Daily Telegraph article:
Home and Away?s Ray Meagher reveals new heart shock and supports Give With Heart day
https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/en...08286bba16aec1
Ray Meagher?s sense of humour remains as healthy as ever, but the Home and Away larrikin has revealed he has undergone more heart surgery, after a shock triple bypass last year.
The 76-year-old actor, beloved around the world as Summer Bay statesman Alf Stewart, said he suffered ?a few twinges? while doing his post-op exercise six months after his surgery.
But a prompt GP visit discovered the blocked artery, with a Sydney surgeon inserting a life-saving stent within 24 hours of his doctor?s visit.
The jovial TV star joked he was now ?ready to take on the marathon at the Tokyo Games, where I?m sure I will medal, as they say;? but used his health scare to remind Australians to commit to regular check-ups.
Meagher has also lent his celebrity to a new Heart Foundation campaign, supporting its fundraiser, ?Give With Heart Day? - this Wednesday.
?For me, it?s the same old message: people have got to get checked,? Meagher told News Corp Australia.
?Blokes feel like they?re hypochondriacs or wooses, or something, if they?ve got a bit of a twinge and tend to ignore it. Not all blokes, but a lot do and I think men are worse than women in ignoring those things. Like it?s a dreadful sign of weakness ? I don?t know what the rationale is, but they don?t listen to the body and you?ve got to,? he said, firmly.
?If you?re getting a bit of a niggle, then go and see your GP and he?ll send you to the right people. You might be alive instead of dead, and I think that?s a better option.?
Meagher has been diligent about maintaining a healthy diet and keeping up exercise, even while filming the Channel 7 long-running soap.
?Instead of letting assistant directors or runners drive you from wherever the unit base is on location, down to the set, I always say ?give me a little bit of notice when they need us? and I walk each way.?
He added: ?The old ticker can creep up on you without giving you warnings and some people aren?t as lucky as me. They don?t get the bloody warning or a twinge ? just bang [and gone]. It is just so important to get checked and on a regular basis.?
Donate today and every dollar donated by October 7 will be quadrupled by the Heart Foundation?s donors.