To start, it’s important to take care of yourself. Look to those around you for help during this time. Talk to your doctor for specific advice or if you have any concerns.

How soon can I return to my regular activities?

After a heart attack, you will want to go back to your regular life. This especially can be true if you spent time in the hospital. However, the answer depends on your normal routine and the condition of your heart. It’s important to start slowly to give your heart a chance to heal. Your doctor will talk to you about when you can be active again and what you should do. Do not return to any kind of exercise without talking to your doctor first. It also is important to sign up for a cardiac rehabilitation program. This monitors your blood pressure, heart rate, and heartbeat as you exercise.

When can I go back to work?

The amount of time you are off from work varies. It depends on your heart health and how active and stressful your job is. You may have to make some changes in how you do your job. Or if work is too hard on your heart, you might have to switch jobs, at least for a short time.

Is it okay to drive?

Most people who have a heart attack can drive again after 1 week. Talk to your doctor about concerns or if you have other conditions that may prevent you from driving safely. If you are a commercial driver, talk to your company before driving again.

Can I have sex?

After having a heart attack, you should wait 2 to 3 weeks before having sex again. As with other types of activity, you may need to start out slow.

Path to improved health

There are steps you can take to recover from a heart attack and preventing another one in the future. This is known as “secondary prevention.” First, make sure you understand your type of heart disease. Your doctor will tell you risk factors and how to help prevent future damage to your heart. Then, follow the tips below for a healthy lifestyle.

•  Stop smoking. Tobacco use is a major risk factor for heart disease. It damages the walls of the blood vessels. It can prevent blood and oxygen from reaching your heart and other organs. It also can cause blood clots, which may lead to heart attacks. Nicotine, the main chemical in tobacco, raises your blood pressure. If you smoke, ask your doctor to help you make a plan to quit. In addition to not smoking, try to avoid secondhand smoke. You can inhale smoke from a burning cigarette or when someone else exhales smoke.
• Control your blood pressure. High blood pressure puts stress on your heart and blood vessels. Talk to your doctor about ways to manage your blood pressure. This includes exercising, keeping a diet that is low in salt, and losing weight if you are overweight. Your doctor may also prescribe medicines to help control your blood pressure. It is important to follow your doctor’s orders for all medicines.
• Control your cholesterol levels. There are two types of cholesterol. High-density lipoproteins (HDL) are “good” for you. Low-density lipoproteins (LDL) are “bad” for you. Too much “bad” cholesterol in your blood increases your risk of heart disease. If your LDLs are high, your doctor may prescribe medicines to help lower it. You also should eat a heart-healthy diet and start an exercise program.
• Check for diabetes. Diabetes is a disease that has to do with your insulin hormone levels. You can have Type 1 diabetes if your body doesn’t produce any insulin. You can have Type 2 diabetes if your body doesn’t produce enough insulin or doesn’t use it correctly. Having diabetes increases your risk of heart attack and stroke. Talk to your doctor about getting screened for diabetes. If you have diabetes, they can help you create a plan to manage your condition.
• Exercise. Regular cardio exercise can make your heart stronger. Examples include walking, jogging, running, bicycling, and swimming. Exercise helps your heart pump blood and deliver oxygen to your body. It can lower your cholesterol level and blood pressure. It also helps relieves stress. Regular exercise and a healthy diet can help you lose weight. Being overweight is a risk factor of heart disease. Losing just 10% of your body weight can help lower your risk. Talk to your doctor before starting or restarting exercise after a heart attack. They can monitor your activity and keep you on track.
• Eat a heart-healthy diet. The food you eat affects your blood flow. A diet that is high in “bad” fats (saturated and trans fats) can cause buildup (plaque) in your arteries. Plaque slows or prevents blood flow to your heart. Over time, it can block your arteries and can cause a heart attack or heart failure. Add foods to your diet that are low in cholesterol and saturated fats. Eat more fruits and vegetables. Eat less red meat, and more white meat and fish. Consume fewer high-fat dairy products. Cut down on salt (sodium) and sugar. Avoid fried and processed foods.
• Control your stress level. Heart attacks can be scary and upsetting. Ask your doctor for advice about how to cope with your emotions. Depression and stress can increase your risk of heart disease.

Things to consider

If you have had a heart attack, you are at higher risk of ongoing heart problems. It is important to know the warning signs. Seek emergency medical care if you have critical symptoms. These can occur while you are active or at rest, and include:

• chest pain (angina)
• tightness or pressure in your arms, neck, jaw, or stomach
• shortness of breath
• dizziness, weakness, or fainting
• pale, sweaty skin
• fast or irregular heartbeat
• nausea and/or vomiting
• swelling or pain in your legs
• sudden fatigue.

Questions to ask your doctor

• After a heart attack, what is my risk of having another one?
• What foods are considered to be heart-healthy?
• What are the best ways to stop smoking?
• What are the short- and long-term side effects of cardiac medicines?

Questions? Call +254 718 994 368 / 733 994 368 or E-mail: wecare@pathwayintl.co.ke

PATHWAY INTERNATIONAL: providing Global Healthcare Solutions.

