As the regional market president of Synovus Bank, Tyre Moore, who is also a father and dedicated family man, leads an active lifestyle, one that includes exercise on a regular basis and a diet that he said is “relatively good.”
One would never know that Moore had overcome a heart condition in recent years that required aortic valve replacement surgery.
His story is much like others with severe heart conditions: It ran in his family.
“My father was in and out of hospitals for heart issues my whole life,” he remembered.
Moore actually started noticing symptoms about 10 years ago, when he was in his early 50s.
“I was athletic as a child and played sports so I never dreamed I would have problems. I also ate well and was generally a healthy guy,” he said. “But I think that is the thing with heart disease. It can happen to you even if you are doing everything right.”
Moore said that for him, the symptoms were shortness of breath and fatigue. He recalled going to a cardiologist, who listened to his heart and heard a murmur.
“It is never good when your doctor calls in other doctors to listen to your heart, too,” he said.
Moore’s situation got progressively worse.
“I put off getting the surgery for as long as I could. I tried to manage it with diet and exercise, but then it just got too serious,” he said.
Moore is now an advocate for the fight against heart disease and was named a 2020 ambassador for the American Heart Association. He also serves on the executive leadership team for the Lowcountry Heart Walk.
“You never think this will happen to you,” Moore reiterated. “But it can. I guess I just want to get the word out to people to go see their doctor if they notice symptoms like pressure on the chest, pain in the left arm, fatigue or dizziness. If I share my story and it helps others, then that is the best thing that can come out of this experience.”
And as a supporter for the Lowcountry Heart Walk, to be held on Feb 29 at Brittlebank Park, Moore will get to do just that – along with hundreds of other advocates: get the word out about heart disease. More than 5,000 attendees from more than 90 companies will be walking to end heart disease and stroke in the local community that day. The event is a culmination of the year’s work for company and community teams in the area, and the day includes fun and interactive activities, a survivor area, health screenings and CPR demonstrations.
For 20 years, the American Heart Association and MUSC Children’s Health have worked together on their “Little Hearts” program, which honors children with congenital heart defects. These “Little Hearts” are also recognized at the MUSC Health Miracle Mile.
There will be community leaders on hand to encourage healthy diets, the importance of exercise and to educate primary and secondary students about the Kids Heart Challenge, a program developed to improving the quality of physical education.
“The Lowcountry Heart Walk is a huge celebration in the community where we honor survivors, volunteers and first responders. It’s such an excellent way to bring together heart families, celebrate their heroes, reunite with doctors and nurses and honor those we lost too soon,” said Katie Schumacher, executive director of the Charleston office of the American Heart Association.
She added that February is Heart Health Month: “It is a great time to educate others about heart disease and stroke and let people know that cardiovascular disease is 80% preventable.”
According to the American Heart Association, more than 840,000 people die from heart disease in the United States – that’s one in every three deaths – and heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women.
Jim Newsome of the South Carolina Ports Authority is proud to be the chair of the 2020 Lowcountry Heart Walk for the second time.
“We’re going to have a record year for the Heart Walk this year. We’re going to raise over a million dollars. I think what differentiates this from other local causes is that it is very focused on one significant health event, and it is one that we can really influence,” said Newsome.
To register for the Lowcountry Heart Walk, visit www.lowcountryscheartwalk.org.
By Theresa Stratford
