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way future.
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Another spotlight on cardiac athletes. The term cardiac athlete is registered by Lars Andrews, who put together a book called Cardiac Athletes. Lars was a guest on Heart to Heart With Anna. Today will meet cardiac athlete Ed Richie. Welcome to Heart to Heart with Anna Ed.
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Good morning, Anna. How are you?
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I'm doing great. And I'm so honored to have you on the program today. Can you tell us about your cardiac condition?
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Sure. I have been an athlete my entire life, have been competitive triathlete for over 30 years on 55 years of age. And last year, unfortunately, had a heart attack while on a training ride and had to have a stent put in and have been a little over a year. Post recovery and things. We're doing really, really well.
spk_1: 0:52
I can't believe that you were a triathlete and that you had a heart attack because triathletes do an awful lot of aerobic exercise. And you would think that your heart is in the best condition possible. So do they know what caused the heart attack?
spk_2: 1:06
No, we don't. And to complicate it, while in the hospital, I had multiple cardiologists come and visit. And I have no family history. My family sees their 95th birthday. They've been athletic. I don't eat red meat. I don't drink. I don't smoke. I have, ah, relatively stress free life. And so this heart attack really defied explanation.
spk_1: 1:32
Wow, that seems really surprising. So was the heart attack caused by plaque in your coronary arteries? Or do they even know? I
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really don't know. Yes, there was plaque. I was 100% included or blocked in the R. C. A. And there have been signs leading up to it, as as most triathletes will keep a journal of their workouts. And I could see that my swims and my bike's in my runs for the last 60 days prior to the event we're off and I went into my general practitioner and asked for a physical and everything tested out find. So I told my wife that morning I was going to snap the cranks off the bicycle and break through this barrier. And unfortunately, that's when I had the attack. While I'm out on the ride.
spk_1: 2:18
Oh, my goodness. So you had the heart attack while you were on your bicycle?
spk_2: 2:22
Yes, It was a typical early Saturday morning push off very early. Unfortunately, I go on some pretty remote roads and even more unfortunately, I've never used to carry a phone. And so as dumb luck would have it while the heart attack occurred, there were a couple of guys taking an early morning walk across the street and I was able to get over to them and they knew instantly what to do. And the ambulance came and scoop me up, probably within 5 to 7 minutes, and the stent was put in and everything progressed accordingly.
spk_1: 2:53
Wow, so you had two Angels by your side?
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Sure did, and it's typical of to be on a remote road. But in this instance, where it happened was on something a little bit more traveled, and it was pretty unique. There's no question it was going on. I knew I was having one, even though I'd never really had one before. But, you know, there was no way we're going in. It was really, really difficult to breathe. And, you know, these guys were really, really great to me. They sat with me and he assured me that everything was okay and everyone from the and Elin's personnel into the docks and the nurses were a plus. Plus, they couldn't have been better.
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So what signs did you have that lets you know, Aside from the shortness of breath that there was something wrong,
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I couldn't feel my arms and the legs. So everything went numb. Yeah, everything went numb. It felt like a big flush. I felt it go. I mean, there was no question You just felt like a giant balloon burst and everything went numb and dizzy couldn't breathe. And, you know, the immediately had to get off the bicycle because I couldn't even really turn turn. I was on an uphill that when it happened and I couldn't turn the bicycle pedals.
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Oh, my gosh, that sounds terrifying.
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It wasn't fun. And I tell you, it happened so quick, and everybody was just so helpful that I really, really lessen the beer.
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Well, that's good. And it sounds to me like now you don't travel without your cell phone.
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That moron i d bracelet and also a note saying where I'm going to be riding where I'm going to be running and where I'm going swimming. So, um Yeah, there's no getaways into the back roads without a body. Or if I'm gonna be alone, I stay more on the main roads.
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Yeah, I think the buddy is a really good idea at as a mom, I'm going to say you should always have a buddy. I
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agree. Unfortunate thing is, my buddies, they're too fast and too strong. I'd like them to lighten up a little bit. So sometimes just on my own and just enjoy instead of a separate fest.
