Heart attack! This diagnosis often brings everything to a standstill – literally. So why did things turn out differently for Frank, an MTB guide and a passionate biker? What role did the e-mountainbike play in his recovery? Discover his first-hand story here. And why it may sound crazy to tackle 1000 metres of altitude during rehab, but actually it’s not.
DISCLAIMER: We’re neither medical professionals, nor miracle healers, but we love riding our bikes and doing other sports. We’re not as young as we once were and injuries and ailments—as you may know—are becoming increasingly frequent. It’s for this reason that we’re creating a series of articles to share our experiences with people like you, who may well be going through something similar. Expect to read what we are experiencing, how’s it being treated, what’s working for us, and what’s not.
Pain in the back and chest. Radiating slightly into the left shoulder. Heavy sweating. What sounds like a textbook heart attack is exactly what happened to Frank in the spring of 2023, on his way home from a great cycling weekend in the Black Forest. Using the knowledge he had gained from numerous outdoor first aid courses, the former racer and current MTB guide with his own bike event agency, ride.happy, had himself driven straight to hospital. Certainly the best decision he could have made. The first examination confirmed the suspicion and a cardiac catheterisation was immediately initiated.
The blockage in the back wall of Frank’s heart was removed and the vessel stabilised with three stents – medical metal implants used to keep blocked or narrowed blood vessels open. This heart surgery is considered a routine procedure, but it was followed by a sleepless night in intensive care. Frank’s resting pulse rate had always been below 50, but now the machines sounded an alarm every time he fell asleep. After treating the acute blockage, two other severely blocked coronary arteries were treated with stents about four weeks apart. During the three weeks of rehabilitation that followed, Frank was eventually allowed to start exercising again, albeit on a very limited basis – at least that’s what the doctors prescribed. But more about how Frank didn’t stick to it, what he did instead and the role the e-mountainbike played in his recovery later. Without the exemplary care at Nagold Hospital, however, none of this would have been possible.
Heart attack out of the blue? Not really.
Somehow a heart attack – like so many other illnesses – comes out of the blue and takes us completely by surprise. Frank was no different. But there are usually signs and symptoms that people are only too happy to ignore,. The surgeon who placed the stents told Frank two things: he already had type 2 diabetes, which would need to be treated with medication, and – in Frank’s own words – he was clearly too fat. Over the decades, Frank had gone from a fit athlete to a fat diabetic. Frank, how old are you actually? In your 50s, I would guess.
The heart attack was certainly a result of being overweight and suffering from undiagnosed diabetes, although perhaps not directly. But to ensure that this was the last heart attack of his life, Frank needed to lose weight – and a lot of it. And this is where the eMTB finally comes into the picture.
Exercise was an important part of the rehab programme which Frank started immediately after his hospital stay. The aim was to keep it moderate – which was not at all to Frank’s taste. Luckily, he had his e-mountainbike with him, which he used to cover around 1000 metres of altitude a day. Supported by the bike’s tailwind, of course, and without putting too much strain on his heart. Combined with the dietary changes he was introduced to at the clinic, Frank began to lose weight during his rehab and, just as gratifyingly, was able to significantly reduce the dose of his diabetes medication.
After just one year: Medication dose more than halved!
If you ask Frank today what helped him, he points first and foremost to conventional medicine: “It saved my life!” Frank is certain. The dedicated and highly motivated team at the Cardiac Catheterisation Centre at Nagold District Hospital did an exceptional job. In addition, the hospital, the rehabilitation clinic and Frank’s GP worked closely together to find the best medication for him. Now, just over a year after the dramatic event, Frank has been able to reduce his diabetes medication to less than half the original dose. But the goal is clear: to get off the pills! To achieve this, Frank has changed his previously very “German” diet (lots of carbs and meat) to include more vegetables and fewer carbohydrates. Consistent training on his eMTB and in the gym has also greatly contributed to his rapid recovery and regaining his fitness – a level of fitness that Frank didn’t realise he had lost. “The eMTB can also help hide a lack of fitness,” says Frank with a wink. He is also not averse to alternative healing methods, such as regular foot reflexology, which is said to help improve organ function.
Fit as a fiddle – The eMTB is the ideal training partner!
Looking back, one piece of sports equipment played a very special role in Frank’s rapid recovery and short convalescence: the e-mountainbike. “Thanks to the motor support, you can train in an optimal heart rate range and challenge your cardiovascular system without overtaxing it,” says Frank. The adjustable support makes it possible to combine the health aspects of training with fun and adventure, even shortly after an acute illness. Fitness levels improve almost as a by-product. The German Heart Foundation also regularly highlights the health benefits of cycling – with and without a motor. Cycling has a positive effect on the cardiovascular system, strengthens the leg and buttock muscles and helps to regulate body weight.
Frank thinks it would be a great idea if manufacturers of drive systems made it possible to adjust motor support according to heart rate. This would make the ebike an ideal training tool for anyone who needs to monitor their heart rate – not just heart patients. Post-Covid patients can tell you how challenging it is to exercise on an ergometer in a stuffy gym in the summer heat. With the help of modern, smart ebikes, connecting a heart rate monitor or smartwatch really shouldn’t be a problem. But there is hardly any official solution. The only option we know of is via the BLevo app, and it only works with Specialized drives up to model year 2021. However, Specialized say they are already working on pulse-controlled motor support – and they certainly won’t be the only ones in the near future. We’ll stay tuned.
A shot across the bows – Never to be repeated!
A heart attack is always a traumatic experience. However, the initial shock does not have to be followed by disillusionment and constant fear. With the right medical care, rapid rehabilitation and consistent lifestyle changes, you can put the spectre of a heart attack behind you. Just like Frank, who is now spending more time again on his gravel and analogue enduro bikes – preferably at the front of the pack!
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Words: Patrick Gruber Photos: Julian Lemme
