Eric's story

  Being informed, asking questions and taking action can save your life

''I am Dr Eric Best, a 75-year-old Research Scientist. I want to share my story with others in the hope that it could save a life.

Looking back, there were some warning signs that I was going to have a heart attack, although I had been managing my cholesterol for 35 years. Fortunately, I asked for help at a crucial moment. 

I was first diagnosed with total cholesterol between 5.2 and 6.2 mml/L in my 40’s. I took statins which brought my levels down to below the threshold. Due to the bad side effects of statins over the years, I also took some time to maintain my cholesterol levels through diet and exercise only. Drug treatment for stain intolerance was not available then. I was told that my chances of having a heart attack were 33% and not serious enough.

Earlier last year, my hearing loss suddenly dropped by 20 decibels. In my opinion, it may have been connected to my heart health as there are some studies I have since come across linking hearing loss to poor blood flow in the inner ear.  

Last July, my wife and I went on a Mediterranean cruise. Fortunately, we took out full travel insurance beforehand. When we anchored at Naples, I stayed aboard as I wasn’t feeling well. I was experiencing upper chest and back pain. I took paracetamol and was concerned that this could be more serious, so we asked for help. The ship’s doctor suspected a heart attack, so an emergency evacuation by the Coast Guard took me to a hospital in Sardinia where I had two stents fitted to my arteries. A heart attack was averted, however, to my surprise, the ECG showed that I had already had a heart attack at some point in the past. I received fantastic aftercare in Italy and eventually flew back to the UK, where I undertook 8 weeks of cardiac rehabilitation.  It was only by asking questions to my clinicians that I discovered that there was also a cardiac education programme. I also discovered later that beta blockers make your fingers and toes cold.

I’m now doing well on the new drug Inclisiran which helps to remove the bad cholesterol from my blood. I eat healthily and keep fit and I’m about to do a trial for the Over 75 England’s Hockey Team.

I was lucky, where I know others haven’t. That’s why I bought a defibrillator for my hockey club which was used recently when a player had a heart attack on the pitch.

My message to others is – manage your health by being informed about cholesterol and heart disease, keep asking your clinician questions until you are satisfied, and take action if you have any early warning signs - it could save your life''.