Someone who learns he has heart disease faces physical and emotional adjustments that can seem overwhelming. The changes can cause frustration, anger or confusion for the patient and his loved ones, the Mayo Clinic says. But new ways of living can eventually enrich his life with a better understanding of health.
Significance
Significant behavioral changes play a major role in the life of a heart patient. Someone recovering from a heart attack or heart surgery learns the steps he must take in cardiac rehab programs, according to the Smart Heart website, a resource for those living with heart disease. Modifying the diet, lowering weight and keeping blood pressure under control become key in the daily life of a heart disease patient. Quitting smoking is a necessity. An exercise program under a doctor’s supervision helps reduce weight, lower blood pressure and provide an overall healthier life. These changes also apply to people just diagnosed with heart disease.
Importance of Support System
Support of family and friends becomes an essential part of a heart patient’s life, the Mayo Clinic says. Someone who learns he has heart disease must adjust to a new reality. Those close to him must understand the challenges. The changes can be annoying or agonizing and affect family and friends, who need to remain close and offer guidance. Support groups provide a good way for the heart disease patient to talk with others in the same situation.
Medication Regimen and Surgery
Someone with heart disease may suddenly have to deal with taking medicine on a regular basis, according to the University of Tennessee Medical Center. Medication can be as simple as a daily aspirin. But some heart patients need beta blockers to slow the heart rate and reduce high blood pressure. Other medications correct irregular heartbeats or lower the risk of blood clots. Surgical procedures may be necessary to help some heart patients, including angioplasty to narrow heart vessels or operations to remove plaque in the arteries that caused the disease.
Emotional Effects
Emotions may shift significantly. Not knowing what lies ahead may lead to depression. Giving up foods that were once enjoyed and a smoking habit can feel like extreme deprivation and cause even more stress. Seeing the positives of lifestyle changes can ease the depression. Some heart patients become excited about a whole new way of food preparation. Others find pleasure in walking, which they rarely did before a heart attack. If depression persists, however, counseling may be advisable.
Necessity of Follow-up
Continued contact with health-care providers becomes essential and part of a heart patient's new routine. Regular check-ups are necessary to adjust treatment and discover any new problems. A patient may also need a referral to a mental health specialist, who can provide counseling if depression and anxiety persist.
