Sleeplessness after a heart attack. Poor sleep after a heart attack Why after a heart attack

Myocardial infarction leaves a mark on the entire subsequent life of the patient, moreover, the very lifestyle changes dramatically. Recovery depends on many factors, therefore both the patient himself and his relatives should make efforts to improve life after myocardial infarction.

Is it possible to relapse

Asking how to live after a myocardial infarction, patients should remember the main rule: all actions and restrictions should be aimed at preventing repeated attacks of a heart attack.

Since qualitative changes in myocardial tissues provoke the vulnerability of the heart muscle, vessels affected by atherosclerosis still cannot fully provide the heart with a sufficient volume of blood. It is worth noting that the recurrence of a heart attack in patients can be more extensive and more serious.

The complex of rehabilitation of the patient after a heart attack begins immediately after resuscitation to stop the attack. This complex includes:

• Taking medications;
• Return to physical activity;
• The return of self-service;
• Recovery labor activity;
• Changing the patient's lifestyle.

Medical treatment

Drugs that can be taken by the patient after transfer to the hospital and after discharge home are prescribed by the attending physician, depending on the severity of the infarction, the area of ​​myocardial damage, comorbidities and complications of the attack.

In medical practice, the following groups of drugs for the treatment of myocardium are used:

• Drugs that prevent the formation of blood clots, their simplest representative is aspirin.
• Drugs that control arterial pressure, since this cardiac function is weakened after a heart attack.
• Nitrates, designed to reduce excess pressure in the arteries.
• Diuretics, which remove excess fluid from the body and prevent swelling.
• Preparations for improving metabolic processes in the thickness of the myocardium.
• Statins lower blood lipid levels and prevent further development of atherosclerosis.

Which drug for the myocardium will be chosen for the patient from each group is determined by the doctor, taking into account the anamnesis and the picture of the disease of each patient.

What is prohibited

Recovery success depends on several factors:

• Patient's age;
• Primary or repeated was a heart attack;
• The presence of chronic diseases;
• Complications after a heart attack.

Therefore, first of all, you should categorically refuse everything that can cause repeated attacks of a heart attack, and then follow the recommendations to prevent a relapse and its complications.

The main changes in life after a heart attack are in the daily routine, physical activity, nutrition, treatment.

Physical exercise

Excessive physical activity leads to increased work of the myocardium. Taking into account changes in the myocardium after a heart attack, there is a high probability of hypoxia and subsequent complications.

But completely abandon physical activity also not possible. Cardiologists recommend special complexes of physiotherapy exercises, compiled with a specialist in exercise therapy, walks on fresh air, as far as possible from the city and roads, as well as aerobic exercise. Do not lift weights over three kilograms.

Nutrition

The main goal pursued therapeutic diet- lowering blood cholesterol levels. A secondary goal, but no less important, is weight loss and getting rid of clinical forms obesity in patients with these problems.

Basic principles of nutrition after myocardial infarction:

• Reducing the average daily calorie intake;
• Avoidance of sweets, especially pastries and cakes with fatty fillings and rich dough;
• Restriction of animal fats;
• Exclusion of hot snacks, spices, sauces;
• Reception no more than five grams of salt per day;
• Limiting the volume of fluid per day to 1.5 liters;
• Complete ban on alcoholic beverages;
• Fractional meals in small portions five to six times a day.

If the patient is overweight, the diet will be aimed not only at reducing the fat content of the diet, but also at losing weight, since excess weight is a risk factor for recurrent heart attack.

The calorie content of the diet for overweight patients is 1800 kcal per day. In this case, the patient is prohibited from fatty and fried foods, spicy snacks, very hot or cold food. The carbohydrate component of the diet is also reduced. Instead, the diet is enriched with protein and fiber.

Patients without overweight follow a diet with an average daily calorie content of up to 3000 kcal. Also, patients are prohibited from eating fatty and fried foods, vegetable fats should prevail over animals. An increase in the diet of vegetables and fruits in any form is shown. Smoked meats, spices, spicy dishes, confectionery products are prohibited.

Psychological factor

Patients after extensive or small-focal myocardial infarction, despite the different severity of the disease, experience the same psychological disorders.

The fact is that the statistics collected by psychologists from patients after suffering a myocardial infarction indicate the following common problems:

• Phobias associated with being alone;
• Violations of the duration and depth of sleep phases;
• Emotional instability;
• Feeling of inferiority;
• Annoyance, irritability.

Patients tend to believe rather that the disease is incurable and it is possible to live after a heart attack only in disability status. These phobias, pathologies and deviations in patients after myocardial infarction lead to chronic hypochondria and nervosa.

