Cyril credits cardiac rehab for getting his life back
Cyril suffered a heart attack in 2015. Cardiac rehab helped get his life back on track.
Key takeaways
Cyril’s heart story
“I thought I had indigestion… my wife, Marieanne, and I had some takeaway food that evening and I woke up at midnight with mild chest pain. The discomfort was similar to indigestion and I rated it as four out of ten. I assumed it was indigestion from the food I ate earlier, but the chest pain continued to slowly increase. My wife made me some herbal tea, but it didn’t help. So I took a gastric reflux pill, as it usually fixes everything, and went back to bed.
I still couldn’t get relief, so my wife jumped on her iPad and googled ‘chest pain’. The Heart Foundation website popped up, where she read about the signs and symptoms of a heart attack. I was in denial and continued to protest that it was just indigestion.
Through some previous work I’d done, I suggested Marieanne ring Nurse on Call. After she told the nurse “middle-aged man, chest pain”, they put me on the call to describe what I was feeling. The nurse told me I could be having a heart attack and suggested I go to hospital.
I felt that gave me permission to go to hospital.
We went down the road to the Alfred Hospital where they admitted me. They put all the gear on me and talked about my high heart rate. It was sitting on 220. They said, “You’re having a heart attack, but this is the best place to have it.”
I was looked after very promptly. I remember thinking “Boy, I’m not even 60 and I’m gonna have a heart attack, I may not make it.” After prepping me for an operation, an hour and a half later, I was back in the ward with a stent inserted in the right side of my heart.
Well it was a shock, it was a shock for my two boys, seeing me all plugged and wired up in hospital. My wife, Marieanne, she was the rock. I was healthy, I was fit, I never thought a heart attack could happen to me.
I spent four days in hospital and while there, got some literature about heart disease and cardiac rehabilitation. I was determined to get back to the level of activity I was doing prior to my heart attack, so I signed up to attend a six-week rehab course in Caulfield.
Heart attacks don’t discriminate – women, men, even a young fit guy who was 35 – was in my rehab group. Having a heart attack was my ‘wakeup call’ – you realise you’re not invincible.
Cardiac rehab was a very positive experience for me. We had a physio supervising our cardio and weight activities. A cardiologist talked about understanding heart disease and what it was all about. We had a pharmacist speak about managing medications and side effects. And a dietitian who talked about healthy eating – how to reduce salt, sugar, saturated fats, polyunsaturated fats and read food labels.
It also covered the psychological aspect of recovery – because you will experience feelings and emotions that are quite unique. You might get a little bit angry with yourself – ‘maybe I should have done this or that.’ Rehab helps normalise your experience and emotions – I found it most helpful and you leave the program feeling quite informed.
I always say, “you’re the CEO in charge of your own body”, you need to take control. Cardiac rehab provided me with the structure to get back to the activities I used to do. I was very focussed. Even before I finished rehab, I had signed up for a 5 km charity run.
Two months after my heart attack, I ran and walked the 5 km course in the Run Melbourne marathon. Four months later, I had the confidence to cycle a half Around the Bay in a Day. I exercise with a Fitbit to monitor my heart rate and try to keep it below a certain level.
I met a great group of people at cardiac rehab. We regularly catch up on the last Sunday of every month to go for a walk around the ‘Tan’ (Melbourne Botanical Gardens) and grab a coffee. It’s a very Melbourne activity! We spend the first 10 or 15 minutes talking about how we’re going and then we just talk about life – the social aspect is very good.”
Cyril’s one piece of advice
“I feel cardiac rehab changed my life. It’s the best investment you could make – for yourself and your family.”
Discover more heart stories
Cook with Heart
Cook with Heart
Cook with Heart
Join the Cook with Heart Challenge as seen on Channel 7...
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. ...
My Heart, My Life - Managing your heart health
My Heart, My Life - Managing your heart health
My Heart, My Life - Managing your heart health
This booklet is for those diagnosed with heart disease and their support people....
The Heart Foundation Research Program
The Heart Foundation Research Program
The Heart Foundation Research Program
We are Australia’s biggest non-government funder of world-class research into heart health. Learn more about our high impact research. ...
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. ...
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....
Clinical Guidelines
Clinical Guidelines
Clinical Guidelines
Full list of clinical guidlines and references for CVD, heart failure, ACS, hypertension, atrial fibrillation, SCAD and RHD...
Understanding your heart age
Understanding your heart age
Understanding your heart age
Try our Heart Age Calculator to understand what contributes to your risk of heart disease...
Stay informed about COVID-19
Stay informed about COVID-19
Stay informed about COVID-19
If you have heart disease, you are more vulnerable to severe complications....
Get your family moving
Get your family moving
Get your family moving
Get your kids active and set them up for healthier habits into adulthood....
Dinner recipes
Dinner recipes
Dinner recipes
Search our heart healthy dinner recipes for tonights main meal...
Kylie defied the heart attack stereotypes
Kylie defied the heart attack stereotypes
Kylie defied the heart attack stereotypes
Cardiac rehabilitation was a turning point for Kylie and essential to her heart failure recovery....
Staying active for better heart health
Staying active for better heart health
Staying active for better heart health
Moving more every day is one of the best habits you can have....
Celebrate the life of someone you love by giving to the Heart Foundation in their memory
Celebrate the life of someone you love by giving to the Heart Foundation in their memory
Celebrate the life of someone you love by giving to the Heart Foundation in their memory
Find a cardiac rehabilitation service near you
Find a cardiac rehabilitation service near you
This cardiac services directory presents information on cardiac rehab programs offered across Australia....
Key Statistics: Risk factors for heart disease
Key Statistics: Risk factors for 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...
What is a cardiac arrest?
What is a cardiac arrest?
What is a cardiac arrest?
A cardiac arrest can be survived if you get appropriate and timely help, and know what to do....
The Heart Failure Toolkit
The Heart Failure Toolkit
The Toolkit provides health services with a targeted approach to addressing readmission rates and decreasing variation in care....
Fruit, vegetables and heart health
Fruit, vegetables and heart health
Fruit, vegetables and heart health
How to boost your fruit and vegetable intake to help protect your heart. ...
Heart failure resources for patients
Heart failure resources for patients
Educate your patients on everything they need to know about heart failure and managing their condition. ...
Action Plans
Action Plans
Action Plans
Recovery is a long journey, so having a plan makes a huge difference. Using an action plan gives you a step-by-step guide to improving your lifestyle....
Beef recipes
Beef recipes
Beef recipes
Find heart healthy beef recipes....
The one that took Jan’s breath away
The one that took Jan’s breath away
The one that took Jan’s breath away
Open heart surgery to treat damaged heart valves has improved Jan's overall health....
Driving and travelling after a heart attack
Driving and travelling after a heart attack
Driving and travelling after a heart attack
Explore our guide for driving and heart attack recovery. ...
Protein and heart health
Protein and heart health
Protein and heart health
What are the best sources of protein when it come to your heart health...
Chicken recipes
Chicken recipes
Chicken recipes
Find heart healthy chicken recipes....
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. ...
Supporting Young Hearts
Supporting Young Hearts
Supporting Young Hearts
Advice from young people living with a heart condition...