How To Support Someone You Know After A Heart Attack
Heart attack is one of the most common causes of death in the United States and globally. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, one person suffers a heart attack in the US every forty seconds. A heart attack patient will most likely be hospitalized and made to spend some days under proper medical care and monitoring before being allowed to go home. Even after being discharged from the hospital, doctors will probably give the person some do’s and don’ts to avoid recurrence. His life in the first few months after the incident cannot be as usual. The heart muscles are damaged. This will certainly cause tiredness, loss of energy, or weakness. The fact that he has also been idled in the hospital for some days will also make it difficult to resume his regular daily activities immediately.
Apart from the physical weakness, there will also be emotional challenges. A survey shows that about one in every four people who suffer heart attack experience depression during days after their return from the hospital. Indeed, those days will be challenging for the heart-attack patient. At that time, he will need all the assistance he can get from friends and family members. So if your loved one suffers a heart attack and is just recovering, how can you care for him?
Understand What The Person Needs
There is no way you can care for your loved one if you don’t know what he actually needs. Therefore, it might be necessary for you to seek knowledge and information about heart attacks and their effects. If you have the chance to be with your loved one while in hospital, at the time he is being discharged, ask the doctors as many questions as possible. Ensure you know what is best for your loved one who has just survived a heart attack and what he should do or avoid afterward. Although some medical advice is general for all heart attack patients, your loved one may have a unique case, and it would be best if you find out from the doctors about it as it will assist you better in caring for them.
Ensure They Take Their Medications
Perhaps, this is the most important support you can give to your loved one that is just coming back from the hospital after suffering a heart attack. He must take all his medications as prescribed by the doctor. Because he will be tired, weak, and possibly depressed or angry, he may sometimes forget to take his medication or decide to skip it. So, constantly remind him and persuade him to take his medications regularly.
Keep Them Active
It is natural for this person to wish to stay in one place the whole day. Remember, he has got damaged heart tissues. This will undoubtedly make him tired or weak. But you will not be doing him any good by allowing him to sleep all day. Doctors usually advise people recovering from heart attack to get involved in non-rigorous activities. Experts warned that heart attack patients must not stay in one place all day after returning from the hospital. So, do not let your loved one remain idle or only get busy in one spot. Encourage him to participate in simple physical activities and also take a little walk. Of course, he shouldn’t undergo much stress, but he mustn’t live a sedentary lifestyle as well. It is fine to walk around in the house. They can also climb the staircase. They should take care of their hygiene. He can dress himself up. If the doctor says, it is okay for him to exercise, encourage him to do so. He can also get involved in sexual activities except if the doctor advises against it. Staying active will help him to build back his strength gradually until he is completely healed.
Help With Difficult Tasks
Of course, you are not to stay with him and watch him do everything. You also have to stop him from doing some things and help him instead. Despite being weak, some people love doing their chores themselves. If the doctors say no, do not let him risk it—volunteer to do all the hard tasks. It would help if you were the one cooking, going out shopping, and carrying heavy loads. Do not let him lift anything heavy. Also, doctors will likely warn him against driving, therefore be prepared to be his driver for the time being. Your loved one who has just returned from the hospital due to a heart attack is not expected to go back to work immediately. If he runs his own business, he may be tempted to return to some work. You can offer to assist him with some duties that require urgent attention.
Monitor Their Diet
Whether you are the one cooking for him or he orders his food elsewhere, make sure you monitor his diet. Your friend must eat foods that are good for the heart. This will help reduce the risk of reoccurrence or having another cardiovascular problem. His doctors will likely recommend eating lots of vegetables, legumes, and whole grains. Therefore, encourage your friend to take these classes of food. It is also essential for him to reduce his intake of simple carbohydrates and sodium. He should take complex carbohydrates as his source of energy. If you prepare his food, you should note these things and ensure he takes healthy diets only.
Help Them Avoid Smoking
Smoking is dangerous for everyone but more hazardous for heart attack patients. If your loved one is a smoker, you must ensure he avoids smoking at this time. Help him in all ways to fight the habit.
Support Them Emotionally
As stated earlier, a significant number of heart attack patients also suffer from depression. Therefore, you must offer emotional support. Your loved one or friend will surely overcome this challenge within a short time, but a few measures can speed up the recovery. If you can help him get more friends and family members to be around him, it will boost his morale. It would help if you also encouraged him to do more of the things that make him happy. If he needs medication or other kinds of support to overcome depression, his doctors will specify, then you should assist him in getting it.
Change Your Lifestyle
You can sacrifice your time and pleasure for the sake of your loved one. For the few weeks after your friend returns from the hospital, make him the priority. Therefore, you can adjust your lifestyle to suit him so that you will not tempt him to follow your actions. For instance, if you love chocolate, candies, carbohydrates, and other foods that are not good for your friend, eating them in his presence may tempt him also to crave them. Therefore, avoid what your loved one is to avoid and embrace what he should embrace too. It will be easier for him to do some activities if you also do them, and avoid others if you avoid them too.
ENROLL Them In Support Groups
Your loved one may need the help of a support group. Remember that he will be too tired to worry about things like that. Therefore, you can put it upon yourself to enroll them. He may also need to participate in a cardiac rehabilitation program. If the doctor recommends this, then you can assist by helping him find a center near him. You should also check if his medical insurance covers the cost.
Summary
When your loved one returns from the hospital after suffering a heart attack, he or she will certainly need assistance. You can help by encouraging him to take his medications regularly, stay active, walk around, and avoid smoking. Monitor his diet and ensure the diet follows the doctors’ recommendation. You should assist your loved one in difficult tasks, driving, and in searching for support groups. Your loved one may also need emotional encouragement. Sometimes, it might be necessary for you to change your lifestyle to support your loved one that is recovering from a heart attack. Contact us today to get more tips on how to help someone you know after a heart attack and how you can also maintain a healthy heart as well.
