Heart health warning after gym collapse

FITNESS fanatic Leigh Manley was on a routine visit to his gym when he collapsed on the treadmill.

The 40-year-old, who had completed a marathon and triathlon in the recent past, was found to have an undiagnosed life-threatening heart problem.

Now there are calls for more research to be carried out into these conditions, which are claiming the lives of seemingly fit and healthy people.

“I was on the treadmill when all of a sudden my body lost all energy,” said Leigh.

“I felt light-headed – it was a feeling that I’d never felt before. I instinctively pushed the emergency button.

“I remember feeling that all I wanted to do was lie down on the treadmill. Then I guess I blacked out.

“I was told later that members of the gym put me in the recovery position and called the paramedics.

“I was told that my pupils had dilated, my hands were cold, and I had turned white. I was unconscious for two to three minutes but when I came around I felt fine.”

Due to the length of time he was unconscious, as well as his other symptoms, paramedics advised Leigh to see his GP, who referred him to a cardiologist.

And after months of tests he was eventually diagnosed with the life-threatening condition arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC).

ARVC causes the heart to stop pumping blood around the body properly, resulting in an increased risk of sudden cardiac arrest.

It can also cause abnormal heart rhythms as the heart’s normal electrical impulses are disrupted as they pass through areas of damaged and scarred muscle cells.

On December 20, 2016, Leigh underwent surgery for an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) to be inserted in his chest.

He now takes specific medication to manage his heart rhythm disturbances and will do so for the rest of his life.

“Since I’ve had a defibrillator inserted I’m adapting my lifestyle. It hasn’t been easy and I’m still learning to understand my condition and its limitations.

“This isn’t a lifestyle issue though, it’s a genetic condition and it can develop in the most healthy and fit people.”

According to British Heart Foundation Cymru (BHF), around 30,000 people in Wales have a faulty gene that can cause an inherited heart-related condition.

The charity has undertaken pioneering work to keep people’s hearts beating.

Dr Mark Bannister, BHF Cymrufunded researcher at Swansea University, is part of a team studying a protein inside heart cells called the ryanodine receptor.

This channel releases calcium from stores inside cells in the heart, providing the trigger for each beat.

Dr Bannister said more research was needed into the management of heart arrhythmias.

He said: “When the ryanodine receptor isn’t working correctly calcium leaks out when it’s not meant to. This affects the rhythm of the heartbeat and can lead to heart disease and cardiac arrests.

“I’m interested in stopping defective ryanodine receptor channels from leaking and my current BHF-funded grant involves looking at ways we might achieve that.”

To find out more about the BHF’s research and help fund their lifesaving work visit www.bhf.org.uk/inyourgenes