World Heart Day: Doctor's big scare

World Heart Day is a timely reminder that sometimes the doctor needs a doctor.

General practitioner Terence Heng is a regular runner and bike rider, and thinks he is pretty fit and healthy.

All that changed earlier this year, when the 46-year-old was cycling back to his home in Apollo Bay, Victoria.

"My wife had asked me to bring home a 1.5kg box of blueberries, so I tucked the box under my arm and rode home," Dr Heng recalled ahead of World Heart Day 2023 (Friday 29 September).

"I developed some left-sided chest pain but didn't think much of it given I am young and had very few risk factors.

"But I always advise my patients to get checked, so decided I should book in for a stress test in a couple of weeks to make sure everything was okay."

A week before the stress test, Dr Heng was in Melbourne visiting his friend Dr Sue-Ling Ching, a cardiologist at Epworth Eastern hospital, for her daughter's birthday.

"At the party, Sue-Ling started asking me some questions about the pain I experienced," Dr Heng said.

"She became very concerned and strongly suggested I should have a CT coronary angiogram while I was in Melbourne, rather than wait another week for the heart stress test."

Dr Ching said he should get things checked "as soon as possible" and, despite multiple protestations, Dr Heng finally took her advice.

"Terence had symptoms at minimal exertion which sounded suspicious for significant coronary artery disease," Dr Ching said.

Through the help of their mutual radiology colleague, Dr Anthony Upton, an urgent CT coronary angiogram was arranged for the Monday morning.

As soon as it was done, Dr Heng was told he had severe coronary artery blockages and should go straight to hospital.

"My first reaction was I thought everyone was pulling my leg," he said.

"I couldn't believe it. But, when I saw the results, I didn't know how I had made it this far without having a significant cardiac event."

Cardiologist Dr Michael Rowe arranged another cardiac scan and Dr Heng was then referred to Epworth Eastern cardiac surgeon Dr Michael Yii for bypass surgery to treat severe coronary artery blockages caused by coronary disease.

"I am lucky I had people who encouraged me to get checked sooner," Dr Heng said.

"I didn't think I had a cardiac problem.

"Had I gone to the stress test, I planned to give it my best shot and run as hard as I could.

"I wanted to prove there wasn't an issue and the earlier pain was just a stitch, caused by carrying the blueberries home on my bike.

"Had I run really hard during the stress test, I may have suffered a fatal cardiac arrhythmia."

Dr Heng said he had certainly learned his lesson.

"Don't delay getting checked and don't think it can't happen to you," he advised.

"It can happen to anyone."

Dr Heng has now almost fully recovered and continues to lead an active and busy life leading the medical team at Great Ocean Road Health in Apollo Bay.

"It takes a whole village of people to support someone who has gone through major cardiac surgery and I'm so grateful for all my colleagues and friends who have supported me through this ordeal," he said.

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