These psychological states can significantly affect the physical state, as they cause jumps in blood pressure, poor rest, constant agitation, which is fraught with complications for the heart.

Therefore, one should not despair and think of complications and Negative consequences heart attack. There is no need to refuse the help of a psychologist at this moment, so as not to aggravate physical indicators.

Other factors

Other prohibited factors include bad habits. Patients who abuse tobacco smoking should stop this habit. It is worth noting that a decrease in the number of cigarettes smoked or a decrease in the concentration of nicotine in the blood will not have a sufficient positive effect that prevails over the negative.

With chronic nicotine addiction, you can turn to therapists who will help you complete a course of quitting a bad habit. Smoking is one of the main factors provoking repeated attacks of myocardial infarction.

The first days after a heart attack

The first days after an attack of a heart attack can be called fundamental. The doctor will certainly prescribe a consultation with an exercise therapy specialist to restore motor activity and the ability to self-service.

Motor activity is restored in the following stages:

• On the second day, the exercise therapy instructor can work out individual muscle groups with the patient in the supine position;
• From the third day, attempts are made to sit in bed, with arms raised and spread apart to stimulate the lungs;
• From the fifth day, several steps are allowed near the bed, always with support;
• Ten days later, steps in the ward are not limited, but only if the patient feels normal;
• From the third week, it is allowed to go out into the corridor, and under the supervision of an exercise therapy instructor, the first steps on the steps are taken;
• Gradually, the duration of walks increases, blood pressure and heart rate are constantly monitored.

Further rehabilitation is carried out in a sanatorium after discharge from the hospital, then the issue of returning to work or assigning a disability group is considered.

The change made in the patient's regimen becomes not temporary, but vital, and in order to improve the quality of life, it is necessary to adhere not only to the indicated restrictions, but also to additional recommendations.

• Every evening it is recommended to take walks in the fresh air. It is good if it is possible to organize such a walk away from highways and the city, otherwise you should simply avoid places that are too dusty and close to industrial facilities. The walk lasts about half an hour, always accompanied by loved ones.
• Compliance with the prescribed diet upon discharge from the hospital. Often appointed adjusted taking into account individual characteristics Diet No. 6 according to Pevzner, which reduces the risk of progression of atherosclerosis.
• Systematic diagnostics of the patient's condition, registration with a cardiologist at the place of residence. Diagnosis of a patient registered after a heart attack consists in the passage of an electrocardiogram, laboratory research blood and urine, examination by a cardiologist.

• Refusal of bad habits, including alcohol and smoking. Avoidance of heavy loads, dangerous, fast sports.
• As for sexual life, cardiologists not only do not prohibit, but often recommend returning to sexual activity, as it contributes to mild stimulation of the heart muscle, hormone production and improvement psychological state. You should first consult with your cardiologist.
• A return to work is possible if the patient's profession is not associated with risk factors that provoke recurrent myocardial infarction. Also in the event that there are no complications and consequences that prevent normal physical and mental activity.

If the transferred heart attack is complicated by heart failure and other heart pathologies that block the path to many professions, the issue of assigning a disability group is considered.

Many patients after myocardial infarction tend to abandon the sanatorium, which, however, is in vain. Often, cardiologists insist on this stage of rehabilitation. Staying in a sanatorium after a heart attack is necessary not only to rest and return to normal life, but also to continue treatment.

After discharge from the hospital, a patient belonging to the first or second functional class (indicated in the hospital statement) must call a cardiologist at home. This is how the registration and consideration of further recovery scenarios is carried out.

A patient after a heart attack is assigned a monthly stay in a cardiological sanatorium. In addition to the correct adherence to the diet, the following rehabilitation measures are provided for the patient in the sanatorium:

• Therapeutic physical activity;
• Help of a psychotherapist;
• Treatment with medications;
• Restorative procedures.

Upon arrival at the sanatorium, a patient who has had a myocardial infarction undergoes a bicycle ergometric test - this is an assessment of the state of the body and tolerance to physical activity. Then the optimal scheme of restoring physical activity is assigned under the supervision of an instructor.

Contraindications to the appointment of physical activity to the patient are the following complications after myocardial infarction:

• Arrhythmias sensitive to physical activity;
• Heart failure;
• Aneurysm.

During the rehabilitation of a patient in a sanatorium, the patient after a myocardial infarction undergoes a daily examination by a cardiologist of the sanatorium, about which an outpatient book is kept.

