may change the risk-benefit equation. We also discuss the important differences between digoxin and digitoxin, how digitalis glycosides work, and new evidence that is prompting clinicians to take another look at this old class of drugs. So where might digoxin fit into heart failure management today? Prof. Cleland shares his perspective on its potential role as an additional therapy for patients with HFrEF who remain symptomatic despite guideline-directed treatment, as well as its use in congestion and atrial fibrillation. We also explore the evidence in patients with HFpEF and AF, including findings from RATE-AF, and what the DECISION trial adds to the debate. Finally, we discuss practical considerations around digoxin dosing and monitoring - and why Prof. Cleland believes the question of digoxin’s role in modern heart failure care still deserves a definitive large-scale clinical trial. Key issues addressed: Why digoxin fell out of favour in heart failure care Digoxin vs digitoxin: what is the difference? How digitalis glycosides work in heart failure What the original DIG trial actually showed How modern heart failure therapy may change the safety of digoxin The role of digoxin in HFrEF despite guideline-directed medical therapy Digoxin for atrial fibrillation and heart-rate control What RATE-AF tells us about digoxin vs beta blockers in HFpEF and AF Whether digoxin has a role in managing congestion The latest evidence from DECISION and contemporary digitalis trials Digoxin dosing, therapeutic levels and monitoring Why we may need a large, pragmatic digoxin trial EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: 00:00 The Comeback of Digoxin? 00:50 Introducing Prof. John Cleland 01:33 Digoxin vs Digitoxin: What’s the Difference? 02:27 How Digitalis Glycosides Work 03:13 What Did the DIG Trial Show? 04:50 Why Did Digoxin Fall Out of Favour? 06:55 Has Modern Heart Failure Therapy Changed the Risk? 07:39 Who Should Receive Digoxin Today? 08:34 Digoxin in HFrEF and Sinus Rhythm 10:39 Digoxin and Atrial Fibrillation 11:37 HFpEF, AF and the RATE-AF Trial 13:24 Can Digoxin Help with Congestion? 16:22 The DECISION Trial and Current Guidelines 17:24 Low Blood Pressure and Advanced Heart Failure 19:11 Digoxin Dosing and Monitoring 20:57 Does Digoxin Need a New Mega-Trial? 23:43 Final Thoughts If you enjoyed this episode, please like, rate, and subscribe to Beatwise The Podcast. Your support helps me reach more listeners and continue providing valuable content. Don't forget to follow me on social media @sarah.theheartdoc for the latest updates, behind-the-scenes content, and more engaging discussions. Stay connected and be part of our growing community! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

3. 

   21 Jul 2026

   Episode #53: Why Heart Failure Coding Matters: Finding HFpEF and Funding Better Care

   Disclaimer: This sponsored episode of Beatwise has been independently developed and produced by Beatwise, with financial support from Bayer. Bayer has no role in speaker selection or in developing the content. This episode is strictly non-promotional and contains no discussion or reference to prescription-only medicines. In this episode of Beatwise The Podcast, I speak with Helen Kilminster about a topic that may not sound exciting at first but has huge implications for patient care: heart failure coding. We explore why accurate NHS coding is about far more than administration. The way heart failure is identified and coded influences everything from disease prevalence and service planning to funding, workforce, and access to specialist clinics. In particular, we discuss why heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) remains under-recognised despite accounting for around half of all heart failure cases. Helen shares her experience working in primary care, describing how audits, weekly data tracking, and careful review of investigations such as echocardiograms and NT-proBNP can help identify patients who may otherwise be missed. We also discuss the challenges of variable discharge summaries, the importance of clear communication between primary and secondary care, and how better coding can support earlier diagnosis and more proactive management. Finally, we explore how these ideas align with the NHS 10-Year Plan, including community-based care, technology-enabled monitoring, integrated neighbourhood teams, and whether concepts such as "pre-heart failure" coding could help identify high-risk patients before they develop advanced disease. Key issues addressed: Why accurate heart failure coding matters Why HFpEF is frequently missed in clinical practice How coding influences funding, workforce and specialist services The role of primary care audits in identifying undiagnosed HFpEF Improving communication between primary and secondary care Community screening initiatives and raising awareness of heart failure The NHS 10-Year Plan and the future of integrated heart failure care Whether "pre-heart failure" coding could support earlier intervention and prevention Whether you work in primary care, secondary care, or have an interest in heart failure services, this episode highlights why improving identification and coding is fundamental to delivering better care for patients. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: 00:00 Coding sounds boring... but it isn't 01:05 Meet today's guest 03:02 Why HFpEF gets missed 03:26 The reality of heart failure audits in primary care 06:01 Complex patients need joined-up pathways 08:24 The cost of inaccurate coding 10:02 Community screening and awareness initiatives 12:53 How the NHS 10-Year Plan could transform care 16:24 How secondary care can improve coding and communication 20:08 Why discharge summaries matter 24:03 Could "pre-heart failure" coding improve prevention? 26:24 Helen's elevator pitch for improving heart failure care 28:12 Wrap up and final thoughts If you enjoyed this episode, please like, rate, and subscribe to Beatwise The Podcast. Your support helps me reach more listeners and continue providing valuable content. Don't forget to follow me on social media @sarah.theheartdoc for the latest updates, behind-the-scenes content, and more engaging discussions. Stay connected and be part of our growing community! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

Who has been a guest on Beatwise The Podcast

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Dr John Ostrominski
• Dr Emily Haseler
• Professor Charlotte Manisty
• Dr. Ellen Fallows

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Spotify

5.0 / 5

9 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 38 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

57

Social presence

94

YouTube

0

Engagement

0

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Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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