Photos: Petra Mingneau.
Relaxing at his second home in the Cook Islands about a year ago, real estate entrepreneur Mike Pero decided to read through his past medical notes, not realising his life was about to dramatically change.
With a family history of heart conditions, Mike first found out he had elevated cholesterol 10 years ago and has taken statins to control it ever since.
Between this medication and annual check-ups with his cardiologist, Mike believed everything was under control. But while reading his notes, he learned his calcium score was through the roof at 885.
“My first thought was, ‘Hang on, there must be a typo here because this can’t be the case. I’m off the scale,’” recalls Mike, 64, who became increasingly concerned as he investigated.
“I looked it up and it said if you have a calcium score of 300, the likelihood of an event, either a heart attack or stroke, is three to five times more likely in the next three years.”
The calcium score refers to when calcium builds up in the walls of the arteries, forming hard crystals. People also refer to it as hardening of the arteries.
The notes Mike was reading were two years old. So, he immediately requested a CT scan to see if his levels had increased further.
“It has gone up to 1300,” shares Mike, taking a breath. “There’s no other way to read it. I have a problem with calcification and a higher chance of heart attack or stroke.
“I had an angiogram, where a camera was inserted up my arm through arteries and into my heart. We could see in real time that some of my arteries were restricted.”
It’s a cause close to home as Mike’s father Tom passed away in 2012 at the age of 80 from complications due to having an enlarged heart. Then in 2022, his brother Ian, who was a former professional motorcycle racer, suffered a shock fatal heart attack at 60 years old. He was riding his mountain bike in Sydney at the time.
“Ian knew he needed to see a cardiologist at some point about a valve. He wasn’t concerned about it though,” recalls Mike from his sprawling Christchurch property.
“He was still very fit and looked after his body, then without warning, he collapsed and died.”
After realising how at risk he also was, Mike decided then and there he’d do everything possible to improve his chances.
He quickly overhauled his diet to eliminate all refined sugars, alcohol, processed food and most carbohydrates. While he’s always been a regular gym goer, now exercise is also absolutely non negotiable.
“There are treats I would love to have, but I have found ways to make different desserts, like Greek yoghurt with honey, fruit and protein powder instead,” says the former CEO of TVNZ series The Apprentice Aotearoa. “It has surprised me how much we can still really enjoy what we’re eating.”
He’s also taking additional medication on his doctor’s recommendation, works closely with a nutritionist and has full blood tests at least twice a year.
“I’ve worked hard,” he says. “A lot of New Zealanders would know I gave 100 percent to my mortgage and real estate businesses. Now I’m in my sixties, and for some people that means living in discomfort and pain. I don’t want to go there. I have a heart issue, but I want to enjoy a good, healthy life and be mobile for as long as I can.”
Thankfully for now, despite having significantly blocked arteries, further tests have shown his blood still flows unrestricted. This brings relief to Mike’s wife Rachel.
“At first, I felt quite worried when I saw Mike’s calcium score was so high. But after talking with the cardiologist, I know he’s doing everything right,” says Rachel, 53. She’s also a spin class instructor and training to teach Pilates. “I feel like we live as healthily as we can. We’re not perfect, but we’re really trying.”
With the New Zealand Heart Foundation’s Big Heart Appeal fundraiser happening now, ambassador Mike shares he feels inspired to encourage others to take control of their heart health, especially fellow Pacific Islanders, who are statistically more likely to experience heart disease.
His message is clear.
“Don’t just assume because your BMI looks fine and you go to the gym that you’re okay,” he tells.
“I’d like to eventually leave the world knowing I’ve helped in some way with making Pacifica people and Kiwis in general more aware of their heart health.”
To find out more about heart disease or to donate to the Heart Foundation’s Big Heart Appeal, visit heartfoundation.org.nz
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