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Yeah, I hear ya. And so that happened to you a year ago,
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in July of 2016? Yes.
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And so talk to me a little bit about what your cardiac rehab was like.
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That was the initial stage. The first few months. It was painless.
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Really?
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Yeah. It was almost like the heart attack was a non event, because the following Saturday I was back on the bicycle riding of cardiologists approved very, very low heart rate. Look out And I went out on road for about 45 minutes on some flat ground and just enjoyed being out and resume biking, running, swimming, and everything was fine for those 1st 4 months, and it was after that, the gremlins and the demon start to come in, and that's when it got to be a little bit more interesting as far as the recovery.
spk_1: 5:37
So if you were swimming and not having any problems, I have to believe they didn't have to crack your chest. They were able to put the sin in trance catheter,
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correct through the wrist. And really, you know his way through the whole thing. They talked about everything. Yeah, they were just fabulous. You know, first thing Saturday morning and the bedside manner and the calming just really, really took all the big fear out of it. And like I said, the recovery was nothing. Because my cardiologists just said that, you know, doing the traditional cardiac rehab wasn't necessary, that it would have been two fundamental and that I was okay to just resume. Look, you know, under a 120 beats per minute workouts, nothing strenuous. And just listen to your body and just play by your
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wow, that's pretty amazing. But I bet your doctor doesn't often see somebody who's in as good a shape as you were as a triathlete.
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Wow, you know, having now done a little bit more reading on this. We're finding it's a little bit more common than we would all like to admit. Yes, as far as some. And I'm not an iron man. I don't do the long course. I've done a few half irons, but I have mostly in Olympic or a sprint distance or on off road tri athlete. So I don't put in the 20 to 25 hours of training that the big boys and the big girls. D'oh. But there's been some published reports stating that possibly too much of that aerobic activity is not is healthy for us as we think, and their arm or incidences coming out that show aggressive athletes really, really training really, really hard are now seeing more signs off heart disease later in life.
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Wow, I had not heard of that research, so that's pretty amazing.
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Well, and you know it's the Internet, right? So you can find anything you want. And there's nothing worse than an insomniac. At 2 30 in the morning on Google,
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I got to have that to add.
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I think that way
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you have to go searching into the dark stuff sometimes, but I mean, it's, you know, constantly trying to search for Why Why did this happen? We're searching and looking at a couple of things. One, I mentioned that I don't drink, don't smoke, don't eat red meat. A very heavily plant based dime or towards the Mediterranean. But there was a very, very healthy sweet tooth. And soon alia aerobic athletes that is now consuming their body weight in brownies, cookies and pies Because they because they went out and, you know, celebrated earlier with, you know, Ah, real strong 60 mile bike ride and you could justify it. So if I had to point a finger at the issue, I would say that excessive sugar consumption led to inflammation. Led to plaque led to something breaking off, clogging and causing the event.
spk_1: 8:25
Wow. Well, I am so impressed that you did all of that research and that you were open enough to your own foibles that you could point thio what you think might be the problem. So I'm guessing that you've adjusted your diet accordingly,
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heavily. So again, Chocolate was one of my major food groups, and that has really gone to the wayside. As I mentioned earlier there was the 1st 4 months was pretty easy recovery. It was months, five through. I want to say 11 or 12. That really proved to be a challenge. Was what with this medication that I was taking daily off. Very, very heavy case of GERD and indigestion came on, and there was a heavy adjustment to the medications that I wasn't used to taking. I wasn't an Advil taker. I wasn't, you know, really anything. And now I was on a daily regimen off six or seven pills every day. And it was a really, really tough adjustment mentally and physically.
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Right? Right? Wow. But it sounds to me like you're back
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Yes, in full swing. So read it a couple of my training buddies that earlier this summer they just pretty much just had had enough with the whining in the sniveling and just said, Let's go. So let's ah, let's get back out and let's do a couple of aggressive rides And it was exactly what the doctor ordered. So we did some really, really tough swims and some tough bikes, and, you know, I was able to see the heart rate really get up there and stay up there and able to sustain the effort. So with an ounce of confidence came a pound of confidence. And now I'd say the confidence is about 90% there and have raced a couple of times and in back with my buddies and really, really enjoying being active six days week.
