Simple steps give heart patients new lease of life

Date Published: {J}

IF YOU are the type of person whose eyes glaze over when statistics are mentioned, here’s one that should make you sit up and take notice. At least 80 per cent of heart disease and stroke could be avoided if people changed their lifestyles.

That’s the message that the heart and stroke charity, Croí is trying to spread for World Heart Day, which is being celebrated on Thursday next, September 29.

And Croí is putting its money where its mouth is, with a free programme, unique in Ireland, which is aimed at preventing heart disease in people who are diagnosed as high risk.

The Croí MyAction programme was launched over two years ago in collaboration with Imperial College London, with some support from the HSE.

Run from the Croí office in the city’s Liosbán estate, the programme, which helps people quit smoking, improve their diet, deal with stress and take up exercise, is led by a nurse specialist, a dietician, a physiotherapist and exercise specialists. Everything takes place under medical supervision.

And, explains nurse specialist Ann Marie Walsh, it works because they help people by taking “a step-by-step approach”.

Over 800 people from Galway county and city have taken part in the MyAction programme since it was set up in June 2009 and its success has surpassed all expectations.

For Michael Conneely, a 66-year-old carer from Bealadangan in Connemara, the course changed his life.

“I had heart problems in 2004 and two years after that I had emphysema. Two years ago I had cancer in my kidney and had one of them removed and last March I got a stroke.”

His cardiologist referred Michael to the MyAction programme, once he was sufficiently recovered, and the father of seven says it has transformed his life.

A heavy smoker for more than 50 years, he has now quit. He lost a stone weight. And he has taken up exercise – something he didn’t think he’d be able to do on the first day he entered the Croí headquarters on a walking stick.

“Going into the hall that first day was like going into Croke Park,” he recalls.

He was part of a group of about 15 people, he says, but the exercise was designed to suit each individual.

“I started and I kept it up and I’m still keeping it up. I walk for two miles every day, three some days.”

Michael has also started yoga as part of the My Action programme, something which is a source of bemusement to him.

“I never thought I’d be doing yoga!”

His diet also underwent a radical transformation, under the supervision of dietician Clare Kerins.

For breakfast he has simple toast and for dinner he eats a lot of vegetables and less meat than he did before. Also he has cut down on potatoes.

“I’d have two potatoes. I used to have five or six at one time.”

Butter, which was also a staple, has gone.

And while it might seem strange that he could undergo such radical change, Michael doesn’t miss his old diet.

“I’m used to it now. You don’t need treats.”

Giving up smoking was a major achievement.

“I tried giving up a few times but it didn’t work, but they gave me patches and a nicotine inhaler with the patches. I was under a bit of pressure, but they helped me along.”

Michael had two inhalers when he started the course. Now he has got rid of one and barely uses the other at all.

The course has changed his life and he says the back-up support from the team has been a huge help.

“When you are so sick, you think you will never get over it, but I’m over it now and have forgotten all about it.”

Patricia Kavanagh who lives in Clarinbridge felt she needed to start looking after her health following several close family bereavements.

Her doctor told her about Croí and recommended her for the MyAction course. Patricia wasn’t sure initially if she’d be a candidate because she didn’t suffer from diabetes or hadn’t had any heart-related illness. Her cholesterol at the time was a little over five. But because there was a family history of heart problems, Croí accepted her.

When she joined the programme, her blood pressure and cholesterol were monitored, something that continued throughout the 12 weeks. And she found the nutrition advice very helpful. But for her, the chief benefit came from the exercise programme.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.