Useful Hints following a Heart Attack
Aim
- To answer some of the questions
you and your family may ask following your heart attack.
-
- You should use the information
set out below alongside the information you have received
from the doctors, nursing staff and other information you
will be given, in particular
 |
- British Heart Foundation
- Back to Normal
|
|
- Health Education Authority
- Enjoy Healthy Eating
|
- Hopefully the information
you will find here will help you to return to a healthy
life again.
How
do the Doctors know that I have had a heart attack ?
- You will have had a series
of tests done. These tests would have given your doctor
the information required to make this diagnosis.
- The tests were
|
- an ECG (electrocardiogram)
|
|
- a series of blood tests
taken on 3 consecutive days
|
- These show characteristic
changes following a heart attack and help the doctors to
make their diagnosis.
Will
I see the hospital Doctor again ?
If your consultant needs to see
you, an out-patients appointment will be sent to you to attend
the clinic. You will then be able to discuss with the
consultant the results of any further investigations carried
out and the consultant can assess your progress and arrange
any further treatment he feels is necessary.
Useful
Hints
|
You
will not have been discharged from hospital unless your
doctors were completely satisfied that you were ready
to go home.
|
|
It
is quite common for you to experience the odd twinge or
two of pain in your chest area. This is perfectly
normal and should only last for a couple of seconds and
these are nothing to worry about. Try and stay indoors
for the first week.
|
|
You
can try anything as long as it does not make you out of
breath or bring on any chest pain. Start with easy,
light activities and then gradually build up to heavier
activities.
|
|
Be
aware that the cold weather and/or the wind could bring
on a chest pain. Either wrap up well, hat, gloves,
scarf over your mouth to warm the ingoing air, or don't
go out.
|
|
Check
all your policies in case you need to inform them or process
a claim.
|
|
You
can buy aspirin over the counter at the pharmacy.
Ask your pharmacist for the correct dose. (Take
the old bottle with you)
|
|
If
you are taking more than 2 different tablets on prescription,
it is beneficial to buy a quarterly or yearly pre-paid
prescription card. Speak to your pharmacist about
this.
|
|
Do
not take a very hot bath! It will tire you out very
quickly. Take a cooler bath or shower instead for
the first week or two.
|
|
Over
the day use your store of energy wisely, do not end the
day exhausted.
|
|
You
need to check your travel insurance if you are flying
within a few months of having had your heart attack.
The recommended time before you fly in an aeroplane is
6 weeks.
|
When
can I return to work ?
|
There
are no hard and fast rules about returning to work.
This is because every job and person is different.
|
|
Generally
you are looking at between 8 - 12 weeks.
|
|
If
you are unable to return on a part- time basis, you may
be able to return a little sooner.
|
|
Remember
to be patient and feel completely back to normal before
returning to work.
|
|
Your
G.P. will provide your sick certificates and sign you
fit to return to work.
|
What
can I do and when can I do it ?
Everyone is an individual so
there are no hard and fast rules about what you can do once
you return home.
REMEMBER YOUR BODY WILL TELL
YOU WHEN YOU HAVE DONE ENOUGH, LISTEN TO YOUR BODY AND STOP
WHEN IT TELLS YOU TO DO SO. YOU CAN ALWAYS FINISH WHAT
YOU ARE DOING LATER.
First
couple of days
You can
|
climb
the stairs once a day - i.e. come down in the morning
and go up at bedtime
|
|
get
up washed and dressed each day
|
|
sit
down all day - take a hobby!
|
|
take
a nap in the afternoon
|
|
let
your family spoil you
|
|
don't
have too many visitors as this will tire you out
|
|
remain
indoors
|
Remainder
of the first week
You can begin to
|
make
yourself and your partner drinks
|
|
make
lunch
|
|
wash
and wipe up
|
|
empty
the dishwasher
|
|
prepare
vegetables
|
|
potter
around the house
|
|
dust
and tidy
|
|
climb
the stairs a couple of times a day
|
AVOID
|
cooking
meals
|
|
heavy
lifting
|
|
going
outside
|
|
hoovering
|
|
any
D.I.Y.
|
|
any
energetic activity
|
|
too
many visitors
|
The aim of the first week is
to get as much rest as possible.
