.jpg)
Gary's heart story
Gary's heart attack came without warning.
Gary talks about going from being a cardiac rehabilitation sceptic to realising it’s what helped him get his confidence, and his life, back.
My name's Gary and in February I had a major heart attack. I was a pretty heavy smoker and I loved having a beer and my father died of a heart attack so after the event it was pretty easy to realise why I had the heart attack. The days before the heart attack were normal as usual. I went to work like a normal day. I started to have chest pains and decided to drive myself to the hospital to get checked out. I got 200 meters from the hospital and basically had a heart attack in the car. From then on in I underwent a stent in my left artery. I had one hundred percent blockage. I'd had no warning signs that morning or the night before, everything was normal. I had fractures in my sternum and in some ribs from the severity of the CPR.
Psychologically, it was very hard. I realized how lucky I was to be alive. My wife and my nurse signed me up to cardiac rehab. What I learnt from cardiac rehab really kept me going. It helped me understand how to continue with my life. My thoughts initially about cardiac rehab were, you know, “I don’t need that I'm a bloke.” I was very hesitant to start with, but once I got it was just incredible. Just to talk to people that had been through the same thing was good and to learn the right type of exercises I should be doing. I wasn't ready for it by any means but you just had to get up and get on with the cardiac rehab and that showed me that you can go for a walk that you can exercise.
The confidence it gave me was really important. Realising that the future still holds a normal life and that I wasn’t going to let what happened change my life. For somebody that started as a big downer, six weeks after I started the course I changed my whole view and it was just tremendous. I can't recommend it highly enough.
Learn how cardiac rehabilitation can help you, or find a cardiac rehabilitation service online. You can also call the Heart Foundation Helpline 13 11 12 for help finding a service near you.
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. ...
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. ...
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. ...
MyMarathon
MyMarathon
MyMarathon
The fundraising race where you set the pace. Run, jog or walk MyMarathon at your own pace during October....
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...
Register your cardiac service with the Heart Foundation
Register your cardiac service with the Heart Foundation
This cardiac services directory presents information on cardiac rehab programs offered across Australia....
Aboriginal heart health
Aboriginal heart health
Aboriginal heart health
Visit the St Vincents Hospital NSW and Heart Foundation Aboriginal heart health website for more information...
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....
Jaxson skips through a bucket list of Sydney landmarks
Jaxson skips through a bucket list of Sydney landmarks
Jaxson skips through a bucket list of Sydney landmarks
Media Release - 15 September 2020...
Heart Health Check Toolkit – Register Your Interest
Heart Health Check Toolkit – Register Your Interest
Heart Health Check Toolkit – Register Your Interest
The Heart Foundation will soon be launching a Heart Health Check Toolkit for GPs, practice nurses and practice managers....
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....
Getting active at school
Getting active at school
Getting active at school
Physical activity resources for school staff....
Lamb recipes
Lamb recipes
Lamb recipes
Find heart healthy lamb recipes....
Heart procedures and devices
Heart procedures and devices
Heart procedures and devices
If you have a heart condition, your doctor may recommend treatment or procedures...
Sorting out your finances after a heart attack
Sorting out your finances after a heart attack
Sorting out your finances after a heart attack
Explore how to manage your financial concerns after a heart attack. ...
Women and heart disease
Women and heart disease
Women and heart disease
Every day, 22 women lose their lives to this condition....
COVID-19 & cardiovascular disease
COVID-19 & cardiovascular disease
COVID-19 & cardiovascular disease
Information and resources for health care professionals....
About the Lighthouse Hospital Project
About the Lighthouse Hospital Project
Heart disease is the number one cause of death in Australia, but the burden of disease disproportionately affects Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples....
Returning to work after a heart attack
Returning to work after a heart attack
Returning to work after a heart attack
Discover how to plan for your return to work....
Acute coronary syndromes (ACS) clinical resources
Acute coronary syndromes (ACS) clinical resources
Resources and clinical information for health professionals...
Q&A with Lauren Blekkenhorst
Q&A with Lauren Blekkenhorst
Q&A with Lauren Blekkenhorst
Research to develop better evidence for the vascular and metabolic health benefits of vegetables and their bioactive constituents....
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....
Improving food supply
Improving food supply
Improving food supply
The Heart Foundation supports initiatives that guide people to healthier food and drink choices. ...
From diagnosis at 37 to heart surgery, rehab and now
From diagnosis at 37 to heart surgery, rehab and now
From diagnosis at 37 to heart surgery, rehab and now
Claude Lam, Open heart surgery survivor...
Sodium and salt converter
Sodium and salt converter
Convert the sodium listed on food products into grams of salt or vice versa. ...
Absolute CVD risk assessment resources
Absolute CVD risk assessment resources
Resources and clinical information for health professionals...
Smoking and your heart
Smoking and your heart
Smoking and your heart
Understand how smoking can impact your heart health. ...
Australian Heart Maps
Australian Heart Maps
Australian Heart Maps
Our Heart Maps allow you to take a closer look at heart disease indicators across Australia....