When you survive a heart attack, it takes time to get back to your normal activities. The recovery period is extremely important. You will have to adopt healthy changes in your lifestyle to speed up the recovery process. The sooner you start the process, the faster the heart recovers.
Returning to normal activities
After a heart attack, if there is no pain in the chest or any associated complications, you can return to normal activities within a few weeks after taking the approval of your physician. Driving can be resumed in a few weeks, if the condition is stable without any complications. A recovery plan is made by the doctor. Recovery takes time and you must let your heart muscle get strong again. Physical activities should be stepped up gradually. You can start with slowly walking around the house, and then doing stretching exercises. The doctor conducts a stress test which involves the patient walking on a tread mill. Depending on the results, an exercise plan is made by the doctor.
Work and sex after a heart attack
Going back to work depends upon what kind of work you do, what was the severity of your heart attack, how well you are recovering and whether you still have any symptoms. Most people can go back to work within 1-3 months after a heart attack, but the work should not be too strenuous. If the work is too demanding, it is advised that you change your job. In case your work requires heavy physical activity, it would take more time for you to return back to work. It is always better to get advice from your physician before you return back to work.
You may have many questions about your sex life after a heart attack. You can start your sex life 3-4 weeks after a heart attack, depending upon how well you have recovered. You can try positions that are comfortable, and require less energy during sex. You must talk openly to your partner regarding your concerns. Take the advice of your doctor before starting your normal sex life.
Improving recovery plan
The recovery plan consists of cardiac rehabilitation programs which are conducted by the hospitals. These programs are supervised by the health care team and they help in mental and physical recovery and social activity of the patient after the heart attack. These programs involve counseling of the patient regarding the management of the disease, nutrition, lifestyle changes, taking medications the right way, and exercise regimen. The rehabilitation program also involves bringing awareness in the patient regarding risk factors of heart disease like High blood pressure, diabetes, high levels of cholesterol, smoking, alcohol abuse and obesity. The patient is also given the much needed emotional support by the cardiac rehabilitation programs.
Importance of exercise
Exercise is a major part of cardiac rehabilitation. Exercise helps in getting rid of unhealthy weight and makes the heart muscle strong. It also helps in decreasing high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels. Exercises like swimming, walking, jogging, and cycling are beneficial. All exercises have to be done only after consulting your doctor as over exercise can cause more harm than good. It is important to do warm up exercises before doing any exercise. The doctor recommends exercise 3-4 times a week. You can start with exercising for 10 minutes initially, and then increase the time to 30 minutes. After exercising, a cool down period of 15 minutes is a must. You should keep a log of the time taken for the exercises, distance that you jog, and the heart rate before and after the exercise regimen. The doctor can evaluate the progress of the patient by studying the log and give advice accordingly. The exercise regimen has to be continued for one to two years depending on the patient’s heart condition. It is better to make it an everyday part of life.
When exercising, you should be alert of the various signs and symptoms that may call for immediate medical attention. These include:
- Feeling dizzy
- Breathlessness for more than 10 minutes
- Chest pain
- Pain radiating to the arms
- Pain in the stomach and jaw
- Heart beat racing
- Weakness
- Skin turning pale
- Swelling of legs
- Nausea and vomiting
If you experience any of these symptoms during exercise you must stop immediately, and call your physician.
Risk factors for another heart attack
There is always a chance for a second heart attack. You must be able to distinguish between angina and heart attack. In angina, the chest pain goes away after taking medicine or resting for some time, but in heart attack, the chest pain is more severe, and persists for a long time even after taking rest and medicines. Even if you are unable to distinguish between angina and heart attack, it is better to call 911 immediately. Do not hesitate as immediate medical help can save your life.
Understanding MET
MET stands for metabolic equivalents. It is the amount of energy required to do physical activities. Each physical activity is assigned a MET value depending on the energy required to do that physical activity. After a heart attack the patient is advised not to do any physical activity above 3.5 METS.
Physical activity MET value
Mowing lawn 6.5
Driving a car 2.0
Sweeping floor 1.5
Sex 3.7 to 5
Bowling 3.5
Showering 3.5
Ironing 3.5
Gardening 4.5
Golfing 4.0
Tennis 6.0
Dancing 3-7
Yoga 3-4
Base ball 4-6
Table tennis 3-5
Swimming 20 yards/min 4-5
Walking 60min/mi 1-2
Cycling 5mph 2-3
Speeding up recovery
For speedy recovery you must adopt a healthy lifestyle. Diet planning is extremely important. You must avoid oily and fatty foods, and cut down salt in your foods. You must quit smoking and avoid stressful conditions. Try practicing deep breathing and relaxing techniques to counter stress. Make exercise a necessary part of your life and plan your exercise regimen with the help of your doctor. Taking medicines regularly and participating in the cardiac rehabilitation program will speed up the recovery.
Live life to the fullest!
Life can be enjoyed to the fullest even after you have had a heart attack. The key is to make healthy choices in your life to avoid a second attack. You can get through this phase with the emotional support from your family and friends. Taking healthy steps today will ensure you a healthy heart for tomorrow!