Towards the end of the first
week you can go out in the car for a ride or to visit family.
During
the second week
You can
|
go
outside
|
|
walk
around the garden
|
|
gradually
build the distance up to no MORE than 1/4 mile a day
|
|
cook
simple meals
|
|
entertain
more visitors
|
|
increase
the number of times you climb the stairs
|
|
sit
down and iron
|
|
gradually
increase your activities
|
You will be improving all the
time now and you should feel like doing a little more and
resting less.
Remember that you will have good
and bad days. On the bad days rest more and on the good
days DO NOT increase your level of activity too much.
During
the third to sixth week
You can
|
walk
every day - if wet you can be taken to a large superstore
to do your walking!
|
|
build
up to walking to NO MORE than 1 mile
|
|
be
more active around the home, increasing your level of
activity
|
|
go
shopping, but DON'T carry the shopping or push the trolley
|
|
do
some easy light gardening, i.e. hoeing, planting, weeding,
light pruning
|
|
do
a little D.I.Y., i.e. painting
|
|
don't
worry if things are not improving as quickly as you would
like, take your time and you will get back to doing all
the things that you enjoy when your body is ready
|
During
six weeks to three months
- Gradually build up on all
the activities that you are doing.
- Do not start to do all the
activities mentioned below at the same time as this will
undo all the good work you have done in the previous 6 weeks.
-
- You can
|
hoover
|
|
mow
the grass - only doing this for short periods of time
|
|
cleaning
windows
|
|
gardening
- but not heavy digging
|
|
increase
your walking to 2 miles (if you able to walk as far as
this)
|
|
light
decorating - BEWARE - hanging wall paper is very tiring
|
|
cycling
|
|
swimming
|
|
golf
- start on the putting green and progress to a few holes.
DO NOT go to the driving range as this is very hard work
on your heart
|
All these activities should be
started very gradually, spending about 10 minutes the first
time you try the activity and gradually building up on this.
When
can I start to play sport ?
- You are advised not to play
any sport for about 6 weeks. This obviously depends
on the type of sport that you play and also on how you are
feeling.
-
- You are advised not to play
squash or undertake any strenuous activities you have never
tried.
-
- If you do not play sport,
it is advisable to consider taking up a physical activity
to increase your fitness and reduce your chances of another
heart attack. It will also help to reduce your stress
levels, make you fitter and encouraging the heart to remain
fit and strong.
-
- Ideal sports
to take part in are:
-
- cycling
bowls brisk walking
tennis golf badminton
- dancing cricket
swimming
Was
I given a thrombolytic (clot bursting) drug ?
This may have been given to you
on admission to coronary care. If you do not remember
having it, ask the nurses or doctor who will be able to tell
you. You may have been given a red card. If so
you must carry this with you at all times.
Will
my G.P. be aware of my discharge from hospital ?
- You will be given a copy of
the discharge summary that the hospital will send to your
G.P. It will arrive at your surgery within a few days
of your discharge. If you wish, you can take your
copy to the surgery. Your G.P. may possibly visit
you at home to see how you are progressing. Do contact the
surgery to tell them that you are home and that you would
appreciate a visit.
-
- If you feel unwell, do not
hesitate to get in touch with your G.P. and arrange for
them to call in to see you at home.
Do
I keep taking the tablets ?
- YES. You must continue
taking all the tablets you were given in the hospital until
your doctor tells you to stop. You must take
your tablets regularly.
-
- You will only be given 7 days
supply of tablets when you leave the hospital and you must
contact your own G.P. for a further prescription.
-
- You should never run out of
tablets. Always make sure you get another prescription
made up before you take your last tablet. Remember
that most surgeries require 48 hours notice to arrange for
a repeat prescription to be available for collection.
Is
my cholesterol high ?
- You may have had your cholesterol
measured on admission. Ask the doctor if you would
like to know whether this has been done and what the result
is.
-
- If this wasn't done at admission
you will have to wait 3 months until it can be done as cholesterol
measurements are unreliable during this time. You
can ask your G.P. to do the test for you.
-
- If your cholesterol level
is considered to be high, the doctors will prescribe medication
for you to take daily.
