Anyone can be at risk and not even be aware of it.
Five years ago, Alex Holton was shocked to discover that he had developed an eight-centimetre dissection in his ascending aorta, a main blood vessel. Within 48 hours he went from being a healthy 23-year-old to needing life-saving surgery to replace the damaged section of his aorta and rebuild his heart.
After surgery he lost all confidence in his ability and even the safety of being an active person. A referral to his local cardiac rehabilitation centre gave a safe, judgment-free environment that helped his recovery in ways he could never have achieved on his own.
Holton decided to “pay it forward” and he and Vanessa Parlette are now cycling 8,000 kilometres in the Cross Canada Ride for Rehab from Vancouver to St. John’s.
One of his goals is to visit cardiac rehabilitation centres like the one at Vernon Jubilee Hospital to promote awareness of the programs for rehabilitation and cardiac health and raising funds for the Cardiac Health Foundation of Canada.
Holton and Parlette were recently in Vernon and he writes about his experiences here on his blog at www.avclubbiking.ca.
Donations to the campaign can be made at www.cardiachealth.ca, with 50 per cent going directly to the Vernon Cardiac Rehab Program and 50 per cent to the Cardiac Health Foundation of Canada. Tax receipts will be issued for donations over $10.
According to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, risk factors that can be controlled include: high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, diabetes, being overweight, excessive alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, smoking and stress. Risk factors that cannot be controlled include: age, gender, family history, ethnicity and history of stroke. For a personalized risk profile take the assessment at www.heartandstroke.ca.
