HEART MATTERS
Sean says he’s had a lot of support from the BHF. “Heart Matters magazine is brilliant. I look forward to every issue and read it from cover to cover,” he says. “I look at the BHF website as well, and I really like the way it explains things simply.”
If you’ve had a heart attack, you should be offered cardiac rehab within ten days of leaving hospital. Ask your cardiologist or GP if you don’t get offered this.
restricted in what you can eat,” he says, “but there are lots of things you can have. My mother made me a lovely fish pie from Heart Matters magazine, and then she taught me how to do it.” He’s lost four stone in weight, and says: “It’s nice to get compliments from people. I sleep better, and my wife says I don’t snore any more.”
Sean was off work for 17 weeks after his heart attack, and had to go through a fitness test before he could regain his taxi licence. “I was really panicking about it,” he says, “but I got through it no problem. The cardiac rehab nurse gave me a lot of support.”
Now back at work, he’s reduced his working hours. “I’ve halved my hours and I’m not any worse off, because I’m spending less on diesel and on garage bills,” he says. “I used to feel bad if I wasn’t working – now I feel bad if I’m not getting out and about outside my taxi. When I’m working I try to move more. I get out of the taxi and see if people want their bags putting in the boot, or I get out and talk to the other taxi drivers.”
Sean even tries to spread the word to other drivers and encourages them to get health checks. Working less gives him more time to spend with his family, and he’s found the benefits of being fitter here too. “When we went on holiday, my nine-year-old taught me to swim,” he says. “I had never swum before, because I was paranoid about my big belly, but this time I was in the pool with my boys every morning.”
All in all, he says: “My heart attack has opened up a whole new life for me. It has made me look after myself. It’s terrible that it took something like that to make me change. I know there is still a chance that this could happen again, but I am doing everything I can to reduce the risk. I feel better than ever”.
PHTM JUNE 2023
Sean says: “I would say to anyone who’s invited to cardiac rehab, definitely go. It gave me back my confidence.”
5 TIPS FOR A HEALTHIER LIFESTYLE
1. Try to do some physical activity every day, so it becomes part of your routine. Walk or cycle to get to places – whether you’re going to work, the shop, or doing the school run. If you need something to motivate you, why not sign up for a sponsored event?
2. Make simple food swaps. Try reduced-fat dairy products instead of full-fat ones. Instead of a packet of crisps or a sausage roll, reach for an apple or banana.
3. If you smoke, stop. It’s the biggest thing you can do to help your health.
4. Cut back on salt. If everyone in the UK cut back by 3g of salt a day, it would prevent 10,000 deaths and a further 10,000 events such as heart attacks and strokes each year. Processed foods are the biggest source of salt in our diets, so read food labels and choose lower-salt options, or make food from scratch versions.
instead of buying ready-made
5. Limit alcohol. Regularly exceeding three to four units a day for men (less than two pints of 4 per cent alcohol beer) or two to three units for women (less than one large glass of 13 per cent alcohol wine) can increase your risk of health problems, including damage to your heart and certain cancers.
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