POWERGRAMS

HEALTH & WELLNESS A 5:30 a.m. run proved to be a life-changer for Brad Hilsmier. On a cool, misty morning in February, Hilsmier was jogging with buddies. About 2 miles into the run, a tight feeling of pressure enveloped Hilsmier's left side, as a nagging pain built in his chest. "I felt pain where I usually placed my hand for the Pledge of Allegiance, and I was nauseated," said Hilsmier, Compensation & Benefits principal, HR and Ethics. "Then I started feeling a sharp pain in my inner left arm, around my elbow." Hilsmier knew something was very wrong. "I felt incredibly sluggish. When you're a runner, not every day is your 'birthday.' Most days, running is great; some days, not so much," he added, with a chuckle. "But this felt different." Still, he didn't want to alarm his friends, insisting they go ahead and that he was just having an off day. He turned around and walked back to his car, 2 miles away. Without a cellphone, Hilsmier couldn't call his wife, Mandy, to pick him up. Arriving home, he told her what had happened. "My wife called her dad, who is a physician, and he advised us to get to the hospital right away," Hilsmier said. At age 39, and with 37 marathons under his belt, Hilsmier seemed the last candidate for a heart attack. Only after performing an arteriogram to view blood flowing through the coronary arteries did the emergency room doctor arrive at that dreaded diagnosis. "The whole thing was a wakeup call," Hilsmier said. The experience led him to take actions to improve his health, and less than four months after the heart attack he joined other members of the Alabama Power Service Organization (APSO) in Birmingham's 5K/1 mile Heart Walk. About 170 Alabama Power and Southern Company Services employees raised $3,000 for the American Heart Association. "We were excited so many employees and their families joined the Alabama Power team," said Hilsmier, an APSO member for seven years. "Our team really stood out, with everyone wearing APSO's new red T-shirt." Magic City APSO volunteers and Alabama Power's Empowered Health team welcomed participants. "The walk/run – a a signature APSO event – made an impact on our community, plus employees earned 1,500 Empowered Rewards points by participating," said APSO Director Tan Grayson. Hilsmier said the close call reshaped his life. "People always ask me if the running caused my heart attack," he said. "My heart problem would have occurred anyway, according to Hilsmier crosses finish my cardiologist. Exercising that line of 2012 Rocket City morning only sped it up. I have Marathon. always had low 'good' cholesterol, or HDL, and my diet wasn't great. But being in good shape, I was able to weather the storm much better. "My doctor said, if I follow his instructions, this will never happen again," Hilsmier said. He has revamped his diet, passing up fast foods for healthy meals. Twice a day, he takes medicine to improve cholesterol and regulate blood pressure. Hilsmier's annual physical exam this summer showed his health numbers are better than they have ever been. Photo by Bill Snow Hilsmier sprinting back to health after recent scare Hilsmier with medals collected in marathons. "I have my wife and three young kids I want to be there for," said Hilsmier, father to Matthew and Andrew, 6 and 5 years old, respectively, and Ella Claire, 1. "I have to exercise and not get into bad habits again with my diet. When we're out and about, and the kids are starving, it's easy to take the path of least resistance: fast food that comes with a toy!" Hilsmier regrets initially shrugging off his symptoms. "The morning it happened, I was in such denial," he said. "There was an element of embarrassment. I didn't want to be the center of attention, but the problem wasn't going away." His message to others is to take symptoms seriously and not hesitate to ask for help. After receiving a clean bill of health from his doctor, Hilsmier continues to run almost daily. On Dec. 14, he'll run in the Rocket City Marathon in Huntsville – his first since the heart attack. "It's valuable for our employees to exercise, and to take part in walks and runs," he said. "Heart issues are prevalent in our employee population. I have a heart condition, but I'm living with it, managing it to the best of my ability. You can have an ongoing health condition, like I do, but managing it on a daily basis can really improve the quality of your life. Hopefully, that will help you avoid the emergency room and hospital." Hilsmier was recently named to the 2014 Heart Walk leadership team, and will again lead Alabama Power's team at the Birmingham Heart Walk on June 28, 2014. "I didn't believe this could happen to me," he said. "I know that, with early detection and prevention, you have a better quality of life." By Donna Cope 7

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