Cardiac rehabilitation: 'I feel fitter than ever after my heart attack'
"At 85 years of age I never thought I would be going to the gym or walking laps of Mary Peters track."Those are the words of Joe Connolly who is recovering from a heart attack and attending the cardiac rehab service at the Belfast Health Trust.Four months ago, Joe woke up in the middle of the night feeling pressure across his chest."I didn't collapse, there wasn't a sharp violent pain, I wasn't sweating - I just felt this unusual pressure," he said.There was no ambulance available, so he was taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital by car where an electrocardiogram confirmed a heart attack.Joe was still wearing his slippers when he left his home in south Belfast. He had lifted his glasses and mobile phone as he passed the hall table.As BBC News NI's health correspondent, I am used to telling patients' stories but Joe isn't just any patient - he's my dad and this is our family's story of a heart attack, a cardiac nurse and how we all learned to live again.
My dad has been active all his life - even in retirement.However in November, in the early hours of a Saturday morning, our world was shaken when his heart decided to hold a mini protest.I woke up to seven missed calls and a message to ring my older brother.He picked up and calmly said: "Dad is OK, but he's had a heart attack and is in hospital, mum is with him."What happened that night is now a familiar story in the family.Mum initially thought it was just indigestion. But as the pressure and my dad's worried expression increased, she dialled 999.According to my mum, a "lovely woman with a Scottish accent" asked her to describe his symptoms and the advice was for him to chew four aspirins without water.My dad said within fifteen minutes of doing so, the pressure had eased.The call handler said an ambulance would not be available for maybe hours and suggested my mum or someone else could take him to hospital.Forty minutes later dad was at the emergency department - thanks to my brother.It was an anxious time.Eventually he was admitted to a ward, and we waited for a diagnosis and treatment plan.
A weekend admission meant we had to wait until Monday, when a consultant said dad needed a stent procedure to unblock an artery.Staff said a stent was like the refill of a ballpoint pen and when inserted into the artery it allowed the blood to flow to the heart.A second artery which was described as "furry" could be treated with medication.Dad's slot to have the procedure became available during visiting hours - a porter and nurse arrived and whisked him away.He was back within the hour. Drowsy, slightly bruised but relieved."A few weeks after leaving hospital I received a call from the cardiac nurse Susan Kane and that's when things turned around for the better - she is my go-to and at the other end of a phone," he said.
My dad is being cared for by the cardiac rehabilitation team.Once a week, dad joins about 15 other men and women who are recovering from heart disease - including angina, a heart bypass or a stent procedure - in south Belfast at the Olympia leisure centre.Cardiac nurse Susan Kane says it is all about "helping people to feel better about themselves, to help their heart health and mixing helps their emotional health too".Between April 2023 and March 2024, 346 people took part in the cardiac rehab service at the Belfast Trust - by the end of March, 263 had completed the programme and were discharged.It's a similar picture across each of the health trusts where teams including physiotherapists and dietitians are led by cardiac nurses.There is gentle aerobic exercise, cycling and resistance training with light weights."What's important after a heart attack is to be back doing your normal activities again and for your family to treat you normally so you can start feeling like yourself," said Susan."Whether you are 45 or 85 after a heart attack life is not over and you can lead a healthier life, even compared to what you did before."Her mantra is "your heart loves to walk" and she encourages everyone in the group to enjoy the outdoors.Susan advised us not to wrap mum and dad in cotton wool but to encourage them to get out and about, and to get back to playing indoor bowls.I now recognise that I was overly protective in the weeks, even months, after my dad's heart attack and it's taken a long time not to think the worst every time the phone rings.Mum and dad are active, their diet is better and their outlook on life is positive.On Sunday, dad celebrated his birthday.As we left the restaurant, he said he was grateful to be here, that he's never felt as fit and that it feels good to have reached the grand age of 85.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Glasgow Times
2 hours ago
- Glasgow Times
University of Glasgow gives NHS Golden Jubilee new status
The NHS Golden Jubilee in Clydebank has received recognition from the University of Glasgow, marking a major step forward in the hospital's partnership with the academic institution. The hospital is also already recognised as a university hospital by the University of Strathclyde, making it the first Scottish hospital to receive university status from two separate academic institutions. Read more: 'We never knew when she'd have a seizure': Mum on raising child with rare condition Mark MacGregor, medical director at NHS Golden Jubilee, said: "Over many years, NHS Golden Jubilee and the University of Glasgow have forged a strong and enduring partnership, built on shared values of innovation, excellence, and collaboration. "This relationship has gone from strength to strength - culminating in the achievement of university hospital status. "This is a testament to NHS Golden Jubilee's growing role as a major player in healthcare education, research, and clinical excellence, both nationally and internationally." The new status will support the expansion of undergraduate and postgraduate education, including additional clinical placements in musculoskeletal and cardiovascular specialties. Plans are also underway to develop intercalated degree programmes in orthopaedics and critical care. The partnership includes a joint research agenda centred on cardiovascular, critical care, and musculoskeletal health. NHS Golden Jubilee staff will also gain improved access to the University of Glasgow's research infrastructure and grant support services. Read more: Free allergy awareness clinic opening in Glasgow this weekend Professor Matthew Walters, head of the school of medicine, dentistry, and nursing at the University of Glasgow, said: "The University of Glasgow is proud to confer university status on our valued partner, NHS Golden Jubilee. "This important milestone reflects not only the strength of our existing collaboration, but also our shared commitment to advancing clinical and academic excellence, driving forward patient-focused research, and shaping the future of healthcare. "We look forward to deepening this partnership in the years ahead, as together we work to improve patient care, foster innovation, and enhance clinical practice across Scotland and beyond."
