What To Do After A Heart Attack

A heart attack can have devastating consequences on your quality of life. Not only do you have to closely monitor your heart, but you also have to watch what you eat and what you do. For those who have suffered a heart attack, the best way to prevent it from happening again is to start what is called a cardiac rehabilitation program. The program consists of education and exercise designed to nurse your heart back to health.

Evaluation

Immediately following your heart attack and potential release from the hospital, a checkup will be performed. This is so your doctor can evaluate and assess your overall health as well as your heart health. The doctor will want a good benchmark for what your physical and mental abilities are following your heart attack. From this assessment, they can outline an effective rehabilitation plan for you.

Exercise

Exercise will be a key component of your rehabilitation. Your doctor will probably give you some exercises that you can start once he feels you are ready. Commonly, these exercises are low-impact, nontaxing types of workouts like walking, biking or, possibly, some strength training using weights.

Education

Education covers a multitude of issues related to post-heart-attack survival. Diet and nutrition are at the top of the list, with education on manage your condition, and possible pain associated with it not far behind. What you eat might have played a large role in why you had a heart attack, so infusing your diet with heart-healthy foods and cutting out foods that cause problems, along with eliminating alcohol and smoking, can make a huge difference in recovery and long-term health.

Support

As with any major medical conditions one has to face, a heart attack and the ensuing complications and changes in life can lead to anxiety and depression. You might need to enlist the help of a qualified counselor or therapist along with possible vocational rehabilitation so that you can return to work or reinvest yourself in social situations.

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