Heart Warrior Project: For cardiac arrest survivors & those at risk

Jellis Vaes

I’m Jellis Vaes, founder of The Heart Warrior Project and a sudden cardiac arrest survivor. I started this project after experiencing firsthand how intense and life-altering this journey can be, and how little emotional support is available. The Heart Warrior Project is dedicated to supporting cardiac arrest survivors and those at risk. On the podcast, I sit down not only with fellow heart warriors but also with cardiologists, psychologists, and other experts to explore both the physical and emotional sides of recovery.

  1. 6 days ago

    Making Sense of Heart Terminology with Dr. Hafiz Naderi

    Have you ever left a cardiology appointment wondering what some of the words actually meant? Ejection fraction, heart failure, AFib, PVCs… When these terms concern your own heart, it can feel overwhelming to keep up. In this episode, I’m joined by cardiologist Dr. Hafiz Naderi to make common heart terminology easier to understand. The goal is to help you follow the conversation at your next appointment a bit better, ask questions, and feel a little less lost in the language of heart care. Resources The Heart Doctor on YouTube: Explore Dr. Naderi’s videos to learn more about your heart and understand common cardiac conditions. The Heart Warrior’s Guide to Medical Terms: A searchable guide with clear explanations of common heart-related terms, abbreviations, tests, and treatments.  HWP Podcast and Show Notes: Discover conversations with fellow Heart Warriors and cardiac health experts, alongside episode resources and show notes.

    Making Sense of Heart Terminology with Dr. Hafiz Naderi

  2. 28 Sept

    The Internet’s Biggest Heart Myths, Explained by Cardiologist Dr. Rohin Francis

    Support the Heart Warrior Project: https://heartwarriorproject.com/getinvolved/ By supporting this project, you help us continue creating content, supporting SCA survivors and those at risk, raising CPR awareness, and funding cardiogenetic research. You can make a difference by becoming a Heart Warrior Patron, buying some merch, or making a donation. ----- Show notes for this episode: https://heartwarriorproject.com/heart-myths-dr-rohin-francis/ “Seed oils are toxic.” “Energy drinks can cause cardiac arrest.” “Statins do more harm than good.” And “certain foods or supplements can ‘unclog’ your arteries.” These claims spread quickly online, but how much of this is actually true? In this episode/video, I sit down with Dr. Rohin Francis, a consultant cardiologist and the creator of Medlife Crisis, a YouTube channel where he provides engaging, educational videos about heart-related topics, to take a look at these claims circulating on the internet. ----- Let’s connect: IG: https://www.instagram.com/heartwarriorproject/ FB: https://www.facebook.com/HeartWarriorOrg TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@heartwarriorproject ----- Timestamps Intro 00:00 - 02:13Are seed oils toxic? 02:13 - 08:21Can energy drinks cause cardiac arrest? 08:21 - 14:30What makes a good scientific study? 14:30 - 20:51Statin side effects and the nocebo effect 20:51 - 23:21Can pressing your palm slow a racing heart? 23:21 - 29:48The vagus nerve and vagal maneuvers explained 29:48 - 32:55Are statins dangerous? 32:55 - 35:14Statin benefits and number needed to treat 35:14 - 36:50Vitamin D and red yeast rice: alternatives to statins? 36:50 - 37:55Does high cholesterol protect your heart? 37:55 - 40:25Support The Heart Warrior Project 40:25 - 43:02Statins, LDL, ApoB and Lp(a) 43:02 - 47:27Medication and lifestyle: the bigger picture 47:27 - 49:08Heart health claims that frustrate Dr. Francis 49:08 - 50:48Can you really “unclog” your arteries? 50:48 - 55:26Final thoughts and a potential part two 55:26 - 57:33

    The Internet’s Biggest Heart Myths, Explained by Cardiologist Dr. Rohin Francis

  3. 21 Sept

    Co-Survivors: The Side of Cardiac Arrest We Rarely Talk About | Prof. Katie Dainty

    Show notes: https://heartwarriorproject.com/co-survivors-prof-katie-dainty/ Surviving a sudden cardiac arrest or living with the risk of having one does not only affect the heart warrior; it affects the people around them as well. In this Q&A meetup, Professor Katie Dainty joins The Heart Warrior Project to discuss the often-overlooked experiences of co-survivors: partners, family members, those who performed CPR, and loved ones whose lives can also change dramatically. Professor Dainty is a qualitative social scientist, Research Chair in Patient-Centred Outcomes at North York General Hospital, and Associate Professor at the University of Toronto. For more than 15 years, her research has explored how cardiac arrest affects the people around the survivor. Join our newsletter 💌 Want to join the next live Q&A meetup with a cardiac health expert? Sign up for our newsletter to hear about upcoming meetups. https://heartwarriorproject.com/newsletter/ Become a Heart Warrior Patron ❤️ Unlock recordings of past Q&A meetups with cardiac health experts and help keep the heart of The Heart Warrior Project beating. You’ll also receive a beautiful piece of artwork and have your name added to our Heart Warrior Patron Wall. https://ko-fi.com/heartwarriorproject/tiers

