Heart disease is an umbrella term used to describe several conditions. It could refer to a heart attack, coronary heart disease, congestive heart failure, and more. It’s the leading cause of death for both men and women in the USA. A heart disease diagnosis changes your life. You may be worried about how it will affect your quality of living. Even if you have received a diagnosis, it doesn’t mean you can’t live a happy life. With the right treatment and by taking care of yourself, you can still enjoy life. Here’s how to improve your life after learning you have heart disease.
Treatment and Rehabilitation
The range of treatments for heart disease is broad, since the term covers a number of conditions. You might have surgery, such as a heart bypass or having a stent put in. Medications are common too, and can be intended to do all sorts of things. Some of them widen or narrow your blood vessels; others correct abnormal heart rhythms. You might take something to relieve pain or regulate your blood pressure. Your doctor will also probably encourage you to get involved with a cardiac rehab program. You can see an example of what that involves on the Bria Health Services website. This type of program is also useful for people at high risk of heart disease.
Diet
Adjusting your diet to a heart-healthy one is one of the best things you can do. When you’re making changes, try not to do everything at once. If you do, you could end up unable to stick to anything. Changing your diet should be one of the first things you do. However, if you smoke, make sure you quit first. When it’s time to change your diet, it’s a good idea to create a plan. Set yourself goals and perhaps work with a medical professional. They can help you to develop a heart-healthy diet that works for you.
Exercise
Fitness is of utmost importance too. You need to create a fitness plan that you can cope with and slowly improve on. A cardiac rehab program can be useful for this, so a medical team can design a plan that’s just for you. You need to do exercises that are safe for people with heart disease. That means not pushing yourself too hard. There are some things you might have to avoid because they strain muscles, such as push-ups and sit-ups. The best thing to do is talk to your doctor about what’s safe for you.
Mental Health
When you have heart disease, it’s important to be aware of your mental health too. Being ill can affect your mood, and many people find themselves experiencing depression. If you’re noticing that you feel low much of the time, or you’re having other symptoms of depression, make sure you talk to your doctor. It’s important to watch out for both your physical and mental health.
Living with heart disease can be difficult at times. Look after yourself and you’ll enjoy a better quality of life.
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