Do
I need to stop smoking ?
MOST DEFINITELY YES. It
is the biggest cause of heart disease and death. You
will have been unable to smoke while you have been in hospital.
Your body is already beginning to adjust to not having
nicotine and this will already be benefiting your body.
When you get home the habit of smoking will be strong but
you need to use your will power to help you overcome this
and the nicotine in your system will already be removed by
your 5 days in hospital.
Will
I have an Exercise Test ?
Yes - You will be sent an appointment
in the post. Please read the instructions carefully
and if you cannot attend please ring to cancel and rearrange
your investigation. This is an investigation and you
will NOT get the results on the the day of the test.
You will have the opportunity to discuss the results with
the consultant at your clinic appointment.
What
do I do if I get pain ?
- If you have chest pain, put
a GTN (Glycerin Trinitrate) tablet or spray under your tongue,
sit down and rest. If your pain has not gone away
10 minutes later, put another GTN tablet/spray under your
tongue and rest. If after a further 10 minutes the
pain is still there, put another GTN tablet/spray
under your tongue and ring the doctor or ambulance for assistance.
- If you haven't any GTN tablets
or spray and you get chest pain, rest until the pain has
gone away or for 30 minutes. If the pain is
still there summons help via the G.P. or ambulance.
Can
I resume a sexual relationship ?
- It is advisable to refrain
from sexual intercourse for about 4 weeks.
-
- You should resume your relationship
gently and gradually.
- Let your partner take more
of the initiative in the first few weeks.
-
- You may both experience some
fear about resuming this side of your relationship, this
is perfectly normal and understandable.
-
- After your first occasion
you should both feel a lot happier and willing to get back
to normal.
-
- If you are on Beta blockers
(Atenolol, Metoprolol) this can cause impotency.
If this is a problem, discuss it with your G.P. and he may
be able to change your Beta blocker to another one to prevent
this from occurring again.
Has
stress caused my heart attack ?
- Not necessarily.
-
- Having a heart attack is a
great shock to you, your partner and to the other members
of your family.
-
- You (or they) may become irritable,
moody, tearful or angry for no apparent reason. You
may become depressed or anxious. These are all normal
feelings following a heart attack and these mood swings
will disappear in time.
-
- Some people welcome the opportunity
to spend some time talking about how they feel, so share
your feelings with your family group and let them talk about
their feelings too.
- Take this opportunity to think
about yourself and how you react to things in your life.
If you would
like to talk things over don't hesitate to contact the Cardiac
Rehabilitation Liaison Sister.
When
can I drive again ?
- The legal recommendation is
4 weeks.
-
- It is usually between 6 -
8 weeks before you can drive.
- You will need to discuss this
with your G.P. as they are people who will decide when you
are well enough to drive again.
- You need to inform your driving
insurance company, in writing, that you have had a heart
attack as your insurance will be void if this is not done.
-
- You DO NOT have to inform
DVLA about your heart attack.
- If you hold a HGV or PSV licence,
by law, you have to inform DVLA of your heart attack and
you are unable to use this part of your licence again until
DVLA are satisfied with your health. DO NOT send off
your licence, send all the relevant details from it in a
letter.
What
can I do to improve my diet ?
- Healthy eating has benefits
for everyone.
- Reaching you ideal body weight
for your height not only makes you feel fitter, but can
also help to lower blood fats, blood pressure and puts less
strain on your heart.
- You will have been given the
book "Enjoy Health Eating". This will give
you lots of additional information about ways of eating
healthily.
Conclusion
- Your heart attack will have
given you lots of time to think about your lifestyle and
the changes you would like to make.
- You are now hopefully beginning
to change your lifestyle for the better so that you can
lead a healthy and happy life.
- If you have further questions
don't hesitate to contact the Cardiac
Rehabilitation Liaison Sister
or ask the staff
on the ward.
Remember
THE SLOWER YOU GO THE QUICKER
YOU WILL GET BETTER
YOUR BODY WILL TELL YOU WHEN
YOU HAVE DONE ENOUGH
LISTEN TO YOUR BODY AND STOP
WHEN IT TELLS YOU TO DO SO |
|
