The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that every year 790,000 Americans suffer a heart attack with 580,000 of those being the patient’s first attack. When an individual is released from the hospital after having a heart attack, he or she may be wondering what happens next. ReactDx, innovators of first-rate Holter Monitoring equipment, discuss the aftercare and services available to patients after the heart attack is over.
Schedule Follow-Up Appointments
It is important to contact a cardiologist for follow-up care. This doctor will oversee your care, including any new medications you’ve been prescribed. Additionally, the physician can coordinate any therapies, testing, or referrals that you may require.
Eat Healthy and Stay Active
If your diet and physical activity were lacking, you’ll want to make a few important life changes. Your doctor can give you a list of heart-healthy foods or set you up with a nutritionist who can teach you how to make healthier food choices. Regular exercise is also essential as it will help to lower your blood pressure, reduce anxiety, and improve your cholesterol.
Get Permission to Drive
Most doctors permit heart attack patients to travel fairly quickly, as long as the mode of transportation has a seat and doesn’t require long periods of standing. As for driving, most doctors don’t give permission right away. Your physician may wish to wait two to four weeks to see how you’re progressing, so don’t get behind the wheel until you’ve been given approval.
Ask for Support
Having a heart attack can be frightening, but there is plenty of support to help you get through this difficult time. Your friends and loved ones can lend a listening ear, provide rides to appointments, and even do a little housework for you. A support group will connect you with others who know exactly what you’re going through, and they can share coping mechanisms that can help you overcome your fears and anxieties.
When you head back to your doctor for a check-up, he or she may wish to use ReactDx’s state-of-the-art Holter Monitoring equipment to keep an eye on your heart health. Patients can visit ReactDx’s News & Updates page for more information and advice on how to keep a heart healthy, or give the company a call at 800-234-3278.
