Heart help at the click of a mouse

Heart help at the click of a mouse

Isolated heart attack survivors can now access cardiac rehabilitation from the comfort of home, thanks to a ground-breaking website launched by the Heart Foundation.

Sadly, many New Zealanders are unable to get the vital help they need in the weeks and months after suffering a heart event or being diagnosed with heart disease.

They live too far from town, don't have a car or are limited by some form of disability, meaning they can’t attend the usual follow-up and cardiac rehabilitation groups.

The Heart Foundation’s new HeartHelp website (www.hearthelp.org.nz) breaks down those barriers and makes it possible for everyone to access support at the click of a mouse, says Heart Foundation Medical Director Gerry Devlin.

“We’ve created this site because there are so many people out there in New Zealand who struggle to access cardiac rehabilitation, which is such an important process for people recovering from a heart event,” Gerry says.

“The great thing about the site is that people can now simply go on the internet to get heart information and be part of a supportive community.”

Cardiac rehabilitation is a process which helps people make essential changes to their lifestyle so they can return to as 'normal' a life as possible following a heart attack.

However, research shows that fewer than half of those eligible for cardiac rehabilitation actually attend, and a third of those who do attend fail to finish.

“This is really concerning, especially given that 40%-50% of heart attack victims go on to suffer from subsequent events,” Gerry says.

HeartHelp, which has taken more than a year to develop, offers free online access to a wide range of information and advice for heart attack survivors, people suffering from heart disease and their loved ones.

Users will be able to watch engaging videos and read powerful stories featuring other victims, such as league coaching legend Graham Lowe, and health professionals.

Gerry says HeartHelp is a first for New Zealand in that there has previously been no form of online cardiac rehabilitation support.

Auckland man Keith Taulahi, who survived a heart attack in June 2014, says the website will be a huge help to people struggling to cope after a heart event.

“After having a heart attack you feel like that’s it - your time’s up. I felt like a ticking bomb after mine; I was waiting for another heart attack. But when you find out more about it and hear other people’s stories, you can ask questions and start to carry on with your life,” he says.

“For someone out there in a rural area, they’ll be able to just go to this website and find heaps of information.”

Keith says one of the website’s most valuable assets is its many videos and stories with real people talking about their real experiences.

“People will be able to relate to those stories. It will help people who are down in the dumps to realise that life can go on.”

He says having people like Lowe talking on the site shows that “it can happen to anyone”.

HeartHelp is made up of three distinct sub-sites (or tools) to support people through the various stages of their heart journey.

HeartHelp First Steps is designed for people recovering from a heart attack who need to know more about what they have just been through. It guides people and their loved ones through cardiac rehabilitation, including what to expect in the early days, tips for staying well and information about reducing the risk of heart attack.

HeartHelp Community is designed for people who are living with heart disease and want updates on news and events, plus ongoing advice and support to maintain a healthy lifestyle. It offers them and their loved ones a friendly and informative place to gain support and access the latest heart health information.

HeartHelp Directory provides a comprehensive, up-to-date list of support groups and other health providers in a person’s area.

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