People with heart disease generally avoid the idea of exercise because improper physical activity could easily trigger a heart attack. However, regular exercise can produce remarkable effects. According to a report by the UK's Daily Mail on February 8, a heart disease patient recently managed to control his condition, and brisk walking was the secret to his success. Over 27 years, the distance he walked could circle the Earth once.
Now 77 years old, Ike Herrick had been advised by doctors to control his diet and exercise daily even before he developed heart disease in 1987, as his cholesterol levels were already above average and he had a family history of heart issues. Herrick’s father died of the disease at just 51, and his brother and sister had also undergone bypass surgery—but Herrick ultimately couldn’t avoid it.
Later, Herrick went to Houston Methodist Hospital for a consultation, stating that he didn’t want to just wither away. So, following the advice of his attending physician, George Rogers, and other doctors, Herrick changed his attitude toward life and made a brave decision—he wanted to regain his health through daily walking.
With his doctor’s approval, the elderly Herrick began walking at least three miles (about 5 kilometers) every day and kept track of the distance. Over 27 years, come rain or shine, he walked a total of 21,477 miles (about 34,600 kilometers)—equivalent to circling the Earth once.
When he finally achieved his goal, Herrick believed it was his heart disease that had saved his life. “For me, having heart disease was the best thing that ever happened to me. It made me face reality—because if I had kept going the way I was, I would have died sooner or later. You can’t give up all exercise just because of heart disease. You must do aerobic exercise every day to raise your heart rate, and it will also help you live longer,” Herrick told reporters.
Currently, the effects of Herrick’s exercise are significant, his heart disease attacks are well under control, and he has expressed gratitude to Rogers.