An avid runner, John is pictured here in a race in November 1999.

     The news of heart disease is devastating. Some people become wrought with guilt over lifestyle patterns they chose over the years, many of which may have contributed to the disease. Fatty foods, cholesterol, inactivity, smoking… all of these have shown to increase risk. Other people may experience another form of frustration…that brought about by a healthy lifestyle and genetic pre-disposition to heart-related conditions.

     John Finn was an avid runner. Throughout his lifetime he has run approximately 50,000 miles, participated in 25 Peachtree Road Races, seven marathons and is diligent about going to the track every morning. One morning in 2006, Finn was shocked to discover that he could not do his morning routine around the track. Experiencing an unfamiliar feeling, he called his doctor for some professional insight.

     “He told me to come on in to get this checked out,” Finn said. “My pulse was normally around 56, but when I saw my doctor it was 150.” Shocked by the reading, Finn and his doctor discussed what was happening.

     “He called me ‘genetically impaired’,” Finn said with a laugh, “and told me I should have had this ten years ago, but because I was in such great shape, I was able to put it off…but it would have happened eventually.” When Finn was a child, his father experienced several heart attacks, which contributed to his predisposition for heart problems. According to Finn’s physician, however, his healthy lifestyle was no match for his genes.

     Following his heart surgery in October 2006 that included six bypassed arteries, Finn decided to participate in North Fulton Regional Hospital’s Cardiac Rehabilitation Program. The outpatient program is comprised of 36 one-hour sessions spanning 12 weeks with the goal of providing exercise, education, and counseling to help patients with cardiovascular conditions reduce their risks and help prevent further complications from heart disease.

     “I was interested in the social part of rehab but much more focused on getting my health and fitness back. It was amazing to me that I could lose 40 years of fitness after my surgery,” Finn explained. Channeling his energies into regaining the life he once led, Finn devoted himself 100 percent to the program, even declaring to one of the therapists that he would run five miles by his birthday, which was six months following his surgery. “They [the Cardiac Rehab nurses] had a willing patient in me, but even if someone was not willing, they made it work. They had our primary concerns and interests at heart.”

     So Finn worked…..and worked….and worked, and results have followed. Now one year out from his heart bypass surgery, Finn is back to what he loves: his active lifestyle. He visits
Lifetime Fitness three days a week, runs the other four days and remains ever thankful to the women from the Cardiac Rehabilitation Program he called home for 12 weeks.

     “For me it was fun and not long enough…I could have stayed two hours each day,” said Finn. “From an athletic standpoint, I have gotten noticeably stronger and more fit.”

     Finn is also thankful for the educational aspect of the rehabilitation. Prior to his bypass he had never taken any regular medications, but this changed after his surgery. All of the therapists helped him become acclimated to his pills, teaching him about dosage and when each needs to be taken and how. He has also taken something else with him from his nurses and exercise physiologist that serves as a reassurance that his health is in tact.

     “I now wear a heart monitor with their insistence… now I know how I’m ticking and what those numbers mean.”

     Now back to his pre-bypass lifestyle, Finn could not be more pleased with his experience. He recently attended his 50th high school reunion where he realized he now weighs only three pounds more than the day he graduated. His life has been one of health and activity, but he now understands the importance of knowing family history.

     “This genetic thing…you can’t outrun it. It’ll catch up to you sooner or later.”
But for now, Finn is running at a steady pace, enjoying every minute life has in store for him and his family, and his outlook could not be more positive: “This thing came up out of the blue and we dealt with it, plain and simple. Now…we’re cookin’!”

     This testimonial reflects the experience and outcomes of this patient. Each case is different and must be independently evaluated and managed. Actual experiences and outcomes will vary.

     The Cardiac Rehabilitation Program at North Fulton Regional Hospital is certified by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation and is designed for people recovering from heart attack and/or chest pain. The two-phase program includes outpatient services that utilize exercise, education, and counseling to help patients with cardiovascular conditions reduce their risks and help prevent further complications from heart disease.

     For more information on the Cardiac Rehabilitation Program at North Fulton Regional Hospital, call the Cardiac Rehabilitation Coordinator at 770-751-2785, or visit www.northfultonregional.com/rehab.