I'm 56 and suffered a heart attack a month ago largely, I'm told, due to a poor diet and smoking. Before the attack I cycled a minimum of 12 miles a day commuting back and forth to work and had done for 25 years. Cycling has been my main means of daily transport in that time.
I was (am?) pretty fit for someone my age and the consultant said this is one of the two main reasons I survived (the other being that I called the ambulance quickly after I realised what was happening). I had an angioplasty, including insertion of a stent, when I was admitted to hospital.
I feel fairly well now and have been going on long walks for the past three weeks. I'm keen to return to cycling as soon as possible. Part of the reason I haven't done so far is that my GP is against the idea. She seems unable to understand that it's possible to cycle with no more effort than walking. I'm seeing my consultant in a week's time and he may have other ideas of course.
Has anyone any advice on returning to cycling after a heart attack? I'd especially like to hear from people who have had a similar experience themselves or have helped others recover in the past.
[Please lay off the stuff about giving up smoking and changing my diet. I know about all that, haven't smoked at all in the past month and am slowly making changes to what I eat].
Cycling after a heart attack
I'm sorry to hear of your problems, and I don't have personal experience either. However, I think you are a bit hard on yourself. You have been doing a lot more exercise than most people, and I'm sure your diet is no worse than many millions of people. There is a huge genetic factor in early heart attacks, so don't just blame yourself.
As far as advising you to cycle, I think it would be a very brave person that advised you to do anything other than take your consultants advice. All the best, and I hope you're back on the bike soon
As far as advising you to cycle, I think it would be a very brave person that advised you to do anything other than take your consultants advice. All the best, and I hope you're back on the bike soon
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Dai
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Marc
Peter
http://www.cfpc.ca/English/cfpc/program ... lt.asp?s=1
This leads to a page on "Activity after heart attack" and it includes cycling. There are caveates and from my skim rading it the consultant who'll be best placed to advice not the GP.
My dad who foolishly tried to ride out his heart attack badly damaged the hearts symetry in killing more of one half than the other! He still smokes and runs up to 8 miles every other day, he felt a heart rate monitor was necessary last year so as not to ver do it, turns out he pushes himself harder do to being less near the limit than he felt!!
Best wishes
Marc
http://www.cfpc.ca/English/cfpc/program ... lt.asp?s=1
This leads to a page on "Activity after heart attack" and it includes cycling. There are caveates and from my skim rading it the consultant who'll be best placed to advice not the GP.
My dad who foolishly tried to ride out his heart attack badly damaged the hearts symetry in killing more of one half than the other! He still smokes and runs up to 8 miles every other day, he felt a heart rate monitor was necessary last year so as not to ver do it, turns out he pushes himself harder do to being less near the limit than he felt!!
Best wishes
Marc
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PeterG
Marc wrote:
http://www.cfpc.ca/English/cfpc/program ... lt.asp?s=1
...
My dad who foolishly tried to ride out his heart attack badly damaged the hearts symetry in killing more of one half than the other!
Thanks, Marc. As it happens, I've already seen that site. I intend waiting to see what the consultant says, of course.
Sounds to me as if your dad's been lucky. I'm hoping that I can get over the smoking before I lose the fear of doing it.
I'm encouraged a bit by Ranolph Fiennes's experience. He is said to have run seven marathons in one week four months after a heart by-pass operation. They did tell me in the hospital a month ago that their aim is to try to get me back to doing what I was doing before in three months if at all possible.
Problem is that the only other people I know who've had heart attacks were fairly sedentary beforehand and so can't really give me anything much to go by. That's really why I asked in this forum even if I did have to wait for a month due to it being down.
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Marc
Peter
The other thought I have is here in Swindon we do cycling on prescription, that is The PCT - the Primary Care Trust link in with Doctors and practice nurses along with local cycling bodies and they in consultation with you will work out an appropaite exercise regime and in the case of cycling someone would chaperone you in the early stages.
Where abouts are you? Who is your PCT?
