Help needed to combat biggest killer
THE Heart Foundation is looking for donations during its Big Heart Appeal for research to help stop heart disease taking those we love.
The organisation’s Big Heart Appeal runs throughout February, culminating in a nationwide street collection on Friday, February 23, and Saturday, February 24.
Heart Foundation medical director Gerry Devlin warns deaths from heart disease are on the rise in New Zealand, in line with global increases.
More than 6000 Kiwis die from heart disease every year.
‘‘Most of us have someone we love who is affected by heart disease in some way — it is still our nation’s single biggest killer,’’ he said.
‘‘Part of the solution is more research into heart disease and specialist training for cardiologists.
‘‘While the Heart Foundation invests more than $3 million in research grants and training every year thanks to our generous donors, we receive many worthwhile funding requests we are simply unable to support.
‘‘We urgently need more bighearted Kiwis to donate so we can fund more vital research programmes to save the lives of our loved ones.’’
Dunedin woman Rosslyn Guthrie said if it was not for her granddaughter and son intervening, she may not have survived her heart attack.
She started to have chest pains in
August last year, so she took a tablet to ease the pain and tried not to think about it.
When the pain did not subside by the next day, she mentioned it to her 16yearold granddaughter Isabella, who lives with her.
‘‘The only reason I went to the hospital was because my granddaughter said to me ‘Nan, you’re scaring me’.’’
Ms Guthrie then called her son, who immediately rang an ambulance.
Within an hour, she had been rushed to the hospital and had a stent inserted.
‘‘As soon as the stent was put in the pain was gone,’’ she said.
Ms Guthrie said the day before she was rushed to hospital she wrote in her diary ‘‘I hope my heart’s all right’’.
Luckily, there was no longlasting damage.
Apart from feeling more tired than usual, there had been no indications she was having heart problems, she said.
Since then, Ms Guthrie has focused on taking better care of her health, not only for herself but for her granddaughter.
She has lost more than 20kg by walking more regularly, eating healthier food and taking part in exercise classes organised by the Heart Foundation.
Although she does not drink or smoke, she had to change her eating habits ‘‘considerably’’ because her life depended on it, she said.
Now, when she goes walking with her granddaughter, Isabella tells her she is walking too fast, she said.
‘‘And I have never had that said to me!’’
The Heart Foundation is New Zealand’s leading independent funder of heart research.
Since 1970, it has invested more than $60 million in research and specialist training.
It also offers a wide range of activities devoted to helping support people with heart disease, plus educational programmes and campaigns that promote hearthealthy living.
You can make a donation to fund vital research by calling 0800 830 100 or online at heartfoundation.org.nz/donate.