We all love hashing, otherwise we would not be out there every week enjoying the exercise and camaraderie. However, we all take one thing for granted - our health ! Let me impart my own experience for those who do not already know. Last September, half way round the Mantin Ballbreaker, I started having dizzy spells climbing up the steep slopes . I rested up for a few minutes before continuing, but this recurred several times over the course of the run. Having never experienced this before, I put this down to 'ball-breaker fatigue' and thought no more of it.
However, thereafter at every hash run, whenever I pushed myself uphill, I started experiencing a burning sensation across the front of my chest. This disappeared upon going downhill again, however, I was now concerned. Remembering our friend Bengkok, who I was with in Kinrara when he passed away, plus reminding myself of the lady who died on the Klang 1500th celebration run that I also attended, I decided to have a full medical check up.
My check up included 3 important tests; an ECG (to test the electrics of my heart), a heart echo-cardiogram (to check shape and valve operation), plus a stress test on a running machine for 13 minutes (to check overall heart function).
Being the sometime FRB that I am, this last test made me laugh because they said I would run at 3 increasing speed cycles, but they couldn't raise my heart rate sufficiently high enough to obtain results and subsequently put me on their fastest speed setting ! My ECG and echo-cardiogram results were normal, but the stress test diagnosis highlighted a problem. To cut a long story short, an angiogram operation revealed one fully blocked artery, plus another severely restricted resulting in two stents being inserted to solve the problem.
Needless to say, I was shocked, but glad to have been diagnosed, rather than end up as another sad statistic. Following the operation, I do feel like another exhaust has been fitted to my motor, despite previously considering myself to being very fit. Surprisingly, I no longer have high blood pressure that I was suffering from for the last 6 years. In fact, my follow-up fitness regime has reduced my average blood pressure readings to 106 / 70.
My advice to everyone is: no matter how fit you think you are, or if you are unfit but think you have no issues, but especially to those you do have concerns...........get checked out ! It doesn't cost a lot, but could save your life.
On On !
Sir Pository
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