Recovery After Heart Attack? Here Are Lifestyle Tips & FAQs To Mull Over
Heart Attack Recovery – Tips And FAQs Heart attack is a lifethreatening medical condition in which blood flows to the heart and then suddenly stops Surviving a heart attack to a great extent depends on how quickly it is treated and how severe it is.
Care At Home After A Heart Attack Before leaving the hospital, it is important for you and your family to understand the discharge plan. Make sure all your questions are answered and get written directions for taking all your medications
Medications After A Heart Attack Medications after a heart attack are important. Keep a current list of their names and how many times per day you take them.
Cardiac Rehabilitation After Heart Attack Before leaving the hospital, it is important for you and your family to understand the discharge plan. Make sure all your questions are answered and get written directions for taking all your medications
Keep In Mind Your doctor is an important resource during this time. Ask him for information and advice
Heart Attack Recovery – FAQs Here we answer some of the basic questions you may have regarding heart attacks and recovery
How Soon can I Get Back To My Regular Activities? This to a great extent depends on your heart’s condition and on what activities you usually do. Start slowly to give your heart the time it needs to heal. Talk to your doctor about the activities you can do and about when you can resume your activities
Do I Need To Enroll In A Cardiac Rehabilitation Program? It is absolutely necessary to enroll in a cardiac rehabilitation program so that the rhythm of your heart, your heart rate and your blood pressure can be monitored as you exercise.
How Soon can I Get Back To My Regular Activities? Call for help if you face any of the following symptoms when exercising
Acute breathlessness for more than 10 minutes Chest pain Pain in your arms, neck, jaw or stomach Dizziness Irregular heart beat Cold sweats Nausea and vomiting Weakness or fainting Swelling or pain in your legs
When Can I Get Back To Work? This also depends on the condition of your heart and the severity of your heart attack. The amount of time you are off from work also depends on how stressful or strenuous your work is.
Recognize Symptoms! Look for emergency medical assistance if you have any of the following symptoms
Chest pain, tightness, pressure or pain in your arms, neck, jaw, or stomach Shortness of breath Dizziness Pale, sweaty skin Very fast or irregular heartbeat Nausea and vomiting Swelling or pain in your legs Sudden, overwhelming fatigue
What should I do to prevent future heart problems?
There are steps you can take to speed your recovery and to prevent future heart problems. These are known as “secondary prevention.� First, talk to your doctor in detail and find out the type of heart disease you have. Your doctor will explain your risk factors and tell you how to prevent more damage to your heart.
Follow a heart-healthy lifestyle. Stop smoking
Tobacco stands as a major risk factor for heart disease. It damages the walls of the blood vessels and reduces the blood’s ability to carry oxygen to other organs. It also causes the blood to clot more easily. Nicotine also raises your blood pressure.
Avoid Secondhand Smoke Stay away from the smoke which is exhaled by the smokers and the smoke that comes from the burning end of a cigarette.
Control your blood pressure High blood pressure strains the heart and blood vessels.
Your doctor may advice you medicines, exercises, eating a diet that’s low in salt, and losing weight to control your blood pressure.
Control Your Cholesterol Levels
Too much cholesterol in your blood can raise your risk of heart attack. When bad cholesterol is high, your doctor may prescribe medicines to help lower it.
Check For Diabetes
Diabetes increases your risk of heart attack and stroke. Talk to your doctor about getting screened for diabetes.
Exercise Exercise makes the heart pump more blood and deliver more oxygen to your body. Regular aerobic exercise can make your heart stronger, lower your cholesterol and blood pressure level and relieve stress.
Eat A Heart-Healthy Diet Diet that is high in saturated and Trans fats can gradually cause plaque in your arteries.
Eat less oily, less spicy food, leafy vegetables, seasonal fruits, nuts and whole grains. Eat less red meat and fewer high-fat dairy products. Cut down on salt, and avoid fried and processed foods.
Control Your Stress Level Anxiety, depression & stress may increase your risk of heart problems. Ask your doctor about healthy ways to cope with your emotions and reduce your stress level.
Follow-Up Care after Heart Attack
Follow-up care is very important.
In fact; the risk of cardiac problems can be reduced by cardiac rehab, followup visits, and tailored treatments.
Unleash the Power of Your Heart
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