'I nearly died - now I want to help others'
BBCAT A GLANCE
Symptoms of a heart attack can include:- chest pain - a sensation of pressure, heaviness, tightness or squeezing across the chest
- pain in other parts of the body - it can feel as if the pain is spreading from your chest to your arms (usually the left arm is affected, but it can affect both arms), jaw, neck, back and abdomen
- feeling lightheaded or dizzy
- sweating
- shortness of breath
- feeling sick or being sick
- an overwhelming sense of anxiety (similar to having a panic attack)
- coughing or wheezing
- Although the chest pain is often severe, some people may only experience minor pain, similar to indigestion. While the most common symptom of a heart attack in both men and women is chest pain, women are more likely to experience other symptoms such as shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting and back or jaw pain
A council leader who suffered a heart attack has helped launch special recovery classes for fellow survivors - one year after his ordeal.
Cardiac rehab classes are up and running in Droitwich, and will remain free for the next 12 months after the sessions were supported by Wychavon District Council.
It comes after council leader, Richard Morris, had a heart attack at home, with his brother helping to save his life.
"This is about feeling confident in yourself, and being able to get back to a sense of normality," Morris said.
There are four recognised phases of cardiac rehabilitation for people who have suffered heart attacks or have had heart surgery.
Hour-long 'phase four' classes - the phase where a professional fitness instructor guides them through a range of exercises - are now available at Droitwich Spa Leisure Centre, every Wednesday at noon.
"The management at Droitwich Spa Leisure Centre have been superb - this is about helping people feel confident in themselves again," added Morris.
"When something like this happens (a heart attack), it just plays with you - you're never overly-confident.
"It just brings the fragility of life into your body, but doing exercise classes like this helps bring about that momentum."
'This is brilliant for us'
Sharon Lamb, who had undergone open heart surgery one year ago, was one of the people at the session.
"I was doing a rehab class provided by the NHS in Worcester, but that came to an end after eight weeks, and I was struggling to find something that was suitable and local," she said.
"This is brilliant because I feel like I can go at my own pace, it's not got the feel of a big exercise class."
David Spoors, who also lives in Droitwich, had a heart attack and a stroke in 2015.
"I was doing a bike ride and thought I was suffering from 'man flu' - next thing you know I was lying on a village green wondering why I'd come off my bike," he said.
"That was on the weekend - I said to my son 'there's no point going to hospital, I'll just go to the doctors on Monday'.
"So when I was told that I'd had a heart attack it was a real shock, I wasn't really prepared for it.
"But I won't let it define me - I've been skiing around the world, I've cycled from Land's End to John O'Groats, and the fact these classes are now available on my doorstep is fantastic."
James Maybury, 81, suffered a heart attack when he was in his 50s - having woken up in the middle of the night with chest pains.
"I remember being with the GP and he said to my wife 'he's having a heart attack, get him to hospital as soon as you can'," he said.
"When you've gone through that it's especially important that you look after yourself - I'm doing well these days, I don't actually drive, so I cycle everywhere."
The council funding has also meant free phase four classes are available at Pershore Leisure Centre between 2-3pm on Wednesdays.
Phases 1-3 of recovery from a heart attack or heart surgery are provided by the NHS.
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