The post Tips for Recovering and Staying Well After a Heart Attack appeared first on Pathway International.

Cardiology is the study and treatment of disorders of the heart and the blood vessels. A person with heart disease or cardiovascular disease may be referred to a cardiologist.

Cardiology is a branch of internal medicine. A cardiologist is not the same as a cardiac surgeon. A cardiac surgeon opens the chest and performs heart surgery.

A cardiologist specializes in diagnosing and treating diseases of the cardiovascular system. The cardiologist will carry out tests, and they may some do procedures, such as heart catheterizations, angioplasty, or inserting a pacemaker.

Heart disease relates specifically to the heart, while cardiovascular disease affects the heart, the blood vessels, or both.

To become a cardiologist in the United States, it is necessary to complete 4 years of medical school, 3 years of training in internal medicine, and at least 3 years specializing in cardiology

When would I need a cardiologist?

Cardiology deals with heart health.

If a person has symptoms of a heart condition, their physician may refer them to a cardiologist.

Symptoms that can indicate a heart problem include:

• shortness of breath
• dizziness
• chest pains
• changes in heart rate or rhythm
• high blood pressure

A cardiologist can carry out tests for a heart murmur or an abnormal heart rhythm.

They often treat patients who have had a heart attack, heart failure, or other heart problems. They help make decisions about heart surgery, heart catheterization, and angioplasty and stenting.

Heart diseases that a cardiologist can help with include:

• atherosclerosis
• atrial fibrillation
• arrhythmias
• congenital heart disease
• coronary heart disease
• congestive heart disease
• high blood cholesterol and triglycerides
• hypertension
• pericarditis
• ventricular tachycardia
• high blood pressure, or hypertension

The cardiologist can give advice about preventing heart disease.

A person may need to see a cardiologist even without symptoms, if they have a family history of heart disease or high cholesterol, if they are or have been a smoker, if they have diabetes, or if they are starting a new exercise program.

A woman who has had pre-eclampsia may be at higher risk of heart problems in a later pregnancy or during the menopause.

What does cardiology involve?

A cardiologist will review a patient’s medical history and carry out a physical examination.

They may check the person’s weight, heart, lungs, blood pressure, and blood vessels, and carry out some tests.

An interventional cardiologist may carry out procedures such as angioplasties, stenting, valvuloplasties, congenital heart defect corrections, and coronary thrombectomies.

Tests

They may also carry out or order tests as listed below:

The equipment in a cath lab allows the doctor to see the state of the heart.

Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG): this records the electrical activity of the heart.

Ambulatory ECG: this records heart rhythms while the person carries out exercise or their regular activities. Small metal electrodes are stuck on to the chest, and these are connected by wires to a Holter monitor, which records the rhythms.

An exercise test, or stress test: this shows the changes of heart rhythm when resting and exercising. It measures the performance and limitations of the heart.

Echocardiogram: this provides an ultrasound picture that shows the structure of the heart chambers and surrounding areas, and it can show how well the heart is working.

Echocardiography can measure how well the heart is pumping blood, known as cardiac output. It can detect inflammation around the heart, known as pericarditis. It can also identify structural abnormalities or infections of the heart valves.

Cardiac catheterization: a small tube in or near the heart collects data and may help relieve a blockage. It can take pictures and check the functioning of the heart and the electrical system. Catheter-based techniques with fluoroscopy can be used to treat congenital cardiac, valvular, and coronary artery diseases.

Nuclear cardiology: nuclear imaging techniques use radioactive materials to study cardiovascular disorders and diseases in a noninvasive way.

Examples are infarction imaging, single-photon-emission computed tomography (SPECT), planar imaging, and myocardial perfusion imaging.

Cardiac electrophysiology

Cardiac electrophysiology is a subspecialty of cardiology. The physician looks at how electric currents inside the heart muscle tissue work, how the current spreads, and what the pattern of the currents mean.

The cardiologist may recommend a pacemaker.

Electrophysiology study (EPS) of the heart: in this test, a catheter is threaded into a vein at the top of the leg. Guided under fluoroscopy, it makes its way to the heart. The catheter measures the electrical signals within the heart.

An EPS of the heart can:

• help to show what is causing symptoms
• help decide if a patient needs a pacemaker
• help decide the best treatment for patients with arrhythmia, or abnormal heart rhythm
• determine how likely a patient is to experience tachycardia or an accelerated heart beat

A cardiac electrophysiologist can provide treatment for abnormal rhythms including cardiac ablation, implantable cardioverter defibrillators, or pacemakers.

Choosing a cardiologist

Patients are often referred to a cardiologist by their physician, but they may wish to choose their own specialist.

It is also important to choose a doctor whose communication style suits them.

If the cardiologist recommends a treatment that seems risky or expensive, or if the patient is not sure why they need this treatment, the Pathway International suggest looking for a second opinion.

Questions? Call +254 733 994 368 0r E-mail: wecare@pathwayintl.co.ke

PATHWAY INTERNATIONAL: providing Global Healthcare Solutions.

The post What is cardiology? appeared first on Pathway International.