Assessment of the correctness of rehabilitation

Rehabilitation of a patient after myocardial infarction is considered successful and safe if the following conditions are met:

• There are no pains in the chest;
• Blood pressure within normal limits;
• The level of cholesterol in the blood is not higher than 4.5 mmol / l;
• The concentration of low density lipoprotein is not higher than 2.5 mmol / l;
• The concentration of glucose is not more than 6 mmol / l.

At the same time, the condition and activity of the patient after a heart attack should improve, and attacks of angina pectoris or heart failure should not disturb the patient. The possibility of angina attacks or heart failure in patients after a heart attack is assessed by a cardiologist and indicates the limits in which the intensity and frequency of attacks is considered normal.

Conclusion

Many patients with myocardial infarction live full life, following all the prescriptions of cardiologists and changing the way of life. Restoration of the normal course of life and working capacity in patients is possible if assistance for an attack of myocardial infarction was provided in a timely and correct manner, complications are minimized, and the patient complies with all recommendations even after discharge from the hospital.

Shortness of breath after a heart attack is a consequence of heart failure and may indicate the occurrence of complications after a cardiovascular stroke. Myocardial infarction is the death of part of the heart muscle as a result of a partial or complete cessation of its blood supply. The consequences of a heart attack can be acute and long-term. Acute - occur as a result of necrosis of the tissues of the heart muscle and insufficient left ventricular circulation. Remote - are the result of myocardial insufficiency due to scars that have arisen at the site of necrosis.

Everyone knows that myocardial infarction is a very dangerous disease that ranks first among all causes of death on the planet. Besides, in last years heart attack is rapidly "younger".

Causes of shortness of breath in the post-infarction period

Attacks of suffocation and shortness of breath accompany many pathological conditions in the postinfarction period, which are associated with excessive stress on the left ventricle of the heart and its insufficiency.

By itself, shortness of breath is not a disease, but only a symptom of negative changes occurring in the body.

The characteristic manifestations of shortness of breath are:

1. Feeling of lack of air, difficulty breathing when inhaling or exhaling.
2. Rapid breathing, increased chest excursion (difference in volume during inhalation and exhalation).
3. Extraneous sounds in the process of breathing - wheezing, gurgling, whistling.

Myocardial infarction leads to irreversible changes in the heart muscle, stagnation of blood in the pulmonary circulation, insufficient blood supply to all tissues and body systems, and the occurrence of oxidative processes due to oxygen starvation. The presence of shortness of breath in heart failure is facilitated by a number of factors that either increase the load on the heart muscle or reduce the effectiveness of its contractions.

The load on the myocardium in heart failure after a heart attack increases as a result of:

1. Violations of the rhythm of the heartbeat.
2. arterial hypertension.
3. Cardiosclerosis.

Myocardial contractility decreases due to ischemia - insufficient blood supply to the heart due to narrowing of the lumen of the coronary arteries. Due to necrosis of the heart muscle and its scarring, the efficiency of cardiac impulses is weakened.

With the correct and timely treatment of post-infarction conditions and successful rehabilitation measures, the patient gets rid of the consequences of a cardiovascular catastrophe, including shortness of breath. However, it is worth remembering that orthopnea (shortness of breath) is very often an alarm signal of post-infarction complications that can occur immediately after an attack or after some time has passed.

Complications in the postinfarction period, accompanied by shortness of breath

After stopping an acute attack, the patient's health does not always improve. In some cases, complications may occur that manifest themselves suddenly or increase over time. Very often they pose a threat to the life of the patient. Shortness of breath can be a symptom and a very alarming signal that indicates the occurrence of such complications.

The most serious and dangerous are: pulmonary edema, cardiosclerosis, acute cardiovascular failure, cardiogenic shock, thromboembolism, heart rupture, aneurysm, arrhythmic disorders and other deadly conditions.

Pulmonary edema

One of the most formidable post-infarction complications that can lead to the death of the patient. It is most common in the elderly and in recurrent heart attacks. This pathology occurs due to acute left ventricular failure.

Symptoms of pulmonary edema:

• shortness of breath, accompanied by wheezing, whistling, gurgling;
• acute feeling of lack of air;
• quickening of breathing;
• cough with the appearance of bloody foam;
• pallor of the skin and cyanosis of the lips, fingers.

The attack can be lightning-fast, protracted and undulating. The outcome depends on the speed of diagnosis and first aid.

Cardiogenic shock

The cause of this condition is extensive damage to the heart muscle, as a result of which the heart cannot cope with its functions.

The symptoms are:

• drop in blood pressure;
• severe pain behind the sternum;
• rapidly increasing shortness of breath;
• "marbling" of the skin.

Emergency treatment of this complication is carried out in a hospital and includes a set of measures aimed at saving the patient's life.

