Celebrating 96 with a healthier heart

Margaret Wildin of Kalispell gave herself a healthier heart for her 96th birthday on Valentine's Day.

She began her birthday with a workout as part of Healthy Heart program at The Summit Medical Fitness Center in Kalispell. It's a routine she has followed almost every Tuesday and Thursday morning since she joined the program in October.

"I feel better than I did 10 years ago," Wildin said as she pumped her legs and arms on the Nu Step machine.

She first found out that she had a heart issue in 2003 when a routine electrocardiogram test revealed irregularities in her heartbeat. After receiving a pacemaker, Wildin didn't worry since she had no symptoms that she associated with cardiovascular disease.

She was troubled by a burning that felt like a stomach problem. Then on Jan. 9, 2007, the birthday of her husband, Trevor, Wildin said the burning became more intense.

"It happened at night," Wildin said.

Wildin remembered her husband became upset as her pain refused to relent even when she sat up. Luckily, her granddaughter, Theresa Dean, happened to stay at her grandparent's house that night.

Dean, a surgical nurse at Kalispell Regional Medical Center, recognized the seriousness of the situation. She rushed her grandmother to the hospital, giving her enough time to put on her robe and slippers - but no time to protest.

"If she hadn't been there I wouldn't be here today," Wildin said.

Tests revealed she had a blockage in an artery leading to her heart. At first, Wildin refused to agree to angioplasty to remove the blockage.

Born into a family of 10 children in Sand Coulee near Great Falls, Wildin saw her mom live to 91 and her father reach 94 with little medical intervention.

"I said, 'I'm 95 - why bother with anything like that," Wildin recalled. "If I have a heart attack or stroke, I'll just die."

But her physician Dr. Alan Williams, an interventional cardiologist, pointed out a heart attack or stroke could leave her disabled rather than dead.

She decided to have the procedure since she didn't want to become a burden to her family.

Within 30 minutes, Wildin was in surgery. She returned home the next morning and started cardiac rehabilitation last summer.

After completing rehab in October, she decided to continue exercising with The Summit's Healthy Heart program. Graduates of cardiac rehab or others referred by their doctor participate for just $1 a session for Summit members or $5 for nonmembers.

"I love coming here," Wildin said with a smile. "These girls - you can't believe how good they are to me."

She referred to Cathy Lisowski, cardiac rehab supervisor, and Diana Wolfe, cardiac rehab therapy aide. The two work with Wildin and up to 45 others who come on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 7 a.m. and noon to use reserved machines.

"It's a program at The Summit, not hospital-based," Lisowski said. "There's a little monitoring and a little supervision."

Healthy Heart participants follow an individual program of exercise.

"A person comes in and pulls their chart," Lisowski said. "We do vital signs and then they get going."

Lisowski and Wolfe measure blood pressure, heart rate and oxygen saturation while keeping an eye out for symptoms such as angina or shortness of breath. They also track blood-sugar levels of diabetic exercisers.

Wildin's program includes 30 to 40 minutes of working out on the Nu Step, recumbent bike and treadmill. Because she uses a can to steady her walk, her workout also includes some "free walking" to work on balance and posture.

Wildin rates the Nu Step as her favorite and the treadmill as her least

enjoyable. She also enjoys the recumbent bike from which she watches the youthful exercisers racing on treadmills.

"I wish I could do that," she said with a laugh.

But Wildin takes pride in the physical fitness she has attained at an age when most seniors settle into a rocking chair or couch.

According to Lisowski, Wildin has seen a drop in her blood pressure since starting her program. Wildin added that her physician was very pleased with her progress. When she went in last week, her heart was pumping so well that Williams programmed her pacemaker to a slower rate.

Along with tweaking up her ticker, Wildin has noticed a side benefit worth celebrating along with her birthday and Valentine's Day this year.

"I'm losing my pot belly," she said, laughing.

She hopes her story might inspire some other older people to give the Healthy Heart program a try.

Lisowski announced an upcoming opportunity for women to try out all The Summit facilities for free on Feb. 27 in conjunction with Healthy Heart Month. They have access to all equipment and facilities from 5:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.

For additional information about the Healthy Heart program, contact Lisowski at 751-4504.

Reporter Candace Chase may be reached at 758-4436 or by e-mail at cchase@dailyinterlake.com.