This Morning: Neil Ruddock discusses his health
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Appearing on ITV’s Harry’s Heroes last year, Ruddock explained how he was plunged into a life-or-death drama after doctors found his heart was beating twice as fast as it should have been. Rushed into surgery, things went from bad to worse as he technically “died” on the operating table as medics tried to save his heart by fitting a pacemaker.
Once known as one of football’s most uncompromising defenders, Ruddock played for Liverpool, Tottenham, West Ham and Southampton.
But after a career fuelled with booze-fuelled benders, soon the star’s health took a dangerous turn.
“At my worst I was crazy,” the dad-of-four told the Daily Star. “I was doing three or four bottles of wine a day, easy-peasy, plus spirits, beers, cocktails.
“Before I could get my pacemaker I had to have my heart zapped to slow it down.
“They zap it seven times. If your heartbeat doesn’t return to normal after seven times, you’re in trouble.
“Mine came back the third time they did it – but it stopped and I was technically dead for several seconds.”
An average resting heart rate should be at around 60 or 70 beats per minute. But Ruddock’s was measuring at 130 at its worst.
In an attempt to drastically change his lifestyle and make healthier choices, Ruddock was invited to stay with hitmaker Robbie Williams.
In an interview with OK magazine the former footballer said: “I used to look after him when he was younger and he said he never forgot.
“He hasn’t drunk in so long and he is worried about me so he wants to get me out there for a week to give me some advice about how to live my life.”
Since getting help, the ex-Premier League star credited the show Harry’s Heroes for saving his life, and now urges others to look after their health so they don’t end up in a similar situation to him.
“It’s fair to say going on the show probably saved my life,” he continued.
“I’d urge people to get checked out, you could be a ticking timebomb. I didn’t feel bad at all but the full medical uncovered some serious problems.
“It was really scary but was the kick up the a** I needed. My party days are well and truly behind me now. Lockdown actually came at a good time for me because a lot of the temptation has been taken away from me.”
The NHS explains that the long-term effects of alcohol misuse can be extremely severe. Drinking large amounts of alcohol can take its toll on many of the body’s organs.
Heavy drinking can also increase your blood pressure and blood cholesterol levels, both of which are major risk factors for heart attacks and strokes.
A pacemaker is a small electrical device that is surgically implanted into your chest that is used to keep your heart beating regularly.
Reasons why individuals may need a pacemaker fitted includes the following:
- An abnormally slow heartbeat (bradycardia)
- An abnormally fast heartbeat (tachycardia)
- Heart block (where your heart beats irregularly because the electrical signals that control your heartbeat aren’t transmitted properly)
- Cardiac arrest (when a problem with the heart’s electrical signals cause the heart to stop beating altogether).
Ruddock suffered from tachycardia, which in some cases can cause no symptoms or complications whatsoever. But if left untreated it can disrupt the normal heart function and lead to serious complications.
- When your heart is beating too fast, it may not pump enough blood to the rest of your body. This can starve your organs and tissues of oxygen, and can cause the following tachycardia-related signs and symptoms:
- Shortness of breath
- Lightheadedness
- Rapid pulse rate
- Heart palpitations — a racing, uncomfortable or irregular heartbeat or a sensation of “flopping” in the chest
- Chest pain
- Fainting.
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