When To Call A Doctor?
For many, surviving a heart attack may be life-changing literally, as it leads to the modification of one’s daily lifestyle and habits. Though the primary thing is to survive and for that, one should know when to call the doctor. Whenever you notice symptoms like shortness of breath for more than about 10 minutes, chest pain or pain in your arms, neck, jaw or stomach, dizzy spells, pale or splotchy skin, very fast heart beat or an irregular heart beat, cold sweats, nausea and vomiting, weakness or fainting or swelling or pain in your legs, know that it is time to call the doctor.
Risk Factors For The Next Heart Attack !!
It is estimated that almost ten percent of people who have suffered a heart attack will suffer from it again within the next year. However, as each year passes by, the risk drops to three percent. One should take into account all the factors which lead to the possibility of a heart attack in you and make sure to avoid such situations and conditions which might trigger a heart attack.
To help you count pointers, here is a list of few of the triggers that might put you at risk: not exercising, drinking alcohol in excessive amounts, being overweight or obese, high cholesterol levels, diabetes, high blood pressure, smoking, over-stressing etc. These are only a few of the usual pointers mentioned here, however for every individual, factors and triggers may vary.
Undergoing Rehabilitation after A Heart Attack
After a heart attack, the first 48 hours are really crucial. Once these pass off without any serious complications, the recovery of the person starts. As few days pass by, the heart tissue too starts recovering and within a week or so, the patient ready to be discharged from the hospital.
As the heart undergoes its recovery, one should start exercising gradually, so as to speedy up the recovery, unlike the common perception that exercising triggers a heart attack. As time passes by, one can increase the exercise and the heart will gradually come into shape, while also improving the general well-being and fitness of the person. Though overdoing anything might be harmful, thus proper medical advice should be taken in regards to the forms and duration of exercise.
Getting Back To The Normal Routine
A person normally takes around six to twelve weeks to get back into his normal routine. Those in job or work, it is important to see if your heart is in shape. In case you are feeling too stressed out, proper rest is required. Jobs involving physical stress should be avoided. Avoiding long journeys and stressful driving will help reduce the risks for another heart attack. It’s a common myth that sexual activity causes stress on the heart.
Exercises After A Heart Attack
Exercise helps in strengthening the muscles of your heart, other than providing a boost to your energy, making you feel healthy. For those obese, exercise helps in reducing their respective weight to normalcy and thus reducing the risks of heart attacks which occur due to high fat. Exercise also helps in controlling your blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
It is best to do whole body exercises like cycling, walking, jogging, skiing or swimming. Sometimes, doctors also prescribe exercises which increase the flexibility and strength. Exercising three to four times a week for about ten to thirty minutes is a good start. Eventually you may increase the duration if you want to.
Treatments One Should Follow After A Heart Attack
The drug treatments help reducing the risk of another heart attack by 25%. Usually drugs which are prescribed by the doctors to combat heart attacks are -- aspirin and other such ones, which help in reducing the formation of blood clots, lipid-lowering drugs help in reducing the cholesterol and other such fats from the blood, beta blockers, used amongst high blood pressure or diabetes patients, ACE inhibitors and Angiotensin Receptor Blockers (ARBs), which help in the efficient function of a failing heart and controlling the blood pressure alike.
Changing the lifestyle is also prescribed by the doctors. Giving up smoking, healthy diet, regular exercise, weight control, regular blood pressure check up and dealing with stressful situations are all the changes one needs to make for a healthy heart. Psychological issues also need to be taken into account for people just out of a heart attack for they are prone to falling in depression after the attack.
