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The heart of the matter is, that it’s a matter of the heart

Barry N Fewquandie
Med J Aust 2008; 188 (10): 580-582. || doi: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2008.tb01794.x
Published online: 19 May 2008

When I first learned about the Dr Ross Ingram Memorial Essay Competition through the Healthy Vibe section of Deadly Vibe magazine, I realised it was an opportunity to publicly discuss an issue of significance to all Australians, Indigenous and non-Indigenous alike.

Specifically, the issue is about cardiovascular health, rehabilitation and, more to the point, the levels of participation and non-compliance with treatment of people affected by cardiovascular disease.

Like Ross Ingram, the Koori GP after whom the essay competition is named, I have been directly affected by heart disease. As I read about Dr Ingram and how heart disease cut short a dedicated young Indigenous leader’s life, I decided to do something to sound a warning and be a positive influence on others.

I tell my story to raise awareness of cardiovascular disease, which is claiming the lives of our brothers, sisters, uncles, aunties and grandparents. I would also like to discuss what actions we can take to help our people, the Indigenous community and ourselves.

First I will give some background information about myself. I am 41 years young, of Aboriginal and Australian South Sea Islander descent. At 39 years of age, I experienced an acute myocardial infarction (commonly referred to as a heart attack). I mistook the severe chest pain for heartburn or indigestion, and did not present to a GP until the following morning.

On examination it was clear that I was experiencing acute coronary syndrome. Within less than an hour, I was an inpatient in a hospital coronary care unit receiving all the necessary acute care available.

Eventually I was diagnosed with cardiovascular disease (ischaemic heart disease). I was told I had a 99% blockage of the left anterior descending coronary artery and that 10% of my heart was damaged irreparably.

Surgery was ruled out, as the affected area was “dead” because I had not recognised the symptoms of a heart attack at the time. Had I sought medical assistance earlier, I might have received thrombolytic medication designed to dissolve the blockage. I did not know any of this information — knowledge is power.

I was in total shock and denial when told by the attending GP what was happening inside my body. I thought, “This doesn’t happen to youngish people like me — only to older people in their 60s and 70s!” However, on reflection, all the signs were there:

On reflection, my behaviour seemed as if I was determined to self-destruct. After adjusting to the new reality that I had experienced a heart attack and survived, I realised it was time to make some deadly serious lifestyle improvements as soon as possible.

The changes I made included decisions to attend and complete cardiac rehabilitation, to seriously consider therapeutic lifestyle changes and to comply with all prescribed medications and subsequent follow-up appointments. After I was discharged from hospital, I quit smoking immediately (and have not looked back); completed a hospital-based cardiac rehabilitation program; began to exercise regularly (resulting in gradual loss of 20 kg of excess weight); stopped all use of alcohol; and adopted a low-sugar, low-salt and low-fat diet, including avoidance of red meat and experimentation with low-fat, low-calorie, vegetarian alternatives.

From my perspective, I have been given a second chance. I tell people (anyone who will listen) that surviving a cardiac event can present opportunities to make quality-of-life improvements. A heart attack need not be a death sentence.

My health and fitness levels have improved dramatically. I have 10–15 kg more to lose, but I know it’s possible now. I have also experienced a spiritual awakening that, in turn, has led me to renew my faith and commit to a purpose-driven life.

Despite all this, it took a surprising amount of time to regain my confidence and a healthy level of self-assurance. When this finally happened it was, I think, an outcome of participating in rehabilitation and self-management measures, like taking greater responsibility for my future health. A major factor in my recovery was support from family and friends. It was the existence of these interdependent relationships that was very important in helping me to find my equilibrium again.

Cardiac rehabilitation and Indigenous health management in the broader context of cardiovascular health have become important matters for me since my recovery. Even though I have plenty of fight in me, I am always conscious of the need to not overcommit myself. All the while, there is a sense of impending urgency to give back to others in the Indigenous community who also need assistance. I think of others who don’t know or understand what is happening to their bodies. They may not know how to cope with surviving a cardiac event or heart surgery, and may not be aware of what they can do to reduce the risk of future cardiovascular damage.

The journey from cardiac patient to cardiovascular health advocate

There were many uncomfortable changes after my heart attack.

I was left without a job, as my previous employer decided I was an unacceptable risk as a fly-in-fly-out plant operator on Cape York Peninsula. My personal and social life disintegrated due to psychological aspects such as unanswered questions, post-traumatic stress, self-imposed social isolation, depression and anxiety. Eventually it was family and true friends that made the difference by being there when it really mattered.

Prior to operating machinery for mining companies, I had been an Indigenous community development worker, so I decided it was time to do a refresher course at TAFE* to update skills I hadn’t used for over 10 years. With updated community services knowledge and abilities, I approached the Cardiac Rehabilitation Coordinator at Cairns Base Hospital and the Wuchopperen Health Service, offering to serve as a volunteer in some capacity. Their eager response was surprising and welcome. They were keen to try something different to improve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) cardiovascular health. We discussed employment in a mentoring/coordinating role in an Aboriginal Medical Service-based outpatient cardiac rehabilitation program.

* A Technical and Further Education college.