Marc
The other thought I have is here in Swindon we do cycling on prescription, that is The PCT - the Primary Care Trust link in with Doctors and practice nurses along with local cycling bodies and they in consultation with you will work out an appropaite exercise regime and in the case of cycling someone would chaperone you in the early stages.
Where abouts are you? Who is your PCT?
Marc
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Marc
A few years ago my husband had a 'silent' heart attack whilst cycling through Belgium at the start of a touring holiday. He continued to cycle for three days before I persuaded him that he was not well and we had to find a doctor. He was rushed to hospital and had emergency bipass surgery.
The day after he came out of intensive care he was put on an exersize bike for ten minutes and then each day until after six weeks in hospital we were finally brought home by ambulance. He was not allowed to ride his real bike for three months until the sternam healed.
But although his heart has been seriously damaged because he kept cycling, at 81 he still cycles most days (up to 40 miles on a good day) with the blessing of his consultant - with the proviso that he does not race and always wears his heart rate monitor so as not to push himself.
On a practical level I rebuilt his bike with very low gears and replaced the drop bars with ergo bars giving a more relaxed position
So good luck Peter
The day after he came out of intensive care he was put on an exersize bike for ten minutes and then each day until after six weeks in hospital we were finally brought home by ambulance. He was not allowed to ride his real bike for three months until the sternam healed.
But although his heart has been seriously damaged because he kept cycling, at 81 he still cycles most days (up to 40 miles on a good day) with the blessing of his consultant - with the proviso that he does not race and always wears his heart rate monitor so as not to push himself.
On a practical level I rebuilt his bike with very low gears and replaced the drop bars with ergo bars giving a more relaxed position
So good luck Peter
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Kentish Man
Hello Peter,
congratulations - a) you've survived & b) you made it to 56 before a heart attack - I was 46 and didn't smoke either. You also sound pretty positive in your outlook which I think is a big + factor. Have you been offered a cardiac rehabilitation course? I went on one run by the Occupational Therapists at Maidstone Hospital and found it very very helpful.
I was discouraged from cycling by my GP, and as I hadn't actively ridden for several years, I accepted this. I did find the walking very helpful and I still think that an hour's walking is probably better for you than an hour's cycling, but it just doesn't give me the personal satisfaction.
I eventually went back on the bike 4 years after the event as I came to a point where I felt I was 80 instead of 50! After a first ride of 15 miles that took over 2 hours and found me walking on the level, I gradually got back into the swing of things. Progress was slowish and I found 40 mile rides shattering. Gradually I was able to get mileage up and by the end of the first season, I managed a 100k Audax and had covered 1800 miles.
In 2005 I made a mistake by not riding soon enough but was very worried about riding in the cold. So I didn't resume until May when I had a lot of catching up to do. I started riding to work - 5 miles up hill - and this really helped. Before long I was riding with a CTC section again (moderate distances up to 40 miles a day). In the autumn I rode two 100k Audaxes, and on one covered over 90 miles with riding to the start and back. Overall, 2100 miles for the year.
I bit the bullet and kept riding in the cold - the risk here is that the capilliaries in fingers and toes contract, restrict blood flow and put an increased strain on the heart. I found that with the equipment now available, I was able to keep warm and comfortable over short to moderate distances. However I over did it and had a heavy fall on black ice, leading to 5 weeks off the bike and a number of visits to a very effective sports injuries specialist.
Last spring was vile: very cold and very wet, as you may recall. A horrible 100k in Sussex in April was followed by a brilliant 100k round the New Forest in May. I felt so good at the end of this event that I went back into the Forest for another 38 miles to clock my first century in many years. Rides became longer and more challenging and by the end of the year I had covered 3,200 miles (family committments being the limit, rather than physical ability) including the Lake District. I managed 6 rides of 100+ miles including two 200k audaxes and 135 miles riding to Clapham, Brighton and home on the British Heart Foundation's L2B in June.
Lessons I've learnt include:
do things gradually, short rides 3 or 4 times a week are better than just one long one;
really low gears are a tremendous help. It's easier to twiddle up hill on a tiny gear (20 ins or less) than to walk. Once you have built some stamina, a long, steep climb is feasible without putting up your heart rate or getting out of breath (but I do stop to admire the view every now and then).