  4. 25 Jul

    Life After the ICU: Understanding Post-Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS) with Dr. Brian Peach

    The resources mentioned in this episode can be found here: https://heartwarriorproject.com/post-intensive-care-syndrome-dr-brian-peach/ Leaving the intensive care unit doesn’t always mean that recovery is over. Many cardiac arrest survivors continue to struggle with fatigue, brain fog, anxiety, PTSD, weakness, and cognitive problems for months or even years after spending time in the ICU. Yet many have never heard of post-intensive care syndrome (PICS). In this episode of The Heart Warrior Project, Dr. Brian Peach, an associate professor at the University of Central Florida, ICU nurse researcher, and one of the world’s leading advocates for PICS awareness, joins us for a live Q&A meetup to answer a range of questions about this topic. If you’d like to take part in our next live Q&A meetup, be sure to follow us on Instagram or sign up for our newsletter. We’ll share the announcement and registration details there.

  5. 11 Jul

    Health Trackers for Heart Patients: Helpful or Harmful?

    Health trackers… They are becoming increasingly popular. But can a health tracker actually help when you cope with a heart condition, or would it just make you more anxious? After wearing the WHOOP health tracker for 11 months, I wanted to share what I personally found useful as someone living with arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy, an ICD, and exercise limitations. Although I used WHOOP, many of the features I discuss are also available on health trackers from other brands. The main features that I believe could potentially benefit us heart warriors include AFib detection, ECG readings, blood-pressure monitoring, sleep-quality tracking, heart-rate monitoring during exercise, and estimated biological age. Health trackers worth checking out include: WHOOP Google Fitbit Air Polar Loop Amazfit Helio Strap I’m also joined by Dr. Samuel Sears, a clinical health psychologist who has worked extensively with people living with ICDs and heart disease. He shares his perspective from a clinical and academic standpoint. By bringing these two perspectives together, I hope this video and podcast episode will give you enough information to decide whether trying a health tracker is right for you. Important: This video does not constitute medical advice. Always discuss health data, exercise limits, symptoms, and device readings with your cardiologist or medical team.

  6. 16 Jun

    5 Things Every Heart Patient Needs to Hear!

    In this episode, I share the five most important insights I’ve gathered over my 27-year journey of living with arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy, surviving a sudden cardiac arrest, and navigating life as a heart patient. Whether you are a fellow cardiac arrest survivor or someone living with a heart condition, I hope that at least one or two of these insights can make your journey as a fellow heart warrior feel a little less lonely, difficult, or restrictive. Resources: Join our monthly meetups and learn more: https://heartwarriorproject.com/online-meetup-for-cardiac-arrest-survivors/ Follow us on Instagram: @heartwarriorproject Subscribe and follow the podcast for more stories from fellow heart warriors and expert Q&As

    5 Things Every Heart Patient Needs to Hear!

  7. 7 May

    I Lost My Carefree Life After My ICD Shocked Me | Elise

    Sudden cardiac arrest survivor Elise shares her story of what life has been like living with an ICD, and what her experiences were like receiving multiple shocks. This full conversation with Elise is part of an in-depth episode about ICD shocks, featuring multiple people who have experienced ICD shocks, so you can gain insight into how they dealt with them. Alongside this, Dr. Samuel Sears, a clinical health psychologist specializing in working with ICD patients, also shares his professional insights on what to do after an ICD shock and how to move forward. If you’d like to learn more about dealing with ICD shocks, be sure to also listen to that episode, titled: ICD Shocks: How Painful Are They—and How Do You Cope Afterward?

  8. 24 Apr

    A Live Q&A with Cardiologist Dr. Sanjay Gupta | Your Heart Health Questions Answered

    Help the heart of The Heart Warrior Project continue beating by supporting us: https://heartwarriorproject.com/getinvolved In this episode, you're listening to a recording of our live Q&A meetup with Dr. Sanjay Gupta, a consultant cardiologist at York Teaching Hospital in the UK. Besides his clinical work, Dr. Gupta also runs the YouTube channel York Cardiology, which has over 500,000 subscribers dedicated to free heart health education. Every month, we organize multiple online meetups, and occasionally, we host a special live session where fellow heart warriors from our community, survivors of cardiac arrest, and those at risk get to ask their personal questions directly to a cardiac expert. If you are a fellow SCA survivor or someone at risk, and you’d like to stay aware of when our next monthly meetup will happen, be sure to subscribe to our newsletter or follow us on Instagram. An announcement will be posted there with information on how to sign up. These meetups are, by the way, completely free

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I’m Jellis Vaes, founder of The Heart Warrior Project and a sudden cardiac arrest survivor. I started this project after experiencing firsthand how intense and life-altering this journey can be, and how little emotional support is available. The Heart Warrior Project is dedicated to supporting cardiac arrest survivors and those at risk. On the podcast, I sit down not only with fellow heart warriors but also with cardiologists, psychologists, and other experts to explore both the physical and emotional sides of recovery.

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