Daily Record
2 hours ago
- Daily Record
Households told to move furniture away from walls this week
With humid conditions ongoing across the country, homeowners can help themselves to stay cooler and prevent health hazards After a prolonged spell of dry, sunny weather in May, June has started off cooler. But this week Scotland is seeing some high temperatures once again with the mercury expected to sit in the 20s in the coming days. But unlike the weather last month, this time it's humid with meteorologists saying this heat will feel different to the dry heat we experienced in the spring. And that can mean it's a battle to stay cool while indoors. The warm air we are experiencing just now is due to a flow from the Iberian peninsula. And while in spring, temperatures dipped at night time, this month nights are expected to be warm too. To combat it, there are a few things you can do including rearranging your furniture. Firstly, ensure that windows are opened at opposite sides of the house to allow a good air flow, reports the Scottish Daily Express. And it's a good idea to utilise fans where possible, close curtains during the day and wear loose clothing. Remember to also keep hydrated with plenty of cool drinks. But another little-known tip is to move furniture which is placed up against walls. That's because having couches and chairs pushed up against the walls can disrupt airflow and this can lead to stagnant air. Experts say that this not only stops fresher air from circulating in the home, it also creates perfect conditions for the build up of mould. The higher concentration of moisture in the air creates condensation when the moist air touches a cooler surface, such as the wall, and this can lead to mould. Made up from the structures of certain fungi, mould can cause damage to your home and creates unpleasant odours around the house. It can also be bad for your health and exposure can cause the likes of respiratory issues, allergies and skin complaints. Mould has been linked to the development of asthma and its symptoms. Asthma UK, found that 42 percent of the people they speak to with the condition tell them that mould and fungi can trigger it. Households are urged to keep furniture at least 5cm away from walls where possible. The rising temperatures are expected to trigger thunderstorms in parts of the UK before fresher air moves in at the weekend. Met Office Deputy Chief Meteorologist Mike Silverstone said: "This warm spell will feel different to the fine weather we experienced in May as the humidity will be much higher, making it feel more uncomfortable. "Additionally, while in May the nights were still fairly cool, overnight temperatures this week are forecast to remain fairly warm, which can disrupt people's sleep."
Daily Record
4 hours ago
- Daily Record
NHS Dumfries and Galloway predicts budget burst of £28 million in 2025/26 financial year
The overspend is down from the £33.6 million previously expected and includes £21.7 million of cuts. The financial picture of Dumfries and Galloway's healthboard is improving ... but not enough to win approval from the Scottish Government. A report for Monday's board meeting of NHS Dumfries and Galloway revealed an overspend of £28 million is expected in the current financial year. That's down from the £33.6 million prediction at the last meeting. However, the Scottish Government has set a target of a £25 million overspend. Finance boss Katy Kerr's report states the previous draft plan, submitted at the end of March, was not approved. And while 'additional Scottish Government funding' and 'local improvements' have led to the expected overspend being brought down, it still does not meet the requirements of Scottish Ministers. The previous meeting was told that, as things stood, NHS Dumfries and Galloway was due to overspend by £95 million over the next three years. That position has been improved, with the budget burst now expected to be around £87.5 million. That includes £66.7 million worth of savings over the same period. Ms Kerr reported that more than 50 savings schemes worth around £15 million have been found for the current financial year. The savings target is £21.6 million – more than the record £20.1 million the health board saved last year. Members approved the financial recovery plan on Monday and chief executive, Julie White, said: 'This past year's savings have been hard-won, delivered through changes to financial controls, service reviews and transformation which have impacted the way we work right across oursystem. 'But we're now in a position where we have to go further, and faster. 'The next phase of recovery will be even more difficult, and it will require difficult decisions. 'To deliver the level of savings required, we will have to become more efficient and consider further changes to the way in which we deliverservices. 'We will, however, continue to focus on delivering improvements to our performance, particularly our waiting times for planned and unscheduled care. 'We've shown this year that progress is possible. But we need to be honest about what comes next. 'Recovery at this scale means changing how we deliver care. 'Our focus will be on protecting what matters most — that is the delivery of front line core NHS services to the highest possible standards within our available resources, but we need to be clear this requires us to modernise our provision through areas such as a greater use of technology and digital innovation.'
