Heart Attack - The Aftermath

I’ve discussed with you previously that heart attacks cause a certain amount of damage to the heart muscle itself.

So the question becomes… how much of my heart has been damaged?

Well… this varies from person to person, but generally the amount of the heart muscle that comes under damage or injury isn’t extensive and the heart will, indeed, continue to function well… and, of course, there are tests that can be performed that will give your physician some idea of the extent of the damage.

The positive aspect to remember is that the majority of people make a decent recovery. Although the actual healing process for your heart muscle will take some time, the heart is a resilient muscle; it will will begin to heal soon after the attack.

As far as the heart muscle itself goes, the aftermath is an area of scar tissue that is left behind. Even though your heart won’t contract quite normally around the areas of the scar tissue, for many this does not affect the function of the heart or even how they feel. In fact, many times, the biggest hurdle is getting past the fear and anxiety related to having had a heart attack.

The fear and anxiety factors of a post heart attack aren’t to be taken lightly and how you handle these will greatly effect how quickly you can get your life back to normal.

Once you get back home after a heart attack, what sort of recovery and activity plan should be on?

Of course the absolute answer is exactly what your physician instructs you to do.

Generally speaking, of course, you’ll want to initially get your rest and just quietly move about. You’ll want to learn to recognize when you get tired and should take a break. Realize that even little activity early on will get you tired. One of the big keys to get back on track mentally is to make sure that you get about each day as your doctor allows, get up and get dressed and take on the routine that you’ve been asked to follow by your health care provider.

Ultimately through your regular routine you’ll will gradually regain your physical and your mental strength.

Down the road on your recovery, you’ll want to work with your doctor on getting your physical activity back up to par.

Remember, physical activity has the benefits of keeping your weight down and keeping your blood pressure and your cholesterol in check… which reduces the risk factor of you having a subsequent heart attack.

Getting back to your ‘usual’ activities will vary from person to person and will be under the direction of your doctor. Many cardiologist will schedule their patients to follow up after a heart attack with a cardiac rehabilitation or cardiac rehab program during which you work with specially trained instructors who will help you to regain your strength in a safe and effective manner.

In many cases, walking is the recommended activity to work toward when getting your physical activity level back. If not walking, you’ll want to discuss with your doctor activities that you not only enjoy doing, but also activities that you will do consistently.

Do it for you… and your heart.

With your doctor’s approval, consistently making physical activity a part of your life is not only a big part of your recovery, it is also a big part of you staying healthy long term. You should work to gradually increase your activities that you engage in, and be thinking long term from this point forward. Remember, little changes in your daily lifestyle, can help you to overall be more active.

Getting your life back after a heart attack is not only very doable, but is a requirement for not only your physical health but your mental state as well.