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I think those bodies deserve a shout out. If you if you're willing to share their names,
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I can't I can't thank Kevin Ash and Bill Doyle enough. I mean, these guys have just made it fun, and they kept it interesting and all for one in from Matt Smith as well. These guys just eye on my giant pizza. Next time we get
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out, I love it. I love it. So tell me what being a cardiac athlete means to you.
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That's an interesting question, and it's something I don't, um, advertise. I didn't spray it all over Facebook. I don't like to bring it up when I'm with a new group of riders or runner's or swimmers, but it's very important to my psyche. Each day is to know that that event is behind me and that I'm back in the game and able to compete at the level. I'm not still with level I wanna be at but trending in the right direction. So it's really a belief now that the event caused a major shift in nutrition and got rid of the heavy sweet tooth. And so now I like to think that, you know everything is really better than it. Waas, you know, 23 years ago? Well, a 60 seventies and eighties.
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Here is why she always needed a lot of attention. She had strokes. Even though it's a natural inclination to withdraw from the CHD community, I think being a part of it, help me be part of the solution. Heart to heart With Michael Please join us every Thursday at noon. Eastern. I'm Michael even on I'll be your host as we talked with people from around the world who have experienced the most difficult moments
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tonight forever by the Baby Blue Sound collective. I think what I love so much about this CD is that some of the songs were inspired by the patient's many listeners will understand many of the different songs and what they've been inspired by our new album will be available on iTunes, Amazon dot com. Spotify. I love the fact that the proceeds find this CD are actually going to help those with heart defects. Join Music Home Tonight forever.
spk_0: 12:44
You are listening to heart to heart with Anna. If you have a question or comment that you would like to address our show. Recent an email to Anna Dworsky at Anna at heart to heart with anna dot com. That's Anna at heart to heart with anna dot com now back to heart to heart with.
spk_1: 13:01
So it sounds to me like being a cardiac athlete has meant a period of enlightenment for you
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very much, because for those 5 to 12 months where it wasn't going well, I really, really had an appreciation for how much I enjoy being active and it wasn't there and the confidence wasn't there. So I wasn't racing. I wasn't training as hard as I would have liked. And now there's a newfound appreciation and for being able to get out each day and really, really enjoy it.
spk_1: 13:34
I love it. I love it, and it sounds like you're living life to the fullest.
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Completely agree. Yes, there's a lot of time to make sure that I hate to see it sounds so syrupy, but a lot of mindfulness went into all of this part of the neck up recovery Waas, mindfulness and making sure that while out on a bike ride to really, really take in how good that wind feels, How good that sunshine feels, how much the dog is enjoying being out with me on runs and swims. Just being out with friends, being able to, you know, come back from Iran and feel really, really good. The mindfulness has been great from the neck up.
spk_1: 14:10
I love it. That's so great. Well, will you be taking part in Lars is new book.
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I haven't offered a chapter yet, but I would like to reach out to him and see if that's something that I contribute.
spk_1: 14:22
Well, it sounds to me like you have an excellent story and I just am so happy that you came on heart to heart with Anna today. I
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know. And I appreciate you inviting me, and I really, really enjoyed talking with you.
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Well, thanks said it's been fun.
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Take care and
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thank you. And thanks for listening today, Friends, Please come back next week when we'll feature another cardiac athlete, and until then, my
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friend's heart to heart with Emma is a presentation of hearts, Unite the globe and is part of the hug Podcast Network Hearts Unite The Globe is a nonprofit organization devoted to providing resources to the congenital heart defect community to uplift and power and enrich the lives of our community members. If you would like access to free resource, is pretending to the CHD community. Please visit our website at www congenital heart defects dot com for information about CHD, the hospitals that treat Children with CHD summer camps for CHD survivors and much, much more.
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Thank you again for joining us this week. We hope you have been inspired on empowered to become an advocate for the congenital heart defects community. Heart to heart with Anna With your hose down, Dworsky can be heard every Tuesday at 12 noon Eastern time.