GP Terence Heng’s heart health warning

An Apollo Bay GP received a rude shock when heart testing led to major cardiac surgery.

Dr Terence Heng. Picture: Supplied

Cycling home carrying a large tub of blueberries led an Apollo Bay GP to discover his life was at risk.

Dr Terence Heng, 46, considered himself to be fairly fit through regular running and bike riding.

Around the end of February, Dr Heng was riding his bike home when his wife asked him to bring a 1.5kg box of blueberries.

Dr Heng tucked the blueberries under his arm and rode home.

“I developed some left-sided chest pain but didn’t think much of it given I am young and had very few risk factors,” Dr Heng said.

“But I always advise my patients to get checked, so decided I should book in for a stress test in a couple of weeks to make sure everything was okay.”

A week or so before the stress test, Dr Heng was in Melbourne visiting long-time friend,

Epworth Eastern cardiologist Dr Sue-Ling Ching, for her daughter’s birthday.

“At the party, Sue-Ling started asking me some questions about the pain I experienced,” Dr Heng said.

“She became very concerned and strongly suggested I should have a CT coronary angiogram while I was in Melbourne, rather than wait another week for the heart stress test.”

Dr Ching said she felt strongly about getting things checked as soon as possible and after

multiple protestations by Dr Heng, he heeded his wife and Dr Ching’s advice.

“Terence had symptoms at minimal exertion which sounded suspicious for significant

coronary artery disease,” Dr Ching said.

An urgent CT coronary angiogram was arranged for the Monday morning and Dr Heng was immediately informed he had severe coronary artery blockages and should go straight to hospital.

“My first reaction was I thought everyone was pulling my leg,” he said.

“But, when I saw the results, I didn’t know how I had made it this far without having a significant cardiac event.”

Within days, Dr Heng underwent bypass surgery on March 10, due to severe coronary artery blockages caused by coronary disease.

He had to take six weeks off work to recover afterwards.

“I am lucky I had people who encouraged me to get checked sooner,” he said.

“Had I gone to the stress test, I planned to give it my best shot and run as hard as I could.

“I wanted to prove there wasn’t an issue and the earlier pain was just a stitch, caused by carrying the blueberries home on my bike.

“Had I run really hard during the stress test, I may have suffered a fatal cardiac arrhythmia.”

With World Heart Day on Friday, Dr Heng warned people not to delay getting checked.

He now takes daily medication for his heart health and has altered his diet and makes sure he gets frequent exercise.

Dr Heng has now almost fully recovered and continues to lead a busy life leading the medical team at Great Ocean Road Health.

Originally published as GP Terence Heng’s heart health warning