.jpg)
Daniel's cardiac arrest helped him discover another problem
Dan was six minutes into his treadmill session when his heart stopped beating.
After a heart-stopping treadmill session, Daniel’s eyes were opened to the fragility our hearts, and life.
Daniel is an HR specialist who lives in Onkaparinga Hills, south of Adelaide, with his wife and three kids. A lifelong footy fanatic – as a player and coach – he’s also an active gym-goer and likes to keep fit and healthy.
Daniel’s heart story
I’m confused and in the back of an ambulance. I have no idea how I got here. Last I remember, I’d started my usual workout at my gym – something I’ve loved doing for quite some time – and was feeling terrific. It was only later I learned that six minutes into a treadmill session, my heart suddenly stopped beating.
I was a fit and healthy 35-year-old with no history of heart problems, yet here I was, the unfortunate victim (but fortunate survivor) of a cardiac arrest. Lucky for me that not only was one of the gym’s trainers quickly on hand to render first aid when I hit the deck, but working out beside me were two surf life-savers and a nurse. Together they commenced CPR and hooked me up to the automated external defibrillator (AED) that the gym kept on premises for just this eventuality. My angels!
Then I was in hospital. Despite a barrage of tests, the medical team couldn’t find anything with my heart’s electrical function that might’ve caused it to stop beating. It certainly wasn’t because of strenuous exercise – I was told that it could just as well have happened while I was asleep or, worse still, while I was driving. I’d had no symptoms and no family history of heart rhythm problems. It was a mystery.
To be on the safe side, they fitted me with an ICD – an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator – a little insurance against future heart rhythm problems.
But that wasn’t the end of my story. To my surprise, while investigating the problem doctors found another issue with my heart: my right coronary artery was half blocked. I was diagnosed with coronary heart disease and told that I was at increased risk of a heart attack.
The cardiac arrest and the blockage in my artery weren’t related, I learned. A cardiac arrest is an ‘electrical’ problem, while blockages in blood vessels are more to do with the heart’s ‘plumbing’. I therefore couldn’t help feeling at least a little lucky that we discovered the blockage when we did, before it caused a heart attack. They quickly fixed the blocked artery with a stent. That experience made me realise the importance of a thoughtful diet and keeping my cholesterol levels in check.To say that not finding the cause of my cardiac arrest is frustrating is an understatement, but I learned to deal with my concerns thanks to some terrific support networks.
The cardiac rehabilitation program at Noarlunga hospital was a big help, and so too was the Heart Foundation and the various social networks out there. It turns out there are lots of people who’ve been in my shoes. The advice I found on how to manage my mental health has been invaluable.
Three months after my cardiac arrest I was back in the gym, full of confidence and determined that my heart event wouldn’t affect my love of exercise. That was four years ago. We probably never will find the cause but I figure that keeping myself healthy and happy is what’s most important to me, and to my wife and three kids.
That said, my experience did awaken in me an urge to help others become more aware of how fragile one’s heart is. To begin with, knowing that the gym’s AED saved my life – along with trainer Mel and the other three good Samaritans, of course – I’m now an avid advocate for increased funding for AEDs. I’m currently working on a Bill with the South Australian Government that hopefully will see these life-saving machines rolled out more widely.
Secondly, the incidental tests that revealed my blockage showed me how easy it would be to overlook a major heart health issue, simply by presuming everything was okay. Fit blokes in their thirties don’t have heart problems, right? I learned that just because you have no conventional risk factors and no symptoms, doesn’t mean your heart is in perfect health.
In short, my advice is to get a heart health check. Don’t put it off.
It’s a message I’ve been promoting through my gym, too. Only recently we held a fundraiser and I’m proud to say that $800 will soon be on its way to the Heart Foundation, so they can keep up their work in the fight against Australia’s biggest killer, coronary heart disease.
Daniel’s one piece of advice
See your doctor and find out about your heart-disease risk factors. Do it for the ones you love.
Discover more heart stories
Fundraise to save Australian hearts
Fundraise to save Australian hearts
Fundraise to save Australian hearts
Join the Heart Foundation community. Together, we can make a real difference for Australian hearts. ...
Heart Healthy Dinner Plan
Heart Healthy Dinner Plan
Heart Healthy Dinner Plan
Sign up now and discover delicious, easy to follow dinner recipes. Plus shopping lists, tips and other helpful information to make healthy eating easy. ...
