Heart attack recovery continues even after you leave the hospital. The good news is, that the heart is capable of healing and recovering with proper care and soon you will be able to resume normal life. Protecting your heart over the long term involves following your medication plan, making lifestyle changes, and exercising after a heart attack.
Your heart attack recovery plan will show you how to:
- be alert for heart attack symptoms
- keep cholesterol and blood pressure under control
- follow a heart-healthy diet
- manage diabetes and weight
- deal with your feelings
- make other lifestyle changes such as quitting smoking
- exercise after a heart attack
Full recovery will probably take two or three months, depending on your specific condition.
The first week of heart attack recovery
After you return home from the hospital, slow down a little as you get back to your normal routine. You will need plenty of rest as you may initially feel weak. Here is what you can do:
- Have someone to look after you for a couple of weeks.
- Wake up as usual, shower, and get dressed.
- Do light activities: reading, watching TV, making tea, setting the table, cooking
- Take short five or ten-minute walks.
- Climb stairs slowly without becoming breathless.
- Visit friends.
- Rest for a couple of hours during the day to help with recovery.
- Eat a healthy diet.
- Tend to your wounds if any, as directed by your doctor.
- Show up for any follow-up tests and regular check-ups.
Some strict don’ts:
- Avoid strenuous activities such as gardening, sports, making the bed, lifting heavy objects, vacuuming, standing for too long or doing any activity that makes you breathless.
- Avoid stress and temperature extremes.
- No driving
Week two to eight
Week two is similar to week one. By week three, you can increase your walk to fifteen minutes a day, twice a day, keeping a steady pace. By now, you can cook, carry light objects, and do light gardening. Rest for a couple of hours during the day. Avoid active sports or other heavy activities that could strain your heart. For week four, continue the same routine as you increase walking to thirty minutes at a gentle pace.
Between weeks five and eight, your heart attack recovery will almost be complete. If there’s no chest pain and walking is comfortable, consult your doctor about safe exercise after a heart attack. Be alert for any signs of discomfort or breathlessness as you build up your physical activity steadily.
It is natural to feel tired and experience feelings of fear and anxiety about resuming a normal routine. Talking to those close to you will make you feel better. If you feel depressed about various lifestyle changes, discuss your treatment options with your doctor to enable you to make a full heart attack recovery.
Exercise after a heart attack
Staying active daily after a heart attack with at least 30 minutes of regular physical activity, five times a week is important during heart attack recovery. Ease into cardiovascular exercises such as aerobics, swimming, walking, cycling and dancing. Exercise helps minimize the chances of coronary artery disease while reducing stress and keeping blood pressure and cholesterol under control. It also helps weight management, which promotes long-term heart health.
Returning to work
Most people resume work in about four to six weeks, depending on the severity of the heart attack. Your doctor will give you the go-ahead based on your progress and the kind of work you do. Take it easy initially as you may tire quickly. For those who work from home, it is important not to give in to the temptation to start work before you should.
If you underwent a bypass surgery, you may need a longer recovery period. If you are in a desk job, you may be return to work in four to six weeks. If your job is physically strenuous, then longer as you must build your strength. In any case, feel physically and emotionally ready before you return to work. Wait at least six weeks, until you are stable and fully recovered before traveling.
What about driving?
Follow your doctor’s advice. If you’ve had bypass surgery, you’ll have to wait four weeks. After a heart attack, wait at least two weeks. Preferably, don’t drive alone and stick to routes you are familiar with. Always carry identification.
Intimacy with your partner
Just like exercise after a heart attack, intimacy is safe, but it can also raise heart rate and blood pressure, leading to breathlessness. It is a good idea to pace yourself. If you can take two flights of stairs without feeling pain or breathlessness you are probably well enough. If you had surgery, let your breastbone heal. This can take 6-8 weeks. Avoid putting pressure on your chest.
Don’t hesitate to contact your doctor with any questions you may have. Taking your medication as directed is a crucial part of heart attack recovery, along with a healthy diet and lifestyle. A positive attitude speeds up physical and mental recovery.
Further reading:
Heart Attack Recovery – A Step-by-Step Guide was last modified: December 7th, 2024 by
