Autumn and winter are dangerous times for people with heart disease due to the variability of the weather and the influence of various external factors. This is especially true for those who have already had one heart attack. Researchers do not know exactly why the risk of heart death increases at this particular time.
But they noted the influence of negative factors such as emotional stress due to family conflicts, financial problems after vacation, and changes in diet such as alcohol consumption more common during these seasons. Thus, you need special care to protect your heart, especially if you’ve already had one heart attack.
Effective Tips To Prevent A Second Heart Attack
You need to keep the following things in mind to minimize the risk of a second heart attack.
1. Stay Under Constant Medical Supervision
The first heart attack is a signal to the patient that it is time to pay close attention to the health of the heart and the body as a whole. It is important from this point on to be constantly monitored by a therapist or cardiologist. It will help to prevent recurrent attacks, each of which can be fatal.
According to statistics, about 22% of women and 17% of men aged 45 and older repeatedly visit a doctor for heart pain or go to the hospital with signs of a heart attack. It is important that you do your best to normalize your heart after the first episode and prevent recurrences. You can do this by taking medication prescribed by your doctor.
2. Care For Your Heart During Cold Weather
In the off-season and throughout the winter, you need to be careful. Changes in the weather, magnetic storms and pressure drops may require adjusting the doses of the usual drugs. With changing the dosages, the heart and blood vessels will not suffer from overload.
In addition, there should always be medicines at home in case of bad weather and snow, when it will not be possible to reach the pharmacy for some time. If during this period the drugs run out, there may be interruptions in the work of the heart. It is important to discuss these issues with your doctor in advance so that, if possible, he can prescribe emergency medications.
3. Deal With Stress
Often, people who have experienced a heart attack associate it with chronic stress. Constant anxiety, lack of sleep, hard physical work, or long hours of work are factors that provoke stress and are also triggers for a heart attack. But some people struggle with stress by drinking alcohol or eating foods that are far from healthy.
These habits can lead to obesity and diabetes, both of which are risk factors for first and recurrent heart episodes. It is worth talking to a consultant to give up these bad habits so that you can eliminate stress. However, giving up other habits can be easier than quitting alcohol. Thus, you would need special help from a professional.
A professional can guide you regarding the types of alcohol addiction treatment you can get. It will really help you choose the treatment that is the best for you so you can get rid of addiction and chronic stress.
4. Limit Physical Activity
If you have already experienced one heart attack, it is important to know that it is necessary to introduce restrictions on physical activity and emotional distress. Cleaning the garden or clearing the snow in winter is a serious physical activity for people with heart disease.
Thus, avoid such activities and limit dangerous trips to shops or a clinic on ice or heavy snow. This is a great physical and emotional stress that can provoke myocardial ischemia. It is important not to stress your heart with excessive exercise or physical activities.
5. Monitor The Weather
People who survived a heart attack or suffer from heart diseases should monitor the weather during periods of sharp changes. Do not go outside in a rainstorm, snowfall, or severe frost without special need, so as not to get complications in the form of bronchitis and pneumonia. In addition, sudden changes in the weather negatively affect overall well-being, requiring additional medication.
Doctors note that during cold