If you are with others, go at the pace that's comfortable for you, even if it means dropping off the back and going alone.
Finally, and I do apologise for boring the pants off everyone, medication will have an effect. I'm on beta blockers which make me feel very relaxed and also keep my heart rate at low levels: 52 at rest and about 112 max in the gym - so far (my GP reckons a maximum of 120 to 140, so I can't be trying hard enough) . This must restrict the volume of oxygen that can be pumped to muscles, so I think that it favours long steady rides, rather than time trials and sprints.
Good luck Peter, all of the foregoing is my personal experience and is offered by way of encouragement and to show that a heart attack needn't be the end of your world. If you want to contact me direct, you are very welcome. If you do go on beta blockers, I would like to hear your views, especially if you do cycle and can compare riding before and after.
congratulations - a) you've survived & b) you made it to 56 before a heart attack - I was 46 and didn't smoke either. You also sound pretty positive in your outlook which I think is a big + factor. Have you been offered a cardiac rehabilitation course? I went on one run by the Occupational Therapists at Maidstone Hospital and found it very very helpful.
I was discouraged from cycling by my GP, and as I hadn't actively ridden for several years, I accepted this. I did find the walking very helpful and I still think that an hour's walking is probably better for you than an hour's cycling, but it just doesn't give me the personal satisfaction.
I eventually went back on the bike 4 years after the event as I came to a point where I felt I was 80 instead of 50! After a first ride of 15 miles that took over 2 hours and found me walking on the level, I gradually got back into the swing of things. Progress was slowish and I found 40 mile rides shattering. Gradually I was able to get mileage up and by the end of the first season, I managed a 100k Audax and had covered 1800 miles.
In 2005 I made a mistake by not riding soon enough but was very worried about riding in the cold. So I didn't resume until May when I had a lot of catching up to do. I started riding to work - 5 miles up hill - and this really helped. Before long I was riding with a CTC section again (moderate distances up to 40 miles a day). In the autumn I rode two 100k Audaxes, and on one covered over 90 miles with riding to the start and back. Overall, 2100 miles for the year.
I bit the bullet and kept riding in the cold - the risk here is that the capilliaries in fingers and toes contract, restrict blood flow and put an increased strain on the heart. I found that with the equipment now available, I was able to keep warm and comfortable over short to moderate distances. However I over did it and had a heavy fall on black ice, leading to 5 weeks off the bike and a number of visits to a very effective sports injuries specialist.
Last spring was vile: very cold and very wet, as you may recall. A horrible 100k in Sussex in April was followed by a brilliant 100k round the New Forest in May. I felt so good at the end of this event that I went back into the Forest for another 38 miles to clock my first century in many years. Rides became longer and more challenging and by the end of the year I had covered 3,200 miles (family committments being the limit, rather than physical ability) including the Lake District. I managed 6 rides of 100+ miles including two 200k audaxes and 135 miles riding to Clapham, Brighton and home on the British Heart Foundation's L2B in June.
Lessons I've learnt include:
do things gradually, short rides 3 or 4 times a week are better than just one long one;
really low gears are a tremendous help. It's easier to twiddle up hill on a tiny gear (20 ins or less) than to walk. Once you have built some stamina, a long, steep climb is feasible without putting up your heart rate or getting out of breath (but I do stop to admire the view every now and then).
If you are with others, go at the pace that's comfortable for you, even if it means dropping off the back and going alone.
Finally, and I do apologise for boring the pants off everyone, medication will have an effect. I'm on beta blockers which make me feel very relaxed and also keep my heart rate at low levels: 52 at rest and about 112 max in the gym - so far (my GP reckons a maximum of 120 to 140, so I can't be trying hard enough) . This must restrict the volume of oxygen that can be pumped to muscles, so I think that it favours long steady rides, rather than time trials and sprints.
Good luck Peter, all of the foregoing is my personal experience and is offered by way of encouragement and to show that a heart attack needn't be the end of your world. If you want to contact me direct, you are very welcome. If you do go on beta blockers, I would like to hear your views, especially if you do cycle and can compare riding before and after.
