Going Home After Your Heart Attack

It takes approximately 4 to 6 weeks for your heart muscle to heal after a heart attack. It is important to your recovery period that you balance activity, rest, and gradual exercise. This information includes activities to avoid, plus suggestions for activities and exercise guidelines. Please remember these are recommended guidelines for you to follow during your recovery phase after your heart attack and the advice of your doctor takes priority over these guidelines.

Following your recovery period it is highly recommended that you attend a Cardiac Rehabilitation Program. These programs provide informative classes as well as medically supervised exercise sessions. The exercise sessions will assist you in getting to your best physical ability level, while setting safe guidelines for you. Your family is encouraged to be involved as well. The Cardiac Rehabilitation Programs offered in the Edmonton area are at the Glenrose Hospital and the Grey Nuns Hospital. Your Doctor or Cardiac Rehab Nurse will be discussing this with you during your hospital stay.

The Canadian Cardiovascular Society recommends that you avoid driving for one month after a heart attack. Guidelines will vary if you have a class 1 or 2 license, if there were complications with your heart attack, or if you had an angioplasty or bypass surgery. Please check with your physician if you have any questions.

Before you are discharged, discuss with your doctor when you will be able to return to work. Generally, it is advisable to be off work for one month. However, this is dependent on your health and type of employment.

Refrain from making any long distance travel plans without first discussing with your doctor. Traveling by airplane is usually not recommended for 6-8 weeks after a heart attack. When planning a trip where travel medical insurance is advised, check with your insurance company to ensure that you have adequate coverage. This may change after a major illness.

Sexual Activity

If you find the stairs tiring, do a few steps at a time and then rest before finishing the flight.

Avoid carrying things up and down stairs during your recovery period.

Most likely you will be very upset following your heart attack. It has interrupted your life and that of your family. It is normal to feel anger, sadness, fear and guilt. Your may feel angry with yourself, your family, your caregivers. You may be afraid of what the future holds for you. You may even deny that a heart attack has occurred.

The key is to acknowledge your feelings and communicate with your loved ones. These feelings should gradually subside as you recover and gain confidence.

Too much alcohol can reduce the pumping action of the heart, raise the blood pressure and can raise the triglyceride levels in the blood.

Some high blood pressure medications can have an adverse reaction when mixed with alcohol. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

Limit your alcohol intake. No more than 2 servings per day for a man and no more than 1 serving per day for a woman

1 serving = 1 bottle of beer, 5 ounces of wine, 1 ounce of spirits

Caffeine increases the heart rate. If you are prone to a rapid irregular heartbeat you should avoid it. Otherwise, it may be used in moderation

(Approximately 2-4 cups of coffee per day).

You may have some concern over your finances following your heart attack. The Social Worker can discuss these matters with you and help you explore your options. If you do not have a private insurance plan or work related sick benefit program, you may be able to receive one of the following:

• Medical benefits under Employment Insurance
• Canada Pension Plan Sick Benefits
• Alberta Works Income Assistance

If you are prescribed medications and do not have a medical insurance plan, contact the Social Worker to discuss options available such as:

• Blue Cross Non Group coverage
• Subsidy for Alberta Health Care premiums (applicable also to Blue Cross Insurance premiums.

The following will provide with some guidelines for increasing your daily activities at home. Progress during the healing period will vary from patient to patient. Depending on the size of your heart attack will determine how quickly you will return to normal activities.

The heart, like any other muscle in your body, needs regular exercise to remain strong. WALKING IS THE RECOMMENDED EXERCISE DURING YOUR RECOVERY PERIOD. Regular physical exercise plays a major role in recuperation. Begin as soon as you are discharged from the hospital unless otherwise advised by your physician. After your healing period, exercise should become a lifelong habit to keep your heart strong.

• Start with a short walk 2-3 times a day. At home, begin at the level of walking you were doing just before you were discharged from the hospital. The pace, time, and distance you walk depends on how you feel.
• Gradually increase the time you are walking by about 5 to 10 minutes a week. In 4 weeks you should be able to walk for 20 to 40 minutes of continuous walking.

• Exercise only when you feel well. Wait at least 2 days after the last symptoms of a cold or flu have disappeared.

• Recommended walking time shown below.

RECOMMENDED WALKING SCHEDULE FOR YOUR 4 WEEK RECOVERY PERIOD

SLOW DOWN YOUR WALK IF:

• You get short of breath
• You feel overtired
• You get angina
• You feel weak or faint

If you have nitroglycerin and are experiencing angina, take as directed.

If the angina signs and symptoms are not relieved with your nitroglycerin spray or tablets, call 911.