Postinfarction cardiosclerosis

This pathology occurs due to the replacement of part of the heart muscle connective tissue and the occurrence of scars, which leads to an increase in the mass of the heart, the growth of the cavities of both or one of the ventricles, deformation of the valves, causes flabbiness of the heart and a decrease in vascular patency.

The characteristic symptoms are:

• palpitations, arrhythmia;
• shortness of breath, lack of oxygen when breathing;
• swelling of the lower extremities;
• swelling of the neck veins;
• liver enlargement.

At the very beginning of the development of the disease, shortness of breath appears during physical exertion, then it occurs at rest and in the supine position, and also during sleep, respiratory arrest can occur - apnea.

Men often develop tachycardia. This pathology is also accompanied by a decrease in efficiency and increased fatigue.

Myocardial infarction causes other complications in the work of the cardiovascular system. After an attack, the conduction system of the heart suffers, that is, the formation of necrosis contributes to disruption of the conduction of cardiac impulses and malfunctions of the heart. Interruptions in the heart rhythm, in turn, lead to the formation of blood clots, which over time can break away from the walls of the heart chambers and cause blockage of vital vessels.

Shortness of breath accompanies post-infarction complications and should serve as a signal for immediate referral to a specialist and diagnostics. In addition, this phenomenon can significantly complicate the course of the disease and be a harbinger of its deadly relapses.

How to deal with post-infarction shortness of breath

What to do if discomfort in the form of lack of air and shortness of breath occurs after a heart attack? First of all, it is necessary to undergo an appropriate diagnosis and strictly adhere to the recommendations of a specialist cardiologist.

In addition, it is very important to reconsider your lifestyle and take care of your health:

1. Eliminate bad habits - smoking and overuse alcohol.
2. Monitor body weight and fight obesity.
3. Stay outdoors more, avoid stuffy, heavily smoky and dusty rooms.
4. Maintain a sleep and rest schedule.
5. Train the heart muscle with the help of special exercises, moderate physical activity. Outdoor walking is a great alternative to any workout.
6. Avoid stress and nervous tension. More to be in a pleasant environment, communicate with positive people and pets.
7. Dieting - necessary condition to prevent diseases of the cardiovascular system and relapses of the disease.

Rehabilitation measures and a course of special spa treatment will help not only to overcome the consequences of a heart attack, but also to avoid its complications. In addition, you should monitor the state of the body, regularly do a cardiogram and be observed by a cardiologist.

It is very important to control blood pressure and cholesterol levels in the blood. A healthy heart is the key to a long and quality life.

After the transferred, certain drugs are prescribed to support the heart.

Take good medicine

Watch (keep it at 120/80) and your heart rate (60-65 beats per minute at rest). If shortness of breath increases and swelling of the feet and legs appears, then increase the doses of diuretics, limit salt intake and do not drink more than one liter of fluid per day.

As for, try to get more tired during the day, do some work if possible, read, listen and watch programs, walk, communicate.

Sleep is largely dependent on digestion, so dinner should be light and no later than 6-7 pm. At night, drink a glass of regular warm milk. Milk contains tryptophan, which promotes sleep. Helps to sleep and chamomile tea.

Be sure to ventilate the room before bedtime.

To calm you, you can use the following drugs: tincture, corvalol, grandaxin. Phenazepam has many serious side effects, so it is not recommended to take it often.

There are modern drugs that have a good hypnotic effect, they are quite safe. For instance, donormil which does not cause drug dependence. Start treatment with half a tablet, if necessary, the dose can be increased to 2 tablets.

Drugs such as ivadal, imovannot to be taken without a doctor's prescription. These drugs are well tolerated, but nevertheless, the instructions for their use contain a warning about the possible development of drug dependence and the possible effect on breathing during sleep.

How long you live after a myocardial infarction depends on a number of factors. The age of the person and the type of disease play an important role. When the patient is young, and the pathology was not severe, the prospects are quite encouraging. The survival rate of elderly people who have undergone such a pathology of the heart, especially with its transmural variety, is quite low. Concomitant pathologies such as aneurysm, diabetes mellitus or arterial hypertension are often detected in elderly patients. It is these ailments that are considered criteria that significantly reduce the life expectancy of these patients. Statistics show that myocardial infarction is often fatal, so you should try to do everything possible to prevent this.

All complications are divided by physicians into early and late.

Acute (early) consequences:

1. the occurrence of pulmonary edema;
2. heart rhythm disorder;
3. acute heart failure;
4. thrombosis formed in the systemic circulation.

