Robert's brighter future

Robert Walker Smith suffered a heart attack in December 2005.

Despite a family history of heart disease, he didn't think that a cold feeling in his chest and stiff shoulders could mean what it did.

Dramatic change

A project manager by day. Robert was in bed, trying to sleep, with a cold feeling in his chest and stiff shoulders. He thought it was muscle pain from some heavy lifting. Robert’s father died of a heart attack in 1971.

The research the BHF has done has helped change the prognosis dramatically for me, compared with how the situation would have been thirty years ago when my father died.

Back then, Robert says, there wouldn't have been much treatment available. But since his own treatment he's got more energy, and his friends have even said his eyes are brighter.

"The research the BHF has done has helped change the prognosis dramatically for me, compared with how the situation would have been thirty years ago when my father died."

Robert now swims 1,000m three times a week, watches his saturated fat and alcohol intake, and tries to stay as relaxed as possible.