A young Hereford man who diagnosed with a heart condition will feature in a British Heart Foundation Podcast.
The British Heart Foundation has launched a new series of its Tickertapes patient podcasts aimed at shining the spotlight on the harsh reality of living with heart and circulatory disease.
The podcasts feature real patients talking about their heart journeys – from diagnosis to dealing with issues such as overcoming depression, living with disability, and having to change career.
One of those is Alex – from Hereford - whose heart condition was diagnosed during an army medical and who had to abandon his dreams of joining the military.
Alex, 25, was born with a bicuspid aortic valve but it wasn’t found until he was 23, just before his 24th birthday.
Ironically, he was diagnosed after an army medical and his hopes of joining up were shattered. Alex had surgery and now has a mechanical valve.
Physically, he is recovering well however it’s been a difficult emotional journey. But he’s determined not to let his heart condition get in the way of living his best life and has ambitions to do an iron man and run marathons.
By sharing their powerful stories, those like Alex want to raise awareness of the life-changing effects of heart disease, stroke and vascular dementia and the need to fund research to save and improve lives like theirs.
Among the others featured in the first podcasts (part of an ongoing series) are:
⦁ Lesley: Who struggled to come to terms with a shock diagnosis of vascular dementia when she was just 50.
⦁ Claire: Who dismissed her heart attack symptoms down to a ‘dodgy sandwich’ and is now living with third stage heart failure.
⦁ Annette: Who battled depression after a life-changing stroke left her feeling like a ‘different person.
The podcasts are being launched as the BHF gears up to celebrate its 60th anniversary later this year – marking six decades of lifesaving, pioneering research.
You can listen to The Tickertapes here www.bhf.org.uk/tickertapes , on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
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