How you can lead a healthy life after a heart attack? Don’t lose heart. Even after a heart attack, you can lead a healthy and productive life.
With the progressive hardening and narrowing of coronary blood vessels, the blood supply to the heart muscle starts diminishing. As long as the blood supply is adequate to meet the demands of the heart an individual will not have any symptoms. Initially the blood supply may be adequate at rest, but becomes inadequate during activity (The demand of the heart for oxygen increases with activity). This inadequate blood supply leads to chest pain. The chest pain disappears soon after the activity is stopped. This is known as Angina. The chest pain is usually over the centre of the chest, feels like tightness in chest, comes on exertion, relieved by rest and lasts for couple of minutes.
A small blood clot may suddenly block this narrowed blood vessel and totally obstruct the blood flow to that part of the heart. This total stoppage of blood circulation leads to Heart attack (Myocardial infarction). The pain is more severe, lasting for nearly an hour or more and usually associated with sweating and breathlessness. If the damage is very severe, it may lead to stopping of the heart and sudden death.If the pain is mild and subsides with rest, consult your doctor at the earliest. If the pain occurs during activity, stop the activity and sit and rest tilt the pain stops. If the pain is very severe, rush to the nearest hospital urgently.
The incidence of sudden death is very high in the first few hours after a heart attack and many of 
them could be prevented or successfully treated in a hospital. Don’t postpone seeking the medical help. Now a days a drug is given to dissolve the clot which has blocked the blood vessel. This treatment is effective if given within the first six hours after the onset of heart attack. This is known as Thrombolytic Therapy. It has been proved beyond doubt, all over the world, that this therapy given promptly, reduces the damage to the heart and hence reduces the complications of heart attack. This therapy makes it all the more necessary to reach the hospital in the shortest time possible.
The block in the coronary artery leading to heart attack can also be opened by a balloon (Balloon Angioplasty) and stenting saving the heart muscle and its function. This mode of treatment known as “Primary Angioplasty” or ‘Direct Angioplasty’ is available at certain centers and is expensive, but may be the treatment of choice in certain situation.If you see a person stricken with a heart attack, laying unconscious, give a hard thump on his chest and give mouth to mouth breathing and summon medical help.
If you have heart attack, you will be admitted to an intensive care unit, don’t panic.Some of the guidelines to be followed after heart attack are given below:
- During the first week take complete rest at home. To live on the ground floor bed room with toilet facility is ideal.
- In the second week you should gradually increase your activities. e.g., you may climb one flight of stairs twice a day, or walk about inside the house freely as you like.
- By third and fourth week you should be able to undertake light household activities.
- Physical activity should be gradually increased as weeks go by. Those patients who have been physically inactive prior to the heart attack are encouraged to become more active and to take regular exercises like walking, gentle jogging etc. on the advice of your doctors. However sudden and severe form of physical exertion must be avoided.
- Many patients find benefit from a nap in the afternoon. If you don’t get good night’s sleep a sleeping tablet might help you. However don’t make a habit of this.
- Reduce some of the business or social responsibilities
- You are advised not to drive vehicle for some time after leaving the hospital. When you restart, try and avoid stressful situations such as rush hour traffic or long journeys at first.
- Sexual inter courses are best avoided for about a month as it puts extra strain on your heart. However as your physical health improves no undue restrictions are necessary
- You may need to continue on drug treatment as per doctor advise to provide protection for the future.
.When you have chest pain, seek medical advice. Depending on the severity of the problems, you may be advised only to take medicines or may be advised to undergo Angioplasty or Bypass Surgery.But don’t lose heart. Even after a heart attack, you can lead a healthy and productive life. It has been well established that even after a heart attack, taking preventive measures and avoiding the various risk factors, one can prevent further damage to the heart and prevent further heart attacks. Even the damage to the heart can be corrected by various new methods of treatment that are available now.Follow these simple guidelines and live with a healthier heart:
- Stop smoking and make others to stop too.
- Get into the habit of regular physical exercise.
- Avoid fats derived from animal sources.
- Reduce your weight.
- Control your blood pressure and blood sugar levels.
- Get periodic checkup with your doctor, especially after the age of 40 years.
Dr Mahantesh R. Charantimath
Senior Consultant Interventional Cardiologist, Tathagat Heart Hospital at Mallige Medical Centre premises,
No. 31/32, Crescent Road, Bengaluru – 01
Phone : 080- 22358888 | 9900356000
E-mail: mahanteshrc67@gmail.com
http://tathagathearthospital.com/
