I’m not a cardiologist, a nurse, a psychologist, a social worker, a nutritionist or even an exercise physiologist. I do have all the experience needed to hold your hand through heart disease.
I'm Jason and I’m a heart disease patient.
I’ve asked all the questions. I experienced the self-doubts. The confusion. The anxiety. The shock. And, eventually, the gratitude for still being able to take a precious breath on this incredible planet of ours.
Living with heart disease is a rollercoaster of emotions and Keeping the Beat was created to help you stay in one piece throughout the ride. The good news is that if you’re reading this, there’s a real chance that you’re still alive. You’ve been granted a second chance. Think of it as a wake-up call to achieve all the things you’ve ever dreamed of accomplishing. A chance to hug all the people you love with just a little more gusto. To notice the sunshine and blue sky (my apologies to readers in the UK). Perhaps to take life a little less seriously.
But, don’t get me wrong, it takes time to see the sun hiding behind the clouds after a gob-smacking heart event. And recovery time, both physical and psychological, is an individual thing.
Heart disease can strike at any age and for a multitude of reasons. It now accounts for 1 in 4 deaths worldwide. Health data compiled from more than 190 countries shows heart disease remains the No. 1 global cause of death with 17.3 million deaths each year, according to “Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics — 2015 Update: A Report From the American Heart Association.” That number is expected to rise to more than 23.6 million by 2030, the report found.
I was almost fifty when I had my wake-up call. Unfortunately, I’m not alone. In fact, hospitals are noticing an epidemic of ‘younger’ people requiring heart intervention.
This was brought home to me when I attended my first cardio rehab session at The Prince of Wales Hospital in Sydney. I was expecting to be the baby of the group, so it came as a shock to find a number of people younger or of a similar age to me. This included a 38-year-old, a 43-year-old and a 46-year-old. I also enjoyed the company of many people in their 60’s, 70’s and 80’s.
No matter what age you are, my aim is to help you understand your disease a touch better and create positive change in your new life so you can see the sunny way forward for a long time to come.
Because you may not be as incredible as me (pause for laughter), but you can definitely be as incredible as you.
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