Recovery after ACS
Having an episode of acute coronary syndrome (unstable angina or a heart attack) is quite common. How each person deals with it and what their recovery is like varies a great deal for many reasons.
Many people experience some difficulty concentrating and retaining information in the early stages of having acute coronary syndrome (ACS), so don’t worry if you can’t take everything in. This is why it is important to have some written information to remind yourself and your family about what is likely to happen and why.
This information is designed to give you some guidance about what is happening to you, what to expect and to answer some of the frequently asked questions. It is intended to provide a general background to the experience of ACS and you should not hesitate to discuss any problems or worries you have with the nurses and doctors who are looking after you.
Understand the facts
Know the truth – there is a lot of wrong information out there based on rumour rather than fact. Remembering and reminding yourself of the right story will help you to feel less anxious and to relax.
What Happened?
- Most people now survive heart attacks and make a good recovery
- Your heart is one of the toughest muscles in your body – it is already healing itself
- Shocks and surprises do not cause heart attacks
- It is normal for you to feel tired and a bit weak, this will pass
- The heart needs exercise to get stronger, not rest, although a gradual build up is necessary after a heart attack.
- Hard work is not dangerous but overworking might be
- Most twinges of pain are due to muscular tension, that you are more aware of since your heart attack
- Excitement that is enjoyable is safe and necessary for good health
|
- The most likely time for you to have another heart attack has already passed
- Your heart hasn’t worn out – a heart attack is usually caused by a blockage in one small section of an artery
- Stress does not cause a heart attack. A blockage of a blood vessel does.
- Feeling moody and emotional is quite normal and helped by getting
the correct information to put fears at rest
- Getting out of breath and having a faster pulse during exercise is normal
- Physically hard work, exercise or excitement will not cause another heart attack
- You must not be treated like an invalid
- It is never too late to reduce your risk of another heart attack. Many of the causes of heart attack are actually under your control – you might be surprised how easy they are to prevent.
|
Recovery can depend on which part, if any, of the heart is damaged and the extent of the damage. This is not always clear straight away.
The first few hours: Treatment of your heart attack begins from the moment medical help arrives. This may be at your house or arriving at Accident and Emergency and continues as a patient in hospital.
The first few days
It is very important during the first 24-48 hours to be carefully observed and to have complete rest. You may find the bleeping monitors and other equipment quite daunting and noisy, but they are necessary for the first 48 hours to monitor your condition adequately.
Initially, visiting should only be by immediate family and be brief. It is normal to tire easily and it is also important to appreciate that visits may be emotionally difficult for everyone.
You may find that you don’t really remember a lot about what the doctors told you especially during the first few days.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions when you get the chance. Writing down questions to ask can be helpful in case you forget. Your family might remember more than you, so talk about things openly. This helps you to share your fears and feelings and can be very reassuring.
For most people after a couple of days the heart settles down and the risk of another episode of unstable angina or another heart attack lessens and monitoring can be discontinued.
Prevention: The best way to prevent another attack of acute coronary syndrome is to understand what caused the first one and take steps to reduce your risk. This is covered more fully in ‘Managing your risk factors after Acute Coronary Syndrome".
For more information about what to expect in the first few days after an episode of ACS, visit "ACS: The first few days".
First few weeks
The heart has great capacity to heal and within 6-8 weeks a scar will form in the damaged area if you have had a heart attack. In many people the heart will be able to pump just as well as before. The sooner you can get up and about the sooner you will feel better. You must not push yourself too hard but you must not allow yourself to become afraid of activity. Generally speaking you can do as much as you feel you can do comfortably.
While there is not much to do, it is important not to let yourself dwell too much on what has happened. It is natural to have fears about the future and to worry.
- Try to concentrate on the positive things such as having come through the worst and on getting stronger every day.
- Keep yourself busy with light hobbies such as reading, watching TV, using the computer and listening to the radio.
- Having friends to visit may help to lift your spirits.
- Keep in touch with people by telephone from the comfort of your chair.
- Pamper yourself.
For further information on what to expect in the first few weeks following ACS, visit "ACS: The first few weeks".
The information in this page has been adapted from the CHSS leaflet Heart Attack: A Guide to your Recovery.
Last updated: 26/10/2007