Nat Bargmann was driving through Hackensack, New Jersey, just a mile from home, when he felt pain shoot down his left arm. He hesitated about bothering his daughter Samantha, a physician assistant, at work but called her anyway.
“Dad, listen,” said Samantha. “Those symptoms are not good. I want you to drive to the hospital and meet me in the Emergency Room.”
Bargmann, a 65-year-old sales executive, was met at the hospital by a team of physicians and nurses. “Within twenty minutes, I was on the operating table getting a stent placed near my heart,” he said.
The doctors determined that Bargmann had suffered a heart attack. After an arteriogram, they located a blockage in a major artery and inserted a stent. “The minute they removed the blockage, the fogginess in my brain vanished,” recalled Bargman. Months later, a second stent was added in another valve.
Once recovered, Bargmann was convinced to begin exercising regularly and shed some weight. He had tried to stay active by playing golf on weekends but had not maintained a consistent exercise routine.
Rehabilitation at Pascack Valley
Bargmann began a series of rehabilitative physical therapy workouts at Pascack Valley Medical Center under the guidance of Kevin Yi, exercise physiologist, pictured above.
“I started with light workouts while wearing a heart monitor,” recalled Bargmann. “I barely broke a sweat the first week.” He was also interviewed about his lifestyle and eating habits to get an accurate baseline of his overall health.
Soon his regular workouts included a lot of cardio work on an indoor walking track, treadmill, and other devices. He also began weight training on different machines for a total body workout.
“Kevin was always there, watching my form, coaching and teaching me how best to use each machine,” Bargmann said. “These workouts really made me sweat, which was great. The staff monitored my heart to make sure I wasn’t overdoing it. They really created a strong workout routine I could use at any gym.”
Bargmann also received recommendations on modifying his diet to accompany his new exercise routines.
“I was a terrible eater,” Bargmann admitted. “I was a meat and potatoes guy who loves our local pizza places. I’m also diabetic, so binging on ice cream was terrible for my health. I see that now.”
Good techniques at local gym
Bargmann finished rehabilitation sessions at Pascack Valley Medical Center and joined a gym to continue his fitness program. “I found the same machines I trained on with Kevin, so I got started right away without needing a person trainer,” said Bargmann. “If I had a question, I would just ask, without being ashamed or embarrassed. That was a big result of my time with Kevin. I was much more confident in the gym.”
He is an early riser, so Bargmann developed a new routine of going to the gym before work. He still enjoys playing golf on the weekends with lifelong friends. He often jokes about getting extra exercise searching for his golf balls in the woods.
“I’ve seen a dramatic change in my activity level and on my body,” he said. “I’ve lost 50 pounds since my heart attack and added another notch to my belt. I guess the bad news is that I need a new wardrobe.”
Better choices in the kitchen
Bargmann is also changing his diet to a healthier one tailored to his increased activity levels.
“Following up on Kevin’s recommendations, I’m eating a lot more fruits and vegetables,” said Bargmann. “I’ve cut down my portion sizes and cut out the greasy foods. I’ve cut down on bread and the carbohydrates I eat, which is tough because I love pasta, but everything in moderation works best.”
His children have noticed that he rarely has second helpings.
“I eat a lot of salads with some sort of meat. I love grilled chicken and broccoli, so I’ll put it all on a salad, even when dining out. But my stomach has shrunk, so I don’t go back for seconds. I can’t eat that much anymore.”
Telling his story
Bargmann has found that he has a story about good health to tell if his friends ask.
“I’ve got the kind of personality where I share my story with a lot of people,” said Bargmann. “They ask, ‘What are you doing to lose so much weight?’ I tell them what I have done and why it has worked for me. I especially tell my guy friends not to ignore that little voice that questions what that pain is or whether I should eat or drink that. Listen to that voice and take action. That’s what made me call Samantha during my heart attack.”
Bargmann feels very fortunate to have come this far after a life-changing event.
“God blessed me by giving me a wake-up call,” he stated. “He blessed me with two stents instead of cracking my chest open. He also blessed me with the rehabilitation classes and exercising, which I will use the rest of my life.
“Today I feel better about myself and have more energy. I have been blessed with a second chance and I intend to take full advantage of it. If my story can inspire one more person, I consider it another win for me.”
To learn more about the physical therapy and rehabilitation services at Pascack Valley Medical Center, visit our web page.