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thirdcrank
- Posts: 36740
- Joined: 9 Jan 2007, 2:44pm
Peter G
I asked somebody I know, a cyclist who had a mild heart attack about three years ago in his late 60's. He had two stents so a similar type of attack to yours but probably less severe - he went to the doc complaining of feeling unwell and a heart attack in progress was diagnosed. He got back to cycling as soon as the consultant said OK. He uses a monitor to ensure he does not over do it, but the last time I met him out on his bike he had just twiddled up a 1:6 hill so he seems to be doing OK. His main advice was 'Tell him to take it steady' (Lifelong non-smoker so unable to help there.)
I was diagnosed with angina almost three years ago (at age 59). My general impression was that the medical profession had no understanding of cycling. There is also a lot of defensive treatment caused by fear of litigation. Unless you are given a very specific reason not to cycle, defensiveness and ignorance may be the cause.
In my case the biggest problem was coming to terms with the sudden change in outlook. The news being broken by the consultant saying 'Welcome to the rich man's club' did not help. For a few months I was in a terrible mental state. The Cardiac Rehab was utterly depressing, catering for people with a much lower state of basic fitness. The advice was conflicting: my GP said if I had chest pain which was not cured by the spray, then to ring 999 because it would be a heart attack. A nurse at one of the rehab sessions advised someone that if they had a chest pain they could use the spray to see if it was only indigestion as that was the most likely cause of pain which did not respond to the spray.
Some minor things get out of perspective: much is made of checking for weight gain or loss but their weighing is quite careless. I have been weighed in light summer clothing and the next time in boots, longjohns, heavy winter clothing, overtrousers and anorak. The people involved could not understand when I pointed out how misleading this was likely to be, just increasing the worry.
In the end, I decided to bash on regardless. I do not think a HRM would benefit me because it would be one more thing to brood about.
So, unless somebody gives a specific reason why you should not cycle, I would urge you to consider getting going again, while you still have the basic fitness. Try to avoid letting it get you down - easier said than done. I am a lifelong non-smoker so I cannot help there - I imagine the effects of giving up or trying to must be a particular extra depressing factor.
Kentish Man
No need to apologise - I thought your post was 100% relevant and helpful.
Re the medication, I am on the usual - beta blockers, aspirin, statins, diuretic, angiotensin whatnots + spray (unused). I think the only noticeable effect of the beta blockers was becoming more conscious of the cold weather. I have slowed down considerably in the last 10 years or so and I do not think the medication plaed much part. I have only overlooked taking them once and by the next morning I was very jittery with no obvious cause until I realised what had happened.
I asked somebody I know, a cyclist who had a mild heart attack about three years ago in his late 60's. He had two stents so a similar type of attack to yours but probably less severe - he went to the doc complaining of feeling unwell and a heart attack in progress was diagnosed. He got back to cycling as soon as the consultant said OK. He uses a monitor to ensure he does not over do it, but the last time I met him out on his bike he had just twiddled up a 1:6 hill so he seems to be doing OK. His main advice was 'Tell him to take it steady' (Lifelong non-smoker so unable to help there.)
I was diagnosed with angina almost three years ago (at age 59). My general impression was that the medical profession had no understanding of cycling. There is also a lot of defensive treatment caused by fear of litigation. Unless you are given a very specific reason not to cycle, defensiveness and ignorance may be the cause.
In my case the biggest problem was coming to terms with the sudden change in outlook. The news being broken by the consultant saying 'Welcome to the rich man's club' did not help. For a few months I was in a terrible mental state. The Cardiac Rehab was utterly depressing, catering for people with a much lower state of basic fitness. The advice was conflicting: my GP said if I had chest pain which was not cured by the spray, then to ring 999 because it would be a heart attack. A nurse at one of the rehab sessions advised someone that if they had a chest pain they could use the spray to see if it was only indigestion as that was the most likely cause of pain which did not respond to the spray.
