How to lead a normal life after heart attack?

Proper management is necessary to lead a normal life after heart attack. These are rough guidelines. Your doctor is the best judge to advise you regarding these matters.

- Dr Mahantesh R. Charantimath

Don’t lose heart. Even after a heart attack, one 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 and if you try hard, heart attack can be prevented. After returning from hospital with proper treatment, some of the guidelines to be followed are given below:

• During the first week at home you should continue pretty much as you were doing when you left the hospital. To live on the ground floor bedroom with toilet facility is ideal. However if you live on upstairs, climb stairs slowly, and if possible once a day only. Use the commode if toilet facilities are not available in the same floor.

• 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.