BRYAN HEARTAWARE Awareness lets AJ stand out in the crowd

Awareness lets AJ stand out in the crowd

AJ Matthies (6014) used his HeartAware results as motivation to change his lifestyle. He ran in the Good Life Halfsy in 2018 and the next year finished the Lincoln Half Marathon!

AJ Matthies wasn’t planning on becoming a long-distance runner as an adult. He had played soccer and football in high school but, like so many of us, once he started a career, he didn’t make exercise a priority. In December of 2017, AJ participated in the HeartAwar e screening program through Bryan Health. His employer, redthread creative advertising, had invited Judy Arnold, RN, to meet with its employees for a free screening in the company’s Haymarket office. Judy , who coor dinates the Early Detection Center at Bryan, walked them thr ough the 30-minute scr eening pr ocess. At the end, participants were given a “heart age” to help them gauge their heart health. AJ was 26 when he took the screening — but his heart age was 32. AJ says, “My numbers weren’t ideal, and I felt it was time to start setting some goals.” He considered his options and noticed what other friends had done to be successful. He decided to sign up for a half marathon.

“The most I’d ever run before was a mile or two,” he says. “Half a marathon seemed insurmountable, but I knew I needed to do something where I really had to push myself. If it was any shorter, I don’t know that I would have worked as hard for it.” With his busy work schedule, finding time to train wasn’t always easy. He made it a priority, and he said his work team has been supportive of his goals. He was able to work in runs by flexing his schedule, and co -workers who also r an offer ed him encouragement and advice. AJ’s hard work paid off. On October 28, 2018, he ran the Good Life Halfsy in Lincoln. “I finished, and I thought, ‘I can’t believe I signed up for that,’” he recalls. “Everybody has these stories of it feeling amazing to participate, but honestly, for me that didn’t feel great,” he says with a laugh.

A few weeks after AJ completed the Good Life Halfsy, Judy returned to redthread to do their annual HeartAware screening. When AJ got his results, he was happily surprised to see that despite being a year older, he had dr opped his heart age to 31. Judy applauds AJ for taking the information he received through the screening and using it to make improvements to his health. “So many people think heart fitness isn’t important when you’re young, but it is,” Judy says. “By the time you get to be 50 or 60 years old, sometimes it’s harder to change. AJ recognized that maybe things weren’t going in the right direction and realized that if he continues on the same path, things may not be all that great when he gets older. He was very proactive in taking that information and making some positive changes.”

AJ says that after his first half marathon, he vowed he’d never do another , but in May of 2019, he found himself signed up for the Lincoln Half Marathon.

“I knew I would need to take a br eak after the first half marathon, but the break turned into something too long,” he explains. “I realized I needed another goal, and I wanted to make sure the first one wasn’t a fluke. And after a while, it definitely felt great.” AJ ran the Good Life Halfsy again in October, this time with a co-worker. He’s considering future runs, including possibly doing a destination run that goes through New Orleans’ French Quarter. He’s also thinking about joining friends on a hike this year to the summit of Longs Peak in Colorado. AJ was surprised to hear his brother mention that he might sign up for a run, as well.

AJ and his redthread cohorts met in their office to take the HeartAware screening with Judy Arnold.

“I’m kind of hoping my brother runs one,” says AJ. “We’re both pretty competitive, and if he does it, I’d want to do it, too.”

The HeartAware screening is free and available to anyone. Participants start by completing an online questionnaire and receive a report that includes their heart age and risk factors. They can then choose to schedule a free consultation with a nurse, who checks the participant’s cholesterol, blood sugar, blood pressure and heart rate. At the end, they receive a printout with their results. Appr oximately 1,000 individuals participate in the HeartAware screening each year.

Judy also brings this screening to workplaces for free. Depending on the number of employees receiving screenings, she’ll bring one or two nurses with her to assist with the profiles.

“It’s a really good way for smaller companies to offer some health screenings for their employees because it is completely no cost ,” Judy says. She invites companies to contact her if they have an interest in scheduling the HeartAware screening.

AJ says the program is very convenient. “It only took about 15 minutes out of my day, which was r eally nice. And it’s always great to hear an expert like Judy talk through your results with you,” he says.

For individuals who take the HeartAware screening and are concerned with their results, Judy says Bryan offers additional screenings and tests to determine what, if any, additional action may be needed.

AJ says he appreciates that his employer partnered with Bryan to provide this wellness training for its employees. In 2019, redthread received both the Governor’s Wellness Award and the Catalyst Safety and Wellness Award from the Nebraska Safety Council.

“It’s really nice to be in a company that supports wellness and is more proactive,” he says.

AJ acknowledges the nudge the HeartAware screening gave him to focus on his health. Since he started running, he says he has more energy and feels confident in his ability to set and meet personal goals. He encour ages others to take a few minutes to do the screening.

“Your personal overall health is so important, and heart health is such a big part of it,” he says.

“Being aware of the condition of your heart will allow you to make more informed decisions and set yourself up for success in the future.” n

To take the HeartAware screening, go to bryanhealth.org/online-screenings. Companies may contact Judy Arnold to schedule a screening for their employees by calling 402-481-8018. Learn more at bryanhealth.org/heartaware. VIDEO