MyMarathon
MyMarathon
MyMarathon
The fundraising race where you set the pace. Run, jog or walk MyMarathon at your own pace during October....
Support and resources for health care professionals
Support and resources for health care professionals
Support and resources for health care professionals
Our range of clinical and patient support resources are available for you to use in your daily practice....
Are you at risk of heart disease?
Are you at risk of heart disease?
Are you at risk of heart disease?
There is no single cause for any one heart condition, but there are risk factors that increase your chance of developing one. ...
Support us and help save Australian hearts
Support us and help save Australian hearts
Support us and help save Australian hearts
Join the fight against Australia’s biggest killer by supporting the Heart Foundation. ...
Clinical Guidelines
Clinical Guidelines
Clinical Guidelines
Full list of clinical guidlines and references for CVD, heart failure, ACS, hypertension, atrial fibrillation, SCAD and RHD...
COVID-19 info & FAQs
COVID-19 info & FAQs
COVID-19 info & FAQs
Information and FAQs about COVID-19 and heart disease....
Physical activity and your heart health
Physical activity and your heart health
Physical activity and your heart health
Physical activity and exercise can benefit your heart, body and mind....
Keeping your heart healthy
Keeping your heart healthy
Keeping your heart healthy
Keeping your heart healthy is something you can work on every day. ...
Research funding programs
Research funding programs
Research funding programs
Our research funding supports outstanding researchers who share our vision of an Australia free from heart disease. ...
Snack recipes
Snack recipes
Snack recipes
Search for healthy snack ideas...
Wholegrains and heart health
Wholegrains and heart health
Wholegrains and heart health
All you need to know about wholegrains to put you on the right track...
Confidential. Personal. Reliable.
Confidential. Personal. Reliable.
Confidential. Personal. Reliable.
Got a question about your heart?...
Supporting Young Hearts
Supporting Young Hearts
Supporting Young Hearts
Advice from young people living with a heart condition....
Healthy Bowl Recipes
Healthy Bowl Recipes
Healthy Bowl Recipes
Find more heart healthy bowl recipes in our Bowl Foods recipe booklet...
What is coronary heart disease?
What is coronary heart disease?
What is coronary heart disease?
Coronary heart disease (CHD) or coronary artery disease occurs when a coronary artery clogs and narrows because of a buildup of plaque....
Exercises to do at home
Exercises to do at home
Exercises to do at home
All you need to know about keeping active during COVID-19....
Health Professional Ambassador Program
Health Professional Ambassador Program
Health Professional Ambassador Program
Would you like to improve the cardiovascular health of your patients?...
Endorsement of externally developed clinical resources
Endorsement of externally developed clinical resources
Lipid management clinical information and resources
Lipid management clinical information and resources
Lipid management resources for health professionals...
Heart Safe Community
Heart Safe Community
Heart Safe Community
Heart Safe Community is a program that aims to increase a person’s chance of survival if they suffer a cardiac arrest outside of hospital. ...
Heart-healthy drinks
Heart-healthy drinks
Heart-healthy drinks
While water is clearly the most heart-healthy drink, there are ther drinks that can be enjoyed in moderation. ...
Women's heart stories
Women's heart stories
Women's heart stories
Women's stories from around Australia...
Norm discovered he was at risk of a major heart attack just in the nick of time
Norm discovered he was at risk of a major heart attack just in the nick of time
Norm discovered he was at risk of a major heart attack just in the nick of time
Norm didn’t worry too much about his cholesterol problem – until an angiogram revealed he had an 80 per cent blockage in a major heart artery. ...
David’s shock heart failure diagnosis was just the start of a tough journey
David’s shock heart failure diagnosis was just the start of a tough journey
David’s shock heart failure diagnosis was just the start of a tough journey
David's heart failure diagnosis led to significant changes in his life....
Applying for research funding with the Heart Foundation
Applying for research funding with the Heart Foundation
Applying for research funding with the Heart Foundation
Discover more about our various funding programs, requirements, and application dates now....
Food and nutrition position statements
Food and nutrition position statements
Food and nutrition position statements
Join Kate in making a difference to future generations
Join Kate in making a difference to future generations
Join Kate in making a difference to future generations
Kate wanted to find a way she could make a difference to future generations...
Our history
Our history
Our history
For more than 60 years the Heart Foundation has been helping improve heart health across the nation....