I had suffered a Heart Attack. I was stunned. I could not believe my ears. Heart Attack? Me? How? I am only 41. The diagnosis felt as if it came out of nowhere. To be honest, that’s not quite accurate. It did not really come out of nowhere. My father had heart disease all his life, which automatically put me at risk.
It is as if it happened yesterday – I was walking the family dog in the park, my head filled with the usual thoughts that occupy a 41-year- old man at the prime of his life. Thoughts about work- “I have to prepare a new presentation for my client by Sunday”. Thoughts about family-“we have to vaccinate our youngest, we are already a month and a half late”- “What about that holiday house in the mountains my wife suggested I should check out” “ Perhaps I will surprise her with it for Valentine’s Day”” It’s been a while since we spent some quality time together”. All these thoughts were circling my mind and then I felt it! An anxiety attack in the middle of the park??
I tugged the dogs leash and tried to stop our playful dachshund Bondy from barking at the bicycle that had passed us, I began to feel a strange burning sensation in my chest and a terrible nausea filled my gut. This was quickly followed by heart palpitations. My heart felt as if it was about to jump out of my chest.
I sat on a park bench and tried to take a few deep breathes. I thought that maybe a few deep breaths would stop the terrible feeling in my chest, but in fact, as the minutes passed, these sensations only became stronger and more intense.
I decided to get up and go home, “I need to lie down” I thought to myself. However, when I tried to get up onto my feet, I felt a sharp pain in the chest. The kind of sharp pain that paralyses you completely. I fell to the ground and could do nothing but whisper “Someone help me”; Luckily for me, the evening hours at this park are particularly busy and a young couple jogging there saw me lying on the ground and ran over to help. The terrible pain that began with my left arm, left me unable to say anything but “Ambulance” to the couple that had come over to help. The hospital I was rushed to gave me a series of tests and some intensive treatment that included aspirin. The diagnosis came back.
I had suffered a Heart Attack. I was stunned. I could not believe my ears. Heart Attack? Me? How? I am only 41. The diagnosis felt as if it came out of nowhere. To be honest, that’s not quite accurate. It did not really come out of nowhere. My father had heart disease all his life, which automatically put me at risk.
Still, I was only 41 and in good health overall…Well, it turns out that not being overweight or a heavy smoker does not make me a healthy person. I was still at risk of getting heart disease. The successful Israeli start-up that will aids your heart health; This heart attack gave me a serious “wake up call” and I knew I had to change.
I have to change.
I remember myself as a child of a parent with heart disease. The stress, the hospitals, the treatments and the endless medications he had to endure. I did not want any of this to be my daughters' memories of me. I had to be a healthy father for them. A quick look at my lifestyle of recent years revealed an uncomfortable truth. My diet consisted of irregular meals, 80 percent of which was junk food. My sleep patterns were unhealthy. Many nights I would find myself sitting in front of the computer until the early hours of the morning, trying to make some changes to a presentation or to fill in a specific report for work.
I’m not sure that I have slept more than five hours since I was promoted to a senior role at work. And of course the big one – smoking. Even though I am not a heavy smoker, I would definitely be “taking a few puffs” between meetings at work.
A new Path
Only an absolute idiot could ignore this warning about their health. The first step was to put together a new and healthy menu for myself, with the help of a nutritionist. I now make sure I eat regular meals that include healthy choices such as whole meal bread, lean chicken, vegetables, fruit, almonds and sometimes the odd sweet. I have added a daily intake of super-food powder which aid heart health This superfood is actually made from grapes and includes all the beneficial heart health properties of wine without the sugar, alcohol and the calories. The next step was to build a training program for me. To be honest I haven’t signed up for the Ironman competition yet but I have added a 20 minute walk to the park three times a week to my daily routine. Bondy loves the new arrangement.
The third and perhaps most difficult phase was getting rid of the cigarettes. I admit, I still ‘sneak’ one or two a week, but I’m sure these will soon be a thing of the past because I’m finally breathing again.
The new Me
It has taken some time but I have begun to embrace my new way of life. Eating healthily and avoiding fast food like pizzas, chips and falafel have made me feel lighter and energised (I even get into my high school sports pants!). The 20 Minute walks have morphed into light runs. I finally quit smoking and the incessant coughs that I suffered from have stopped. I decided to devote more hours to a good night's sleep and reduce my time at home in front of the computer for work. I find that I am now less lethargic and tired during the day. My general mood has become one of vitality and optimism. I very rarely feel stressed and overwhelmed. In fact, I have begun feeling so good that I have added swimming and light running to my training routine and last week I even participated in a local marathon!
If you had told me two years ago that I would run a marathon I probably would have laughed at you or called you a nutcase, or both. The changes physical change, something in my thinking and priorities began to change as well: although a cliché, I realised that life is short and I do not want to waste it on disturbing thoughts and office presentations. I want to sleep with my wife and our sweet daughters in a tent on the beach. I want to jump with the girls on the bed and I want to make them sandwiches with the spreads they love each morning instead of yelling at them to hurry up because I’m late for the meeting.
I can say that I have not felt so energetic, healthy and happy since I was 16 years old. I feel that the surprise heart attack I had is the greatest gift I have ever received. It changed the way I treat my family, my body, myself. It made me a more complete person and, above all, it gave my daughters a healthy father. meet the Israeli development that will support your heart health.
