There are no doubts that heart attack is a life-changing event. Anybody who experiences it should take several precautionary measures. Patients are required to carry out a risk assessment to estimate the risk of a further myocardial infarction. This can be either the form of coronary angiography or an exercise test, possibly executed four weeks after the attack. Changes in life style play a very important role. This means quitting smoking and also eliminating of other risk factors — reducing weight, more healthy diet, living a less stressful life, giving up alcohol and so on.
Smoking cessation is thought to be one of the most meaningful steps that one can make to reduce the risks. Evidence explicitly shows that people with coronary artery disease who quit smoking diminish the risk of recurrent heart attack or death. Physicians should be consulted about nicotine replacement therapy. Aspirin should be taken on a daily basis, if there are no contraindications, or other clot-preventing drugs, if aspirin can’t be taken. People should also keep away from exposure to secondhand smoke as it weakens heart functions and exercise tolerance in heart attack survivors.
Being fit and active after a heart attack let patients live longer and also influences positively on the quality of their life. The mostly recommended exercise include sporting activities that are varied in intensity and can be taken lightly when it’s necessary. This can be very beneficial for the heart. Swimming is also a good idea for those who want to stay fit and active. Even if a person is not into sports, exercises of moderate intensity are a good choice.
However, it is important to remember that before starting an exercise program we should consult a doctor. We also cannot forget about drinking enough water — before, during and after the exercising to stay hydrated.
Diet control is also an important issue. Reducing the cholesterol level is one of the most crucial recommendations for patients who have experienced a heart attack. Studies have found that lowering cholesterol level can diminish the risk of another heart attack. Reducing weight significantly helps in reducing cholesterol. The diet should contain sea-food as it helps in reducing weight, dropping the blood pressure, and lowering the cholesterol. Studies have found that people who comply with such dietary guidelines may live longer.
Nowadays, also herbal treatment becomes more and more popular. According to preliminary clinical tests in China a herb called astragalus may be beneficial for people who have experienced a heart attack. These studies did not intend to show any survival or symptom reduction benefit. Therefore, further studies are required to determine whether the herb would be of benefit to patients with heart attacks or angina.
Recent studies have proved that nutritional supplements like vitamin C, vitamin E, amino acid, selenium, chondroitin sulfate, co-enzyme Q10, N-acetyle cysteine, fish oil etc. are helpful in lowering the risk of a second heart attack. Aspirin also lowers the risk of death or nonfatal heart attack in people with a previous history of heart attack as well as unstable angina.
Some studies suggest that stress management may reduce rates of heart attack or death in patients with coronary heart disease. Permanent mental pressure not only impairs the mind, but also weakens the heart and therefore, facing the daily routine activities proves extremely beneficial in avoiding further problems linked to the heart.
People may have problems with their relationships after a heart attack so it is very important to know how to get back from tense relations to normality. Patients are usually very hesitant about returning to active sexual relations because of the stereotype that resuming sex can be harmful, e.g. result in another heart attack, stroke or abrupt death. According to recent studies, there is really no reason to give up sex after a heart attack. However, most doctors advise waiting not less than two weeks after heart attack or surgery before coming back to the usual sexual activity.
Physicians also recommend heart patients to avoid alcohol due to the fact it’s high in calories. However, studies find that moderate consumption of alcohol adds very insignificant risk to patients who had a low concentration of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, but to patients who had high blood concentrations of LDL, drinking is an additional threat.
Patients are also advised to join rehabilitation clinics. They are very popular because they not only diminish the future risk of attack but they also boost the confidence both of patients and their families. They clinics provide huge help for smoking habits and changes in lifestyles. They also help with facing doubts and concerns of the people who have had the myocardial infarctions.
If all these recommendations are taken seriously, it is possible to live a life of high quality and mental satisfaction, even after a heart attack.
