Most people are confused, overwhelmed, and scared after suffering through a heart attack. Any kind of heart attack, whether a minor one or a major one, is indeed a life-changing experience. Life after a heart attack is way different than what it used to be before. Here is how you should work things out:
Keep Your Mind Strong
After you have undergone treatment for your heart attack, it is highly probable that your doctor instructed you to do a lot of things, which include more restrictions than permissions. As you spend more time thinking about it, you would have likely been focusing on what went wrong and what exactly happened. And more importantly, you might be eager to know why the heart attack happened in the first place, and how to avoid it in the future.
If you believe that suffering a heart attack would mean that you have no way out of the issue, you are mistaken. There are several thousand people all around the globe who have suffered a heart attack in their lifetime and recovered so well after the heart attack that they never again suffered another. It depends on your lifestyle and your mental strength. You need to stay strong during the tough hours and let go of the extra anxiety to live a healthy life post-heart attack.
You might have many questions in your mind regarding how long a heart attack lasts, how to stop a heart attack in 30 seconds, or how to survive a heart attack. In this case, consider continuing reading the article, as we have put forward all the answers to your queries to help you lead a happy and risk-free life.
Life After a Heart Attack: How to Prevent Another?
Let’s be honest about one thing; if you wish to lead life to the fullest and that too, in a healthy way, you better be ready to make some sacrifices. It can be as simple as routinely taking prescribed medicines and as difficult as eating green vegetables and avoiding meat.
Trivia: As mentioned earlier, most people end up living a long healthy life despite suffering a heart attack. However, approximately 20 percent of heart patients who are older than 45 years might suffer another heart attack within five years of their first one.
Here are the top recommendations for you that will allow you to prevent another heart attack:
Take your medicines
There’s a reason why doctors prescribe you medicines after suffering through your first heart attack. If you don’t listen to your doctors, no one can help you in keeping healthy and preventing the occurrence of another one. Make sure that you consume the medicines as and when prescribed. Did you know that some special medicines greatly lower your risks of a cardiac arrest?
Attend your appointments
The reason we are asking you to attend the follow-up appointments with your doctor without fail is that it helps your physician to keep track of your progress and recovery. Regular meet-ups with the doctor will ensure that you are aware of your condition and would also make sure that you never again suffer another heart attack. And to take full advantage of your appointment, make sure that you start preparing yourself ahead of the appointment. Prepare a list of questions that you would like to ask your doctor.
Participation in cardiac rehabilitation
If you don’t know already, cardiac rehabilitation is one of those medically supervised programs that is designed to help you in recovering from the effects of a heart attack. The chances are high that as soon as you are discharged from the hospital, you would receive a referral to cardiac rehab. In case you were not prescribed to do the same, consider asking your doctor about it.
Get mental support
It doesn’t matter how mentally strong a person is, it is very normal for you to feel scared or overwhelmed after the first heart attack. Most often than not, your self-confidence might sink as well. But here’s the catch, you are not allowed to fall prey to your mind games. Make sure that you get enough mental support from your loved ones. It’s always recommended that you connect with other heart attack survivors and have a chat with them to lighten your mind and heart. Stay positive, and no harm shall come upon you!
Manage your risk factors
Make sure that you manage your risk factors after that first attack. Factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes should be controlled, and for doing that successfully, take proper medications, quit smoking, eat a healthy diet and get active.
We believe our article will help in keeping your mind positive. All you need is a little hope and a routine lifestyle, and there you go; ready to prevent another heart attack from happening.
Reviewed by Dr. Sreenivasa B Consultant – Cardiology – Adult | Davangere – SS Narayana Heart Centre