A MAN who had a heart attack has changed his lifestyle so he'll be there for his six-year-old son.

Richard Windsor, 47, was rushed to Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton, with chest pains and breathlessness.

He was fitted with a stent to relieve the immediate issues and spent the next three days recovering in hospital.

Following five weeks of resting at home, Mr Windsor began attending a cardiac rehabilitation clinic twice a week to continue his recovery and reduce the chance of any future heart problems.

The cardiac team at Musgrove worked with him to help him make some real changes to his diet.

He learned how to identify foods with high levels of sugars, salts and saturated fats.

He also created a schedule of daily exercises and began attending the gym as his health and confidence improved.

Mr Windsor said: "The changes I made to my diet weren’t an upheaval, it’s all about making an informed choice when I went shopping or out to eat.

“I found the 'traffic light system' very helpful, focusing on what was in the food, rather than counting calories.

"I have also started cooking meals using vegetables and fresh ingredients rather than frozen foods such as chips and croquettes.

“I changed my snacking habits, too. I found it a lot easier to choose the healthier option rather than trying to stop myself from over indulging.

"You can have a treat, but the hardest thing is to stop yourself overdoing it. I found it’s all about changing your habits from unhealthy to healthy.

“At the end of the day I’m making changes because I want to be there for my family, to support them, see them grow up and enjoy them for as long as I can.

"Having a six-year-old son is really motivating, though it can prove difficult at times to convince someone of that age to want to eat more healthily.”

Nurses and healthcare staff at Musgrove Park Hospital’s cardiac unit have been taking part in ‘June Free Junk’, which aims to educate people on making healthier choices.