If the heart attack is small-focal, then the likelihood of complications is reduced. Since, as a result of such a destructive process, the left ventricle of the organ is more often affected, there is an insufficiency of this particular department. A symptom of such a violation is breathing problems, the patient cannot breathe air normally. Against the background of such a disorder and insufficiency of the left ventricle, swelling of the lung tissue occurs.

Another serious consequence of myocardial infarction are dangerous forms of arrhythmia, up to ventricular fibrillation. Pathologies themselves are serious, some people cannot live long when they occur, and if such a situation has developed after a heart attack, then the prognosis is often disappointing. When such damage to the heart is detected, the localization of which is located in the endocardial zone from below, then there is a significant probability of thrombosis in the area of ​​the systemic circulation. If a blood clot breaks off and enters the vascular bed of the brain, then the lumen of these arteries is clogged, provoking a stroke.

Long-term complications are considered less dangerous than acute ones, but they appear much more often than early consequences.

Long-term complications:

• pericarditis;
• all types of arrhythmia;
• development of cardiosclerosis;
• damage to the lung tissue or pleurisy.

If we talk about cardiosclerosis, then this violation is detected in all patients who have had such a heart disease. It affects how long you can live after a heart attack. Such conditions are directly related to the formation of connective fibers for the formation of a scar on the organ. If cardiosclerosis has a diffuse form, then there may be deviations in the work of the heart muscle. If the conductivity of the organ is upset, then there are interruptions in its contractions, heart failure often appears. The processes that can appear during the period of the heart attack itself are diverse and deadly.

Complications during the death of heart cells:

1. tamponade of the organ, causing hemorrhage in the pericardial area;
2. acute heart aneurysm;
3. thromboembolism affecting the lung;
4. development of thromboendocarditis;
5. rupture of one of the ventricles of the organ and death.

That is why it is difficult for doctors to answer questions regarding how long such a patient will live, many concomitant factors play a role here. There are chances for those patients whose condition is not burdened by additional ailments. It is important to follow the recommendations of the treating doctor during the recovery phase, this will help reduce the likelihood of severe consequences or the development of a second heart attack. The effectiveness of the therapy also affects the prognosis. The method of treatment, surgical or medical, should help the human heart to resume its activity. If the doctors managed to achieve this, then the patient's life expectancy will increase. Stenting is another way to allow patients to live longer. If this intervention was applied, the wall of the artery, in which there are atherosclerotic plaques, is cleared of them, then the blood flow is restored, helping to improve the functioning of the main organ.

How long do people live after a massive heart attack?

With a myocardial infarction, part of the heart tissue dies. If we are talking about an extensive type of disease, then a large area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe organ is subject to necrosis, disrupting its activity significantly. Necrotic changes often affect the anterior wall of the left ventricle, since it is this area that is more functionally loaded than the rest. From this zone, blood is ejected into the aorta under high pressure. Statistics show that in a small part of patients, the destructive process is observed in the right ventricle, and even fewer who suffer from a heart attack undergo atrial pathology.

If an extensive myocardial infarction has developed, then damage to all layers of the muscle tissue of the organ, epicardium, myocardium, and endocardium is detected.

The area of ​​necrosis can be up to 8-9 cm wide. This large area of ​​cell death is caused by critical levels of nutrients and oxygen in the heart. Such deviations are usually the result of a long-term violation of blood flow in the coronary artery.

Problems with blood permeability in this area are more often associated with atherosclerotic lesions of the vessel walls. When the plaques begin to increase in size, they gradually close this gap until it becomes completely impassable. The danger of this condition lies in the fact that any external influence in the form of excessive physical activity or emotional overload can contribute to the detachment of the plaque and damage the fibers of the vascular wall. The recovery process in the tissues of the walls of the arteries occurs due to the formation of a thrombus, which gradually increase in size and close the lumen of the artery, which leads to a cessation of blood supply.

Among other things, a growing thrombus releases special substances that can cause vasospasm. Such narrowing of the lumen can be observed both in small segments of the arteries, and completely affect it. During the period of spasm, the blood flow is often upset, and sometimes it is completely blocked, preventing nutrients from entering the heart. This process entails the death of organ cells, which usually occurs 15-18 minutes after the onset of such a pathology. When another 6 to 8 hours pass, an extensive myocardial infarction occurs, after which life expectancy is significantly reduced.

