John's Story
Before I roam, it starts at home
John faced major challenges - a heart attack, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), and diabetes - but now he’s exercising at home and regaining control of his health and independence.
"Extend and improve the quality of your life by making small changes now."
Just over one year ago, John was driving to a First Aid refresher course when he began to feel uncomfortable and unwell, he pulled over and stopped the car. The discomfort escalated to chest pains and being a Care Worker, he recognised the symptoms and decided to go straight to the A&E.
Following tests, it was confirmed that John was having a heart attack, his blood pressure was dangerously high and he underwent surgery to treat the condition. John now lives with angina, while also living with COPD and diabetes.
Looking back, John claims that the deterioration in his heart health was due to working unsociable hours which led to him making unhealthy lifestyle choices which likely contributed to increases in sugar and fat in his blood. He advises others to “extend and improve the quality of your life by making small changes now”.
John experiences a range of symptoms that can make daily life a challenge, as he can struggle with lifting things such as the kettle when making a brew, he finds it challenging to retain information, his spatial awareness has been impacted, and walking ability has been impaired. But that hasn’t stopped John.
How John moves more
After being discharged from hospital, John was referred to a Cardiac Rehabilitation programme. This programme, led by a physiotherapist and nurse, incorporated blood pressure monitoring at the start of every session and took him through various exercises to build his stamina and strength. He then progressed on to a community rehabilitation programme which focussed on continued movement. John comments “I highly recommend the programmes, I learnt simple things that helped me to help myself.”
John found the specialist support helped him to gain more confidence and a better understanding of moving more to support his heart and lung health. Equipped with knowledge from the specialists, he now confidently performs exercises at home, including marching on the spot, leg lifts, and resistance band stretches.
How John feels now
Physically John now feels stronger, less breathless and his blood sugar levels have stabilised, these improvements have boosted his confidence and improved his mental health.
Being active has enabled John to regain his independence. He now drives to the coast for a leisurely stroll along the promenade or to his local wetland centre, where he walks while admiring the birds. Feeling ready to embark on a new challenge, John has recently commenced a volunteer role at the centre.
John says "It’s taken me a while to accept my ‘new normal’, but I try to focus on the positives and the progression I’m making".