First A Heart Attack, then Hit by COVID-19 Pandemic

After a heart attack last year, 30-year-old Edwin suffered an income loss when he could not return to work immediately. This year, he takes a second hit as COVID-19 paralyses economic activities.

SHF: How are you feeling in relation to COVID-19?

Edwin: I’m afraid of contracting the virus. We can easily catch it by touching contaminated surfaces or objects. I’m also worried about my family members’ health.

How are you coping?

There is significant change in my work, lifestyle, and even my daily activity. Especially, since I cannot go to the Heart Wellness Centre for exercise, I am worried it may affect my health.

I only do some mild exercises such as jogging and skipping rope on my own. Sometimes it is difficult for me to maintain heart rate in the target range, so I dare not run outside alone.

Workwise, I have been forced to stop work totally at this moment, not even do sales pitches online. Because most clients would prefer meeting in person, as they perceive online pitches to lack credibility. I tried to do some business online to cover my daily expenses, but because of new rulings, I have to stop that as well. So now, I have no income at all.

What are you doing to protect yourself?

Try to be socially responsible. clean my hands often with soap and water. If I really need to go out to get food/grocery, I will try to be quick and maintain a safe distance from anyone while browsing or queuing.

Tell us about your heart episode.

I suffered my heart attack due to 95% clogged artery. After my angioplasty and stent placement, I was referred to SHF for cardiac rehabilitation. At the beginning, I was quite depressed as I could not do the activities I use to do in the past, such as Muay Thai and dance. However, my sessions at HWC have helped me and I can see the improvement.

How has the cardiac rehabilitation helped you?

I have shown a lot of improvement in terms of stamina compared to 6 months ago. After my heart attack, I thought I might not be able to do physical exercise anymore. But when the physiotherapist at the HWC told me that I could slowly build up again, that really gave me a glimmer of hope.

Under the supervision of the physiotherapists, I gained more confidence in the exercises.

In addition, the subsidised rate for the cardiac rehab sessions has helped me significantly as I was self-employed. During the period of my recovery, I was unable to work and so did not have any income. The subsidised rate helped lower my financial burden.

Any encouraging message for your fellow heart patients in the time of COVID-19?

Stay safe and healthy everyone, but don’t forget to keep active.

Watch Edwin narrate his heart attack episode and road to recovery in this video by Our Grandfather Story.