What causes blood blockage:

• Arterial hypertension. Under the influence of high pressure indicators, the blood arteries thicken, or rather, their walls, they become less flexible and thick. During periods of stress, such vessels are not able to provide the main body with all the nutrients and oxygen.
• genetic predisposition. The tendency to form blood clots, the development of atherosclerotic lesions and high blood pressure may appear in a person as a result of heredity. On average, such causes cause myocardial infarction in a third of all cases.
• Diabetes. This pathology increases the growth of atherosclerotic plaques. In addition, the disease destroys vascular tissue and upsets the metabolic processes of the body. The combination of these factors often leads to severe heart disease.
• Age criteria. Young people are less likely to be affected by this pathology.
• Bad habits. Inhalation of tobacco smoke negatively affects the state of blood vessels, provoking their narrowing. Alcohol contributes to the development of disorders in the liver, the organ that responds to the process of splitting fats. Due to the inability of the liver to perform this function normally, there is an accumulation of fat and its deposition on the walls of the arteries.
• Belonging to the male sex. In men, myocardial infarction occurs much more often than in women, approximately 3-4 times.
• Insufficiency or complete lack of physical activity affects the elasticity of the vascular walls, leading to a loss of flexibility.
• Failure in the functioning of the kidneys. The insufficiency of this organ provokes a disorder of metabolic processes related to calcium and phosphorus. If calcium begins to be deposited on the vascular walls, the risk of myocardial infarction increases significantly, as thrombosis develops.

• Excess weight. Additional kilograms create a strong load on the entire cardiovascular system.
• Strengthened sports or physical activity. During periods of such intense training, the myocardium needs a large number of nutrients and oxygen. If a person's arteries are inelastic, then their spasm during people's strong activity can result in a heart attack.
• Operations or injuries. Narrowing of the lumen of the coronary arteries often results from surgical intervention to this zone.

The statistics of how many years they live after a myocardial infarction are disappointing. The manipulations of doctors in case of an extensive heart attack should be quick, and decisions should be made in a matter of minutes, then you can count on a favorable prognosis.

The likelihood of a second heart attack

The second attack of myocardial infarction is more dangerous than the first. More often, relapse is observed in elderly males who suffer from arterial hypertension that accompanies a person during the first year after myocardial infarction, and there was no Q wave. Such a disease can occur with the presence of multiple disorders of the asthmatic form, organ rhythm disorders, and heart failure. The clinic of a repeated attack looks less bright in relation to the intensity of pain, which is due to a decrease in the sensitivity of the zones of the heart that were previously prone to necrosis.

Symptoms of a second heart attack:

• difficulty breathing;
• pain radiating to the neck, arm or shoulder on the left;
• decrease in arterial index;
• severe suffocation;
• cyanosis (blue skin);
• impaired consciousness or fainting.

Such symptoms are the result of severe swelling of the lung tissue that occurs as a result of the terminal conditions of the patient.

No one can accurately predict whether there will be a second myocardial infarction and how many people live after it. Some patients follow all the recommendations of the attending physician, protect themselves from the negative effects of stress and take all prescribed medications, but the attack overtakes them again. Other patients refuse to use drugs, lead their former lifestyle, do not limit themselves in anything, and their health remains good.

Physicians subdivide a repeated heart attack and its recurrent type. The difference lies in the fact that a second attack of the disease occurs more than 2 months after the first one, and a recurrent one appears earlier, less than 2 months after the previous one. The second time, the pathology can be large-focal and small-focal. In addition, the lesion can cover the same areas as before, or be localized in another part of the myocardium.

The reasons for the re-development of this disease are usually the same atherosclerosis. Plaques can grow in the coronary vessels, causing their narrowing.

Atherosclerosis does not disappear anywhere, even after a heart attack, so you need to carefully monitor the level of cholesterol in the blood and try to reduce it with the help of medications prescribed by the doctor.

In order to live long life after heart attack, people need to reduce low-density lipoproteins (bad cholesterol) and protect themselves from emotional and physical stress, establish the right diet and give up bad habits.

rehabilitation period

The recovery phase after myocardial infarction can last in different ways. Many factors influence this process.

What determines the duration and nature of rehabilitation:

1. concomitant diseases;
2. the severity of the attack;
3. the presence of complications;
4. type of activity of the patient;
5. age data.

During the recovery period, a person needs to reconsider his lifestyle, habits and preferences.

Rehabilitation includes:

• proper nutrition;
• lack of stressful situations and unrest;
• physical activity that needs to be developed gradually;
• visits to a psychologist;
• the use of all drugs prescribed by a doctor;
• weight loss, with its excess;
• rejection of bad habits;
• regular examinations and consultations with the attending doctor.

The nutrition of patients after myocardial infarction is divided into 3 stages. general description diet can be seen in the diet menu number 10.