We had several discussions by phone and email about matters that concerned me. I noticed that many of the Indigenous people admitted to the coronary care ward did not go on to attend rehabilitation sessions. I noted the age differences between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people affected with cardiovascular disease, and thought about the reasons why I had not enjoyed the hospital-based cardiac rehabilitation sessions. I was very curious about what was happening to all those Murri and Islander people once they were released from hospital.

Indigenous cardiovascular health began to affect me again personally only a few months later, with my older brother (aged 45) experiencing heart problems resulting in several unstable angina events, arrhythmias leading to unconsciousness, and several minor heart attacks. He required triple coronary artery bypass graft surgery and a permanent pacemaker, and has to take medication for the rest of his life.

My brother refused to attend rehabilitation and is non-compliant with his medication. He stubbornly believes the heart surgery and the insertion of a permanent pacemaker were a cure-all for his heart problems. He is living on borrowed time as it is, yet he casually spouts that his days are numbered, like everyone else’s, surgery or not.

This difficult reality has driven me to become more involved in Indigenous health. Today I am employed with Wuchopperen Health Service, based in Cairns, as a health worker in the chronic disease management program area. I work with the Continuous Improvement Program team as program coordinator for the Healthy Hearts Cardiac Rehabilitation Program. This is a community-based outpatient cardiac rehabilitation (OCR) program operating from an Aboriginal-controlled community health organisation (ACCHO), working in partnership with the Cairns Base Hospital’s Cardiac Rehabilitation Unit to provide a culturally appropriate and relevant program focused on ATSI people.

The availability of this support through an Aboriginal health service, as opposed to a hospital, is a major positive point for ATSI people attending the Healthy Hearts program.

To date, there have been over 30 people attending regular exercise sessions and education days held at Wuchopperen Health Service since the program began in August 2006.

I have been able to assist the cardiac rehabilitation coordinator with a Cardiac Rehabilitation for Indigenous Communities project that is jointly funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing and Queensland Health. This project is about training staff like me at Wuchopperen and also at the pilot sites of Yarrabah, Coen and Thursday Island. The overall aim of the cardiac rehabilitation project is to enable the delivery of flexible OCR models to these Indigenous communities. I assist the project when and how I can as a cultural adviser, contributing to or participating in cardiac rehabilitation training. Our program provides an Indigenous OCR program role model for similar emerging programs. We have been contacted by over a dozen services seeking advice and information about setting up ATSI OCRs.

I have since become the Indigenous representative for the Queensland Cardiac Rehabilitation Association (QCRA), allowing me to raise matters from an Indigenous perspective in a state forum, attend a Queensland Cardiac Rehabilitation Collaborative forum as a guest speaker and contribute Indigenous-related articles to the national newsletter of the Australian Cardiovascular Health and Rehabilitation Association. I enjoy my role and believe that my story also demonstrates the level of interest and support in northern Queensland for workable solutions to very difficult health issues.

Recently, I have been seeking to promote the Wuchopperen Health Service Healthy Hearts program through interviews with media groups such as the Brisbane Indigenous Media Association, the local Bumma Bippera Media broadcast service and the national Indigenous newspaper Koori Mail.

I think it’s really important to advertise positive things happening in the Indigenous community.

In closing

In the past few months, two young men I knew (seemingly fit and healthy) have died from coronary arrest in their mid to late 30s. It is a very sad thing when young Indigenous men leave their wives, children and extended families at such an early age.

I am certain that, throughout Australia, many Indigenous families can tell similar stories — but this does not have to continue.

It serves as a reminder of why I got involved in this quite serious business, and why people like my two young friends and my non-compliant brother need help.

Health crisis

Every article written on Indigenous cardiovascular health problems inevitably calls for an urgent long-term solution. As an inpatient and now as an allied health worker, I can understand both sides of the coin. I deal with people associated with a health system in which the following issues are a daily reality:

These are only some of the issues I have become aware of in my work as an Indigenous health worker. I am sure there are far more qualified, knowledgeable people in the health field who can discuss the issues and solutions in more detail than I can. These people need to stand up and speak out too.

Regardless, the issues raised represent serious unmet needs that require an urgent solution. Without a concerted effort, I predict the consequences will be dire for the Indigenous community throughout Australia. Governments, health departments, ACCHOs and the Indigenous community must demonstrate they are absolutely serious about improving the future health of Indigenous Australians. All groups mentioned have a role, particularly governments and Indigenous people.

What’s needed is strong leadership from both sides and a coordinated effort, including, for example, examining funded regionalised agreements between ACCHOs and government health service providers and non-government organisations as a possible way forward. These kinds of partnerships and other creative solutions ought to be given due consideration before being dismissed.

The issue of Indigenous health has always been controversial, certainly in my lifetime, and no doubt will continue to be so until the powers that be, namely federal and state health departments, decide to stop the blame-shifting and buck-passing and work together for the greater interest to create policy-driven outcomes, accordingly matched by funding and providing the right people and the necessary resources.

Any review of past and current data relating to Indigenous cardiovascular health makes it clear that it’s time for all of our leaders to show some heart and exercise the political will needed to engage cardiac service/support providers and consumers in a long-term, committed, national response.

View this article on Wiley Online Library
  • Barry N Fewquandie1

  • Healthy Way Chronic Disease Management Program, Wuchopperen Health Service, Cairns, QLD.


Correspondence: bfewquandie@wuchopperen.com

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