After attending the 2024 Shane Warne Legacy Health Check, Campaspe Shire councillor Paul Jarman left the check-up determined to make a change.
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Although he knew his health wasn’t in prime condition before the check-up, the results revealed he was unknowingly cutting his life short by neglecting his physical wellbeing.
Cr Jarman said the health check motivated him to get fit in order to achieve a younger estimated heart age.
“I was down at Rochy when they had the Shane Warne Health Check. So I thought, ‘I might as well do that’,” he said.
“I knew I was overweight... I was 121kg and my health was not in great shape.
“After (the check) I lost 20kg, went and got fit, and then I went and did another test.
“On the Shane Warne chart, I dropped seven years from what my estimated heart age was.”
At 57 years old, Cr Jarman reversed his estimated heart age from the heart of someone in their mid-60s to the heart of a 52-year-old.
As someone living with atrial fibrillation (AF), improving his heart health also meant lowering the risk of developing other health issues.
AF causes an abnormal heartbeat in one in six people, as the upper chambers of their heart twitch or 'fibrillate' instead of pumping normally.
As a result, people living with AF have an increased risk of suffering a stroke.
While AF can run in families or develop as you age, you have a higher chance of developing AF if you are overweight, have diabetes or high blood pressure or are a smoker or excessive drinker, among other things.
Cr Jarman said prioritising his health has not only improved his heart health and his AF condition, but it has had a positive impact on his collective health.
“Losing the weight, getting fitter and getting more active definitely gave me better mental health, better physical confidence and physically I feel better. It's all linked,” he said.
As a councillor and business owner, Cr Jarman has had plenty to keep him busy, which in the past has meant his physical health has taken a back seat.
However, it was a subtle change as, up until he was 45 years old, he had participated in active sports. But once he stopped playing, staying active fell down the list of priorities.
Cr Jarman said this experience was common for many in his age group.
“Lots of people my age, you finish all those active sports, you put on weight, you’re busy, you’ve always got something to do,” he said.
“I’m no different from other people, and it doesn't happen overnight. It happens over a period of time and things go on in life... so you have less time to yourself.
“I was overweight and needed to do a better job, but (the health check) was a good one just to say ‘righto, stop making excuses’.”
Cr Jarman gives credit to the health check that he received last year in Rochy for kick-starting his health journey, which he continues to maintain today.
Now he is encouraging everyone to start the conversation about heart health and taking advantage of the free Shane Warne Legacy Health Check.
“The takeaway from this is to stop making excuses, go and get the Shane Warne test, it’s free and then depending on your results, follow it up with a doctor,” he said.
Throughout Australia, one Australian suffers a heart attack or stroke every four minutes.
According to Rochester Elmore District Health Service, Rochester has the highest rate of heart disease in Campaspe Shire.
In the 2021 Census, data also showed that 222 people in Rochester were suffering from heart problems.
Knowing whether you could be at risk, and the state of your heart health, is the first step to prevention.