Lifestyle Changes Post Cardiac Arrest: Guide to a Healthy Future

A cardiac arrest, or any episode of heart disease for that matter, is a sign that you need to change your lifestyle immediately after. The sooner you make the necessary changes, the faster you will recover, and there is also a small chance that most of the damage will be reversed, if you are young enough.

A Healthy Diet is Not the Same as a Weight Loss Diet

Obesity and being overweight are among the top reasons for developing cardiac conditions, so losing weight is definitely going to help in both preventing and managing such situations. However, when someone has already developed a heart disease or suffered a heart attack, that cannot be the only goal.

There is a whole range of weight loss programs out there, and while most of them may claim to be safe for heart patients, do not follow any of them unless your cardiologist gives it the green light.

Consult a dietician and your cardiologist to figure out the proper diet instead of relying on unverified information. In general, the idea is to cut out processed meat, red meat, trans fats in vegetable oils and other processed foods, sugar, artificial sweeteners, sweetened soda and sodium-rich food. Fish fat, olive oil, vegetable proteins and lean proteins are always good for the heart though.

Make a Contingency Fund for Medical Expenses

Healthcare is not cheap by any stretch of the imagination, especially when it concerns treating something as major as a heart attack or post-attack management. Therefore, cut down on unnecessary expenses and start making a contingency fund in case of future health problems, which may or may not be related to the heart.

If, on the other hand, you think your heart’s condition was actually worsened by a misdiagnosis, or the post-attack procedures taken were neglectful, you may have a serious case for medical malpractice against the healthcare facility or a particular medical professional. On claiming medical negligence, all your health expenses could be taken care of and you could even win a sizable compensation to help with managing all future treatment costs as well.

Exercise with Caution and Vigour

Now, it is of absolute importance that you consult your physician before starting a workout regimen. Working out is necessary for us to be fit and healthy, but for a heart patient, it can also be deadly if the exercise routine is not ideal for the specific heart condition that the individual is suffering from.

As a general rule, light resistance training and simple walking are known to be particularly beneficial for all heart patients, while hardcore cardio is probably the worst possible idea!

It is to be noted that many of these changes should be made even before a serious medical emergency occurs. Preventive measures taken before emergency situations are always more fruitful than when they are taken post-attack. Nevertheless, proper preventive measures right after the first attack or detection of the disease is still quite fruitful, since mortality rates from a second cardiac arrest are very low in such cases. If it happens again, make sure you have AED in your house or nearby.