Your actions in the days and weeks following a heart attack are a pivotal time in your healing. Dr. V. Rogers of the Mayo Clinic says the first month is the most dangerous period of recovery and that any disturbing symptoms need to be reported immediately to your cardiologist. During this time, your body is undergoing massive internal repairs. This recovery time can be used to educate yourself, alter your lifestyle and gain new perspective on setting your health goals for the future.
Rest
Adequate rest and sleep are needed during this time to repair your heart. Rest and sleep are completely different concepts. Rest includes any form of downtime. Relaxing in a comfortable position while reading a book, sitting with your feet elevated watching TV or even a relaxing soak in the tub can be forms of rest. Actual sleeping time in hours is not as important as feeling rested upon awakening. According to the National Sleep Foundation, adequate sleep time actually varies from person to person, but lack of sleep can lead to or complicate heart conditions.
Lifestyle Changes
Sometimes a heart attack occurs due to a congenital (from birth) condition in your heart. Perhaps your mother and father had heart disease and you were naturally a candidate. Others suffer heart attacks mostly due to preventable lifestyle choices. Exercise and diet are two lifestyle factors that largely affect your coronary arteries, the health of which is what causes or prevents a heart attack. Now is the perfect time to employ a low-fat, high-fiber diet rich in fresh vegetables and fruits. If you have not already, switch the fatty meats, such as hamburger and chuck roasts, for lean cuts of meat such as chicken, salmon and sirloin steak. Ask your doctor when you can start an exercise program and start slowly. In cardiac health, time is more important than exertion or miles. When you get the green light, start with a 15-minute walk and increase your time slowly.
Tobacco Cessation
If you did not smoke prior to your heart attack, now is not the time to start. However, if smoking, or other tobacco use, was one of the leading factors causing your heart attack, now is the perfect time to quit. During your heart attack hospitalization, you were already smoke free. Now you have a head start to kicking the habit for good. Cigarette smoking narrows, or constricts, your coronary arteries, which places you at further risk for another heart attack. The toxins and tobacco decrease your overall oxygenation and slow your healing time. If cold-turkey quitting does not work well for you, you can discuss medicinal cessation options with your doctor at your next visit.
Stabilize Emotions
Easier said than done, getting a grip on the stress factors in your life will greatly increase your overall health. Anger, stress and depression can all play a factor in your overall health and well-being. Decreasing your stress level can be as simple or as difficult as you make it. Some people turn to alternative methods of stress relief such as yoga, aromatherapy and meditation to reduce stress. Others may choose to talk to friends, loved ones or professionals to combat their depression or anger. Whatever choice works for you is the right choice at this time.
Doctor Appointments
When you get discharged from the hospital, you may have a laundry list of tasks to perform. Second to resting, you should follow up with your cardiologist at regular intervals, who may prescribe more testing, medications or a special diet. If you do not understand your instructions, you should always clarify them during the visit. This professional is available to assist you in returning to your optimal cardiac functioning. When you are not at appointments, you can advocate for yourself by researching about your new medications and lifestyle choices. Libraries, bookstores and online resources can provide you with information to start your cardiac education.
