Four missed calls from a cardiologist is never a good sign.
In 2020, Wayne Head had open heart surgery to remove an aneurysm and insert a new valve.
As a financial adviser, Wayne was aware of AIA Vitality and prompted by such a life-changing event, made the decision to become a member to access the Apple Watch benefit, so he could more actively manage his health and heart rate. Wayne tracks his AIA Vitality points every day and walks 10 kilometres before work, turning exercise into a goal-driven routine. The data has become critical, and during one hike, his heart rate surged past 190.
“Following my heart surgery, I wanted to better understand where my health was at and then take steps to improve it.”
“I do a lot of walking – 10km every morning before work – and have increasingly set myself goals to help nudge me to go that extra mile. In 2021 for example, I set myself the target of ‘walking’ from Wellington to Sydney, and in 2022, I walked 2000 miles.
“Most mornings I walk up Colonial Knob, a big hill in Porirua which gets to about 480m elevation. Via my watch, I could see that my heart rate was getting up to around 177-180 beats per minute and I later learned from a medical professional that given my age and clinical history, that was far higher than it should safely be.
“Earlier this year, I was climbing Mt Ruapehu with some friends when I noticed my heart rate reaching 188-190bpm. Thanks to this advice, I decided to stop and turn around whereas previously, without the means to keep track of my heart rate through my Apple Watch, I’d likely have just rested and then carried on – which would have been the worst thing I could do.”
“So, I do feel that AIA Vitality and my Apple Watch saved my life. Thanks to having that knowledge of my own health, I was able to act accordingly, and I’m still here training for El Camino de Santiago sometime in the next few years!”
For Wayne, this isn’t just insurance. It’s prevention, encouragement and rewarding healthy choices. It’s a reminder that sometimes taking the smallest step, like booking a check-up, can change everything.
Watch the full video to see how his health scare became a turning point and read more about the Apple Watch Benefit here.
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