Some minor things get out of perspective: much is made of checking for weight gain or loss but their weighing is quite careless. I have been weighed in light summer clothing and the next time in boots, longjohns, heavy winter clothing, overtrousers and anorak. The people involved could not understand when I pointed out how misleading this was likely to be, just increasing the worry.
In the end, I decided to bash on regardless. I do not think a HRM would benefit me because it would be one more thing to brood about.
So, unless somebody gives a specific reason why you should not cycle, I would urge you to consider getting going again, while you still have the basic fitness. Try to avoid letting it get you down - easier said than done. I am a lifelong non-smoker so I cannot help there - I imagine the effects of giving up or trying to must be a particular extra depressing factor.
Kentish Man
No need to apologise - I thought your post was 100% relevant and helpful.
Re the medication, I am on the usual - beta blockers, aspirin, statins, diuretic, angiotensin whatnots + spray (unused). I think the only noticeable effect of the beta blockers was becoming more conscious of the cold weather. I have slowed down considerably in the last 10 years or so and I do not think the medication plaed much part. I have only overlooked taking them once and by the next morning I was very jittery with no obvious cause until I realised what had happened.
Peter
Sorry to hear about your problems. I am sure you must take your consultants advice. But as a note of encouragement; I regularly cycle with a mid-week group of CTC old timers. One had a heart attack last summer. Do not know the specificsbut gather it was fairly serious at the time. He was in his mid 60's and farly fit (not doing the regular mileage you were). He was cycling by September and got back into it slowly with the group and is now doing the same mileage and effort as all of us.
We rode about 45 miles yesterday over fairly hilly countryside in very strong winds. He was fine. Hope this helps.
Sorry to hear about your problems. I am sure you must take your consultants advice. But as a note of encouragement; I regularly cycle with a mid-week group of CTC old timers. One had a heart attack last summer. Do not know the specificsbut gather it was fairly serious at the time. He was in his mid 60's and farly fit (not doing the regular mileage you were). He was cycling by September and got back into it slowly with the group and is now doing the same mileage and effort as all of us.
We rode about 45 miles yesterday over fairly hilly countryside in very strong winds. He was fine. Hope this helps.
new health
hi peter
get back on your bike, and look forward to every day.
you know it makes sense.
good luck,
from a fellow bike lover
kevin
get back on your bike, and look forward to every day.
you know it makes sense.
good luck,
from a fellow bike lover
kevin
PeterG, what sort of cyclist are you ? Are you the lycra lout that regularly gets out of breath through working hard or the lardy type that sits on the bike like a sack of spuds pushing high gears and never exceeding 5mph ?
56 seems too young to me - one of the main reasons I cycle is so that I don't drop dead from a heart attack at 56 like my dad
If you're a lycra lout I may be wasting my time
D
56 seems too young to me - one of the main reasons I cycle is so that I don't drop dead from a heart attack at 56 like my dad
If you're a lycra lout I may be wasting my time
D
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thirdcrank
- Posts: 36740
- Joined: 9 Jan 2007, 2:44pm
David
Sorry to put the frighteners on you but I understand they are coming round more and more to the idea that your genes play a huge part in life expectancy. When I started with the heart disease age 59 never smoked, committed cyclist, very low cholesterol etc etc, the fact that my late dad had a heart attack (not fatal) in his mid-fifties was the complete explanation for everything. I presumed that the fact he had been a 50 strong cigs a day (Capstan Full Strength) all his life had been the the cause of that. Anyway, he never had another heart attack but died a painful death age 69 from cancer of rectum. A heart attack would have been a kindness.
Sorry to put the frighteners on you but I understand they are coming round more and more to the idea that your genes play a huge part in life expectancy. When I started with the heart disease age 59 never smoked, committed cyclist, very low cholesterol etc etc, the fact that my late dad had a heart attack (not fatal) in his mid-fifties was the complete explanation for everything. I presumed that the fact he had been a 50 strong cigs a day (Capstan Full Strength) all his life had been the the cause of that. Anyway, he never had another heart attack but died a painful death age 69 from cancer of rectum. A heart attack would have been a kindness.