1. The first step is the table of a person who is in the acute period of the disease. Meals include dishes without added salt, boiled or cooked in a double boiler. It is better to eat pureed food, in small volumes, but often, 5-6 times a day. Liquid is also limited, it is enough 0.8 liters per day.
2. In the second or third week of the postinfarction period, the patient's menu changes slightly. You need to cook food in the same way, but you can already eat it not mashed, but slightly chopped. The diet is fractional, and water is allowed in a volume of about 1 liter.
3. The scarring stage may allow for a slight reduction in inhibitions. The method of cooking remains the same, but it is permissible to eat them already in a piece, and the doctor often allows salt, but in the amount of 4 grams per day, and only for some patients. Meals should be taken frequently, up to 5-4 times a day.

There is a special menu preferred for such patients. These foods and dishes contain a large number of useful elements, especially people need who have had a myocardial infarction. Upon discharge from the hospital, you should ask your doctor to create a similar memo that will help patients navigate the development of a personal diet.

Recommended menu:

• lean fish;
• lean meat, preferably chicken or veal;
• soups from mashed vegetables and cereals;
• sour-milk drinks, with a low percentage of fat content;
• protein omelet;
• bread, crackers;
• butter is permissible minimally, and by the 3rd stage it is possible up to 10 gr;
• boiled vegetables, stew;
• baked fruits;
• drinks in the form of fruit drinks, compotes, loosely brewed teas, rose hips;
• natural honey.

There are many dietary restrictions, it is necessary to exclude from the diet a large number of products that can adversely affect the health and activity of the human heart.

What is prohibited:

When the body recovers, dietary restrictions can be removed, but this should be done gradually and only under the supervision of a doctor.

Emotional overload often provokes serious health problems, especially with heart disease. After a myocardial infarction, the patient should not be categorically nervous, since any excitement can cause a rhythm disorder of the main organ, lead to vasospasm, which provokes a second attack. To cope with emotions and survive the illness, the patient is prescribed a course of therapy with a psychologist. The doctor will help you recover, without manifestations of nervousness and fear.

Physical activity is necessary for such people, but all actions are coordinated with the doctor. A few days after the attack, patients are allowed to get out of bed, walk around the ward a little. Outdoor walks are allowed a little later, and the distance that such a person is allowed to walk increases in stages. With the help of physical activity, it is possible to restore normal blood circulation and heart function. It is important during sports warm-ups not to bring the situation to the point of pain or other unpleasant sensations, this can provoke a second attack. Exercise therapy procedures are prescribed to many patients after a heart attack. During these sessions, all the loads on a person are controlled by a specialist.

Rehabilitation measures should not go into the background if the state of health has improved. The duration of this period is regulated only by doctors, and you cannot stop these actions on your own.

Alternative treatment

Plants and other medicines can help recover from such a disease. home cooking. But before using any of these remedies, you need to coordinate your actions with your doctor.

Ways folk therapy:

• Sprouted wheat. Take a few glasses of wheat and soak them in gauze with water. Wait until sprouts appear (it will take a few days). Break off these sprouts and eat 1 teaspoon in the morning on an empty stomach.
• Hawthorn. Pour a glass of boiling water over one tablespoon of dried hawthorn fruits, leave for half an hour, decant and drink. For a day you need to take 2 glasses of this drink.
• Honey and rowan. Take 2 kg of honey and 1 kg of fresh rowan fruits. Grind the berries and mix with honey. There is 1 tablespoon during the day.

The prognosis for myocardial infarction is impossible to predict, but each person is able to help himself. By following all the doctor's recommendations and additionally using alternative therapy, people improve their well-being and heart activity, which reduces the risk of death and re-attack.

After a heart attack, a person's life changes dramatically, this is due to the many restrictions that the disease imposes. So, the patient is forced to reconsider the lifestyle and change old habits. The very arteries of the heart. This process leads to a stop of the full blood supply to the site of this important organ, and also leaves it without oxygen. "Hunger" after 30 minutes leads to cell death.

Medical statistics show that over the past few decades, there has been a rejuvenation of the disease. Therefore, doctors are not surprised when this insidious disease overtakes people under the age of 30 years. It is believed that women under 50 years of age are less prone to heart attack. Scientists explain this by the fact that the female vessels are protected from atherosclerosis, which is often the cause of a heart attack, by estrogen. But after the onset of menopause, an illness can suddenly develop. How long they live after a heart attack is not exactly known, but there is an average figure - from 1 to 20 years. Basically, life expectancy after myocardial infarction depends on the patient himself, namely on his lifestyle. Specific recommendations on how to live after a myocardial infarction will be given by the attending doctor, the article contains the most basic rules.

