AVID bushwalker and gardener Kevin Tolhurst noticed the extra strain on his body during physical exertion.
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It still came as a surprise to Mr Tolhurst in late December when he took a stress test and doctors found his heart was not working as it should. He soon had two stents put in.
While physically Mr Tolhurst was healing, he found the psychological scars had the greatest impact on his lifestyle.
Joining HeartBeat Ballarat's weekly walking group is helping the 63-year-old to regain strength and understand what his body has been experiencing.
I find very few people have been through what is the classic heart attack symptoms.
"Doctors can tell you somethings but a support group really helps with everything else," Mr Tolhurst said. "I find very few people have been through what is the classic heart attack symptoms.
"...The operation can leave you inactive for awhile and you lose muscle tone and fitness quite quickly and it's harder to get it back when you're older. Getting back walking with a group helps because I've lost my confidence a lot but you've always got someone with you."
HeartBeat Ballarat is encouraging people to visit their doctor for a heart health check this national Heart Week.
Heart Foundation Victoria chief Kellie-Ann Jolly said heart disease was not always obvious. Medicare-funded heart checks, introduced on April 1, allowed Australians aged 45-plus and indigenous Australians 30-plus to learn their risk of heart attack and stroke in the next five years.
Ms Jolly said it was never too late to get physically active, like walking, and prevent heart disease.
More than two in three City of Ballarat residents are not active enough, according to the Heart Foundation and more than one in three people were obese, which is higher than the national average.
Mr Tolhurst said it was lucky he was still doing a lot of hard, physical work and quickly noticed the extra strain on his body he knew was not normal for him.
He was still undergoing rehabilitation at Ballarat Health Services' Queen Elizabeth Centre. Gradually, Mr Tolhurst is building back to physical tasks in the garden.
"I'm also learning a lot about my condition through the eyes of others in the group," Mr Tolhurst said. "I realise I'm not as bad as what others have gone through."
HeartBeat Ballarat walking group starts by Ballarat Yacht Club on Lake Wendouree each Tuesday at 10am.
Heart Health Checks look at risk factors for heart attack and stroke including blood pressure, cholesterol, diet, lifestyle and family history.
For more details about walking groups and heart checks, visit heartfoundation.org.au or call the Heart Foundation helpline on 13 11 12.
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