Omar's Story
A morning stroll, to soothe the soul
After a heart attack, Omar turned to nature to help him heal. Daily walks in the park give him space to breathe and rebuild a healthier life.
"I know being more active is going to help me and my family."
Omar had a heart attack three years ago. He had been living with high blood pressure for 10 years, and this event was "a wake-up call" to motivate him to find ways to look after his health.
After heart surgery, Omar fell into a depressive state, acknowledging that he had done little to address his health issues despite warnings from healthcare professionals. He attributes his heart attack to a sedentary lifestyle, unhealthy diet and work-related stress. Omar shares a feeling of guilt as he felt responsible for putting his wife and three young children through this trauma.
With the support of his family and faith, Omar began self-reflecting, realising how close he had come to losing it all. The phrase "your health is your wealth" resonated deeply. It was time to make a change.
How Omar moves more
Omar's clinician referred him to cardiac rehabilitation sessions organised by Heartbeat, a local charity which supports people at risk of and living with heart conditions to move more. Omar stated that he needed 'tough love' and it was extremely beneficial having someone he didn’t know to 'push him' Omar isn’t a fan of the gym and started walking around the car park with his coach, gradually building up his distance, pace and confidence.
Now, once he's dropped his children off at school, he walks around the park for 45 minutes every day – something he was initially too scared to do alone.
How Omar feels now
Moving more has improved Omar's mental and physical health. He has reduced his work-related stress, and knowing he is taking positive steps to improve his health is supporting his overall feeling of wellbeing. Omar’s fitness has significantly improved, he is less breathless, his blood sugar levels are better controlled, and he sleeps better.
Having a heart attack made Omar re-evaluate his priorities, putting his family first. He now spends more quality time with his children, taking them to school, going on more holidays, and engaging in numerous activities including swimming, gymnastics, rock climbing, and cycling. Together, the whole family has adopted a healthier lifestyle.
Determined to encourage others in his community to become more active he has set up ‘Dads and Lads’ swimming and 'Women's only swim and gym' sessions at his local leisure centre. By sharing his story, Omar hopes to inspire others to create a brighter future for themselves and their loved ones.