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TV’s Maitre D’ John Healy talks to the IHF about his two heart attacks
You will recognise John Healy as the affable maitre d’ on RTE’s TV show The Restaurant. The friendly host is a reassuring voice of calm for the celebrity guests as they get hot in the kitchen to impress resident critics Paulo Tullio and Tom Doorley. But behind the scenes, you may not realise that at the age of 45, John Healy has already suffered two heart attacks and is currently living with heart failure.
John told us: “I know it’s crazy. Most people cannot believe that I’ve had two heart attacks because I’m so young. In fact I had my first heart attack back in 2007. My job was quite stressful and I had a hectic schedule with long hours. Even though I gave up drink when I was 35, I wasn’t getting any exercise or eating the right food. So I think the heart attack was a combination of things.
“It was definitely a shock to me having a heart attack. It does affect you and how you look at yourself. Of course then I felt a bit down after it and I went back smoking and having a drink. Then I suffered my second heart attack in November 2009.
“The pain of the second heart attack was worse than the first and I thought, oh no, not this again. I couldn’t believe it was happening to me again. It was so hard after the first heart attack. The cardiologists and doctors are great at fixing the pipework, but nobody tells you about the psychological effect of going through a heart attack. It is tough. And I couldn’t believe I was going to face it all over again.”
John told the IHF how he had to work just as hard at mending the psychological and spiritual side of things, as he had at physical life changes such as eating a healthier diet and going through cardiac rehab.
But despite two heart attacks, John Healy is one of the most uplifting personalities you could meet. His laughter is infectious and although he gets tired easily, John is determined and keen to support the Irish Heart Foundation’s Happy Heart Weekend 2011.
He said: “There is no heart disease in my family, I am young – yet I am proof that heart attacks can happen to anybody. I am delighted to support the Happy Heart Weekend appeal for heart attack awareness. We all need to know how to recognise the signs and know to call 999. If telling my story can help more people support campaigns like this one, I am happy.”
But despite his heart condition, John Healy mustered up lots of energy to launch our charity’s appeal for volunteers with none other than Fair City’s Tony Tormey who plays Paul Brennan in Ireland’s top soap.
John is currently on a waiting list for a heart transplant and he encourages everyone to carry a donor card.
Almost five years ago (2006) Nick, a graphic designer from Dundrum in Dublin, suffered a massive coronary.
He was not overweight but admits to being a chain-smoker with a sweet tooth. The dad-of-five said: “I was always extremely healthy. All my life I ate healthy food and did plenty of sports and exercise. However, I smoked. I could get through 20 a day. I started when I was 13, as soon as I was old enough to steal cigarettes from my dad without him noticing. All the guys in school did it, it was the grown up thing to do."
Like most youngsters Nick did not think about the future. But at the age of 69 Nick's smoking almost claimed his life when he suffered a heart attack.
Like many heart attack survivors, Nick did not realise at first that the pain in his chest was actually a major warning sign for heart attack. When the pain wouldn’t go away Nick started to worry and woke up his wife because it was late at night. But Nick is one of the lucky ones, who is still able to tell his tale.
Too often men experience symptoms of heart attack which they mistake for indigestion or some ignore pains in the chest, neck, arms or jaw, hoping they will go away. But the message from the Irish Heart Foundation is that there is no time to waste.
Call 999 immediately if you think you or a loved one is experiencing heart attack symptoms. It is a happier day for paramedics and A&E staff if they can send you home again well and healthy.
'I am proof that CPR saves lives!'
Diarmuid O'Connell was a 24 year old teacher from Cork, but unlike most other men of his age, Diarmuid nearly lost his life in February 2009 when his heart stopped beating! The incident happened when he collapsed to the ground with sudden cardiac arrest during a game of football.
Fortunately, for the wing forward, a fellow teacher and teammate Gerard O'Leary, 28, realised the serious nature of Diarmuid's collapse and immediately started performing CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation).
Gerard was trained by the Irish Heart Foundation as part of a CPR pilot programme in secondary schools and wasted no time stepping in to save his friend. He said 'it was about 10 minutes into the second half when I saw Diarmuid lying on the ground. At first I thought he was winded and I ran over to see if he was okay. As soon as I reached him I could hear that he was struggling to breathe and I knew it was serious.
'I started giving CPR and someone ran off for a defibrillator. When the defib arrived I gave Diarmuid a shock and continued to do CPR compressions on his chest. I had to keep doing CPR for about 15 minutes until the ambulance came. I should have been tired but the adrenalin was pumping. I'm just glad he's alive.'
Meanwhile Diarmuid was unconscious, has very little recollection of what happened. He said 'I don't remember much about it. One minute I was playing football and the next I was waking up in hospital. But one thing I am sure of is that I wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for CPR. I am living proof that CPR saves lives.'
Since his collapse both Diarmuid and Gerard act as ambassadors for the Irish Heart Foundation and for CPR, paying visits to schools to spread the importance of these life saving skills.
If you have any heart related stories that you would like to share, we would love to hear from you. Please contact Ciara on 668 5001 or email cmealy@irishheart.ie