Bolton Cardiac Support Group - Domain Name www.boltoncardiacsupportgroup.org

Next Meeting
As usual, in December (Wed 17th), we will be having our annual Christmas buffet where members can meet for a chat before enjoying some festive activities.
Please note that due to catering considerations, this will be an "all-ticket" event.
 
The Bolton Cardiac Support Group would like to wish a very Happy Christmas and Peaceful New Year to all members, partners and on-line viewers of all faiths and none.
  

OPEN MEETING - WED 19th NOVEMBER 2008
 
Robin, an ex-cardiac patient, gave an interesting and amusing account of his cardiac event which started in Scotland and ended in the Pyrenees - not very amusing for him at the time, though!
He explained how, during a cycling holiday in Scotland and then at a Scottish Country Dance a week later, he had experienced breathlessness and discomfort in the chest area. Like many cardiac patients he made excuses for the pain and didn't mention it to his family, knowing that a further three-week holiday was planned around the Pyrenees. However, he consulted his GP who said that he was experiencing typical angina symptoms and prescribed a GTN spray. Robin made sure he packed this with all the family's camping equipment before leaving.
The Pyrenees holiday included groups of carravaners taking part in various activities. Robin was always conscious of possible further angina attacks and tried to avoid many activities but joined others on a 6,000 ft. cable car ride. On the way back a retired GP asked him if he was feeling unwell and pursued this the next day with a long chat quoting observations from others in the group. Robin had also experienced pain during the night. The GP said that if he had entered his surgery with those symptoms he would have called an ambulance.
Robin's wife took the advice and drove him to Lourdes hospital where he tried to explain, with some language difficulties, his symptoms and how he had been feeling over the past few weeks. When the nursing staff assumed he was on a pilgrimage he didn't try to explain his Scottish Presbyterian heritage!
Following blood tests, ECG and echocardiogram, he was diagnosed as having suffered a heart attack and spent three days in intensive care. This was followed by a move to another hospital and two attempts at angioplasty - the cardiologist's monitor having developed a fault on the first attempt.
A week after admittance to the Lourdes hospital and following the excellent treatment in France Robin was back home and enjoyed the benefits of cardiac rehabilitation at Royal Bolton Hospital and a twelve week phase-4 cardiac routine at Horwich leisure centre.
Robin, in his talk, also covered the implications of obtaining holiday insurance following such events. The meeting was attended by about forty members.

OPEN MEETING - WED 20TH AUGUST 2008
 
The visit by three volunteers from the Bolton Mountain Rescue Team was very well received by about 40 members.
We were given a brief history of the team - formed in 1968 to provide a voluntary search and rescue service to the local and regional community. We were also given an insight into the way the Team tackles the various types of emergency and heard about incidents involving aircraft and hand-gliders as well as the more usual missing and injured persons. We saw at close hand some of the casualty care equipment and first-aid supplies and with the help of Ian (member of our committee) we had a demonstration of how to move and secure an injured person onto the versatile stretcher. The meeting closed with a question and answer session.
Thanks again to Bolton Mountain Rescue Team.

About the classes !
Bolton Cardiac Support Group runs a Tai Chi and Exercise class on Monday evenings for its members - one week tai chi, the following week exercise.
 
The Exercise class is based on cardiac rehabilitation exercises. John, our trainer, is a qualified cardiac rehabilitation trainer and tailors the activities to match the individual's fitness level and health needs.
 
The Tai Chi class uses the slow moving forms of this ancient art which is now being recognised for its extraordinary health benefits. Alan, our teacher, is an experienced exponent and has a particular interest in the health aspect of tai chi.
 
The above photo was taken when we were recently visited by representatives from the British Heart Foundation. A report on the visit is included in the April edition of the BHF publication "Heart Health".

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