Morning routine: I’m a cardiologist, this is what I do after getting up at 2.30am
There’s no better expert on heart health than a cardiologist. But what do their morning routines look like? To kick off a new series, Professor Raj Puranik shares how he starts his day.
Professor Raj Puranik is a cardiologist and Heart Foundation NSW advisory board member who consults at a number of Sydney hospitals. He reveals his morning routine for our new weekly series that will delve into people’s 5 to 9 before work – or in this case 2.30am!
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2.30AM: I receive an urgent call that a young person is having a heart attack. The ECG flashes up on my phone, and it alerts us to imminent danger. I ask my colleague to rush them to theatre, and the patient receives a stent.
4.30AM: After a brief sleep, I wake up again to report my cardiac imaging and ECGs for the day and drink a couple of glasses of water. I’m an early riser and have my clearest thoughts in the morning.
5.30AM: It’s time to run the bay (9km) before the kids get up. I pause to enjoy the sunrise, relax and refresh myself before a big day. The burst of activity in a beautiful environment allows the mind to relax and be ready for the problem solving ahead.
6.30AM: It’s breakfast time for the family. On today’s menu is avocado on toast, a big fruit salad and a glass of milk each. All healthy for the heart!
7.30AM: Hop in the car and make my way to hospital to check on the person we put a stent in earlier – things have gone well and they should be home in a day or two.
8.30AM: Time to start the office day. On today’s schedule is seeing some of my dear patients (and hoping none of them will need me at 2.30am tomorrow!)
What dietitian Jemma O’Hanlon says:
There are so many things I love about this breakfast. Top marks for avocado on toast, as you say it’s the perfect heart-healthy way to kick start to the day. I have no doubt it would be wholemeal or wholegrain toast.
The fruit salad will provide a boost of polyphenols and fibre, and the milk is an excellent protein-rich recovery drink, particularly after your long run. It can be more challenging to stay healthy when you’re up at unusual hours of the day, but it sounds like you manage this very well.
What exercise scientist Dr Justin Keogh, an associate dean at Bond University says:
Being woken up early every morning isn’t necessarily a healthy outcome, but something a cardiologist would face semi-regularly.
His 9 km run followed by eating breakfast with the family is a great way to start the day with exercise, daylight, nature, real foods for breakfast and family time.
How he relaxes after his busy work days might be something to consider, as well as whether he performs other types of exercise like resistance and flexibility training to maintain his muscle mass, strength and range of motion as he progresses through middle age.
Do you have a morning routine you’d like to share and be critiqued? Get in touch at health@news.com.au.
Originally published as Morning routine: I’m a cardiologist, this is what I do after getting up at 2.30am
