I Had to Go to the Hospital for My Erratic Heartbeat, but Because I Walk, I’m Healthy Today
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I remember it very clearly, that day in November when I had a heart scare. I was sitting on the kitchen counter, saying goodbye to family and friends who had been visiting that day when I got a shock that changed my life. I was relaxed, yet my Fitbit began to congratulate me for doing an aerobic activity. My heart rate had jumped drastically, even though I was sitting still!
I was terrified, because genetically speaking, I was already headed toward heart problems. My mother and father each suffer from different heart related issues, and I was inactive for a lot of my adult life. When I noticed this unusual heart activity my husband and I immediately left for the emergency room. But even after numerous tests, the doctors couldn’t quite figure out what had happened to me that afternoon. I was referred to a cardiologist.
Enter: the stress test, or an exercise test performed on a treadmill meant to determine how your heart performs during physical activity. I was nervous. I was scared that something would go wrong—that I would struggle or the test would show issues within my heart. As I was walking on the treadmill, trying to reach my target of 140 beats per minute, the staff remarked how well I was doing—and I ended up passing the test with flying colors. I told the medical staff: “I totally blame it on the ladies at 99 Walks. If it wasn’t for them I wouldn’t have been able to survive this.” And it’s true. You see, the previous March I stumbled upon 99 Walks, an interactive app meant to encourage you to set and complete walking goals every month. It’s been the best investment I have made for myself.
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It’s hard to believe that when I first discovered 99 Walks I thought, Who needs an app for this? You can walk by yourself! But the theme for that month was ‘‘Go All In.” I took it as a sign to give it a try, because my husband is a poker player and I wanted to join, go all in—you can earn a bracelet with the theme on it each month, and I wanted to win it for him.
With 99 Walks, you set your own mileage goal, which we call ‘Goldilock goals’—what fits just right, for you. Then you get out there and move. It’s not about how long or how far you walk, it’s about making the effort. And you can always adjust your goals depending on how the month goes. The best part is at the end of each month when an envelope arrives with your little silver band. After completing my first month and receiving my first bracelet, I was hooked.
Once I began my walking journey, it became sort of a “duh” moment for me. I thought to myself, Why didn’t I do this sooner? I was surprised with how much walking helped my physical and mental health. It helps a lot with the grief and worries that crop up in life. And I notice if I miss a day or two of walking, I can tell a big difference physically and mentally. I just feel sluggish and yucky.
The sense of community I have received from 99 Walks has been really special. The ladies of 99 Walks really stepped up when I was going through some difficult things last July. I lost my mother-in-law, and walking proved to be really cathartic for me and my family. It did a lot more than I thought it would. Completing my goal for July and getting my bracelet was especially important that month. But then, I actually lost the bracelet for a brief period. The 99 Walks community rallied behind me and I received countless offers from women willing to send me theirs. It just proved how wonderful, supportive, and completely loving everybody is in that community.
If you told me a year ago I would be walking 5ks and 10ks, I’d say no way. But now, I look and feel better mentally and physically, I have more energy, and the relationships I’ve always had have improved drastically. You think of it as just walking, but it’s so much more than that.
At my initial cardiology visit following my heart scare, I was placed on two heart medications: metoprolol and isosorbide mononitrate. But one month after that initial visit I was taken off the medication—an angiogram revealed no heart abnormalities: no plaque, no blockages, nothing.
At first doctors weren’t sure what exactly happened with my heart. But eventually the diagnosis turned out to be supraventricular tachycardia, an abnormally fast, erratic heartbeat affecting the upper chambers of the heart. I am thankful that I got it checked out and thankful for my well-being. And I believe I have walking to thank for my health.
As I approach my one year anniversary with 99 Walks, I reflect on everything that walking has given me: my health, better relationships and communication, and a sense of pride for everything I have accomplished. I went from being a self-designated couch potato to completing my first 10k and sharing my love for walking with those around me.
My advice to anybody out there would be to not be afraid and just try it. It really is just one small step in front of the other. It doesn’t have to be a hundred miles, it can be ten feet and then after ten feet, go a little further. I didn’t start out at 40 miles a month, I started at just 10. Now, I’m doing things I never thought I would be doing. And it feels wonderful.
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