Life "after"

Often, people who have undergone this condition are worried about many questions. So, many are interested in:

1. Is it possible to put mustard plasters. According to doctors, this procedure has certain limitations. They can not be used by pregnant women, breastfeeding, in the presence of tuberculosis, oncology and skin lesions. Same remedy from mustard it is forbidden to put in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe heart, feet, palms. Before using them, it is better to consult with your doctor.
2. Is it possible to drive a car after a myocardial infarction. Many people cannot imagine their life without a car. Experts allow the opportunity to drive only if the trip is short and the distance is not too long.

It is also important for the driver to remember that driving is still dangerous, since a heart attack can happen again. And if this condition suddenly overtakes a person while driving vehicle, something bad might happen. That is why it is not safe for a person who has had a heart attack to drive, it can threaten the life of him and his passengers.

For these reasons, a ban is imposed on working as a driver, since due to the ability to drive a vehicle only up to 1 - 1.5 hours a day, a person is recognized as not fully able-bodied.

1. Is it possible to have sex after a heart attack. Medical workers do not prohibit intimacy, but on the contrary, they advise, since this contact causes positive emotions. It is noted that after that problems may appear - a decrease in desire, sexual weakness. The reasons may lie in the intake of certain medications prescribed after discharge. Against the background of problems in men, there is a risk of hypochondriacal syndrome, which will only aggravate the situation more. The excitement is in vain, because after a while everything will return to normal.
2. Can you smoke after a heart attack? Relatives of the smoker, with his unwillingness to quit this addiction, should help him in this matter. The fact is that a smoker is more prone to re-infarction. This is explained by the fact that during smoking, vasospasm occurs.
3. Is it possible to use air services after a heart attack. Basically, if the patient has undergone rehabilitation, his heart muscle works without deviations, and a lot of time has passed after the disease, you can fly on an airplane. But before that, it is better to consult with your doctor and undergo an examination, get a prescription for medications that make it easier to fly on airplanes. According to experts, flying by air is not worth it for a person diagnosed with heart failure that cannot be corrected with medication. And also, people with arrhythmia, persistent arterial hypertension, and unstable angina do not need to fly on an airplane.

If the patient decides to go to the sea, he needs to remember what he can do on vacation. You should figure out what to do during the holidays. Doctors are allowed to swim, but only near the shore, you can not dive, sunbathe and be under the open scorching sun. The trip itself should be planned no earlier than six months later. Also, on vacation, the patient may be concerned about the question of whether it is possible to drink alcoholic beverages. All doctors agree that life after a heart attack and stenting implies a complete rejection of alcohol. If you drink alcohol to a person who has had an attack, much faster, which can lead to a second heart attack. It is also not recommended to drink kvass and coffee for the same reason. The disease also affects career. So, after an accident, as a result of pathological changes, many people will be forced to change their profession. This mainly concerns people who are faced with physical stress, and working under such conditions is now prohibited.

Sport

The heart needs constant training, which is why an active lifestyle after a heart attack is so important. The patient will be offered to perform moderate physical activity while still in the hospital. First, the patient should start exercise therapy, thanks to these exercises, the heart will be strengthened, blood circulation will normalize, and cholesterol levels will decrease. People who have had a seizure need to take up dynamic sports.

Suitable for cycling, skiing, walking, running. The most effective exercise in the fresh air. Do sports wisely, for this, do not sharply increase the load and monitor your heart rate. If the patient is diagnosed with a heart attack, he should not engage in strength training, as such sports load the heart muscle and increase blood pressure, which may result in complications. It is allowed to perform exercises with weights, women up to 5 kg., Men up to 20 kg. If during training shortness of breath, dizziness, pain in the heart area appear, you should stop exercising.

Nutrition

It plays an important role after an attack. The patient needs to eat a balanced, varied diet every day. Surely, even in the hospital, the victim was informed that foods rich in cholesterol should not be consumed. This is due to the fact that mainly ischemic heart disease caused high level cholesterol. Under the ban falls fried, smoked food, contributing to the development of atherosclerosis. Adding the following products to the menu will help eliminate the risk of a second attack:

• whole grain bread, cereals;
• fruits up to 200 grams per day (banana, kiwi, pear, melon, apple, orange, plum);
• legumes up to 400 grams per day;
• lean meat and fish in moderation, seafood;
• milk and dairy products, but only fat-free;
• chicken protein and yolk weekly up to three times;
• vegetable and olive oil.

It is important to limit the use of salt, chocolate. And to support the normal functioning of the heart muscle, add raisins, prunes, dried apricots to the diet.

Remember that life after a heart attack does not end, and it is in your power to make it full and rich.