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Tips To Cope With The Emotional Impact Of A Heart Attack

A heart attack is a serious event and can take a toll on both the physical and mental health of someone who has experienced it. While many people return to their normal activities within a week, others may take months to recover. Moreover, up to one-third of heart attack survivors will experience depression during recovery.

It’s normal for a person to not feel like themselves after such a major event, which absolutely makes sense in view of the inherent uncertainty and fear about their future. A certain amount of sadness and fatigue is normal which will gradually go away as patients re-establish a regular life routine. But if it doesn’t, inform your doctor right away so that you both together can chart out a path to efficiently deal with and overcome the emotional impact of a heart attack. Addressing depression after a serious cardiac event like heart attack is critical, since depression is associated with worst outcomes and an increased risk of death for heart patients. It is mainly things pertaining to a cardiac event, such as physical symptoms, changes in lifestyle, medication reactions, recovery, etc. that sets off depression in some people. Also, depression and heart disease share a two-way relation- depression is not only likely in someone who’s had a heart attack, but someone with a history of depression is also more likely to have a heart attack.


Below are tips to bounce back- both mentally and physically- after a cardiovascular event:
Watch out for physical symptoms- It is important to take good care of oneself after a heart event, which includes incorporating healthy lifestyle habits, such as a healthy diet, enough sleep and adequate exercise into the daily routine. Stay vigilant of physical symptoms like a lack of motivation to get up and move or take medications, since feelings of depression can translate to these symptoms (can be attributed to mind-body connection).

Self-Care is a must- Self-care is a crucial aspect to recovering fast following a heart attack. Self-care could mean choosing a healthy diet, practicing relaxation techniques, prioritizing enjoyable and fun activities, and saying NO to stressful obligations.

Taking prescribed medications- It is important that you strictly follow your doctor’s instructions when it comes to taking medications post heart attack, and it’s important to check in with a physician when something doesn’t feel right. Do not start any medication (such as antidepressants) without your doctor’s knowledge.

Create a solid support system- According to studies, people are more likely to die in the 9 years after a heart attack or have a recurrent cardiac event if they don’t talk to their doctors, rarely visit friends and family, or don’t join any support group- there should be someone they can turn to in tough times or share their feelings with. It can be challenging for many patients to ask for help after a heart attack, but it is critical that they feel supported and should have a strong support system back at home.

Consider Cardiac Rehabilitation- Physicians often recommend cardiac rehabilitation programs to heart attack patients. Cardiac rehab programs are designed to help people understand nutrition, stick to exercise routines, and above all, improve their quality of life.

It is advisable that patients and their caregivers watch out for persistent negative thinking, suicidal tendencies and physical symptoms of depression when recovering from a heart attack.
To sign up for a CPR course, contact CPR Tampa in Palm Harbor on 727-240-9404.

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