Heart attack jolts Mike into action

Health became a priority for Wellard man Mike Gould two years ago when he was brought back to life by doctors after suffering a heart attack.

In light of the Heart Foundation's annual Heart Week, from May 3 to 9, Mr Gould has shared his story in the hope others might change their diets and start exercising before it is too late.

According to the Heart Foundation's latest statistics, 32.4 per cent of people living in the Perth South West metropolitan region are obese and 46.7 per cent of people are insufficiently active for health.

This year, the foundation hopes to increase physical activity rates and is calling on Australians to "Move More, Sit Less".

It was the morning of April 26, 2013, when Mr Gould woke about 2am with a pain in his back which lasted about an hour.

"At 3am, the pain came round to my chest and then by 4am I thought 'I think I should go to hospital'," he said.

Until that point in his life, Mr Gould worked away in the Pilbara as a trainer and assessor.

He said the lifestyle left little time for exercise and he ate big meals provided by the camps and often snacked on junk food throughout the day.

"Eventually, it took its toll and that was it," Mr Gould said.

When he arrived at Rockingham General Hospital, doctors performed an ECG - a medical test to detect cardiac abnormalities - and found something was wrong.

As Mr Gould went in to be X-rayed, he told the nurse he was fine before everything went black.

Mr Gould was brought back to life by defibrillators.

By 8am, he was at Fremantle Hospital for surgery.

He had four arterial blockages which required two immediate stents and a further two later that year.

Now, healthier and 14kg lighter, the 60-year-old looks at life as if he has been given a second chance.

"I came out of hospital and I had a big change of lifestyle," he said.

"I exercise every day - I go for a walk every day, 4km to 5km.

"Sometimes, I'll ride my bike 10km and I have a different diet altogether.

"You sort of get a wake-up call and think 'gee, I better start doing something with my life'.

"I got two chances, but not every- body gets two chances."

For heart health information, visit heartfoundation.org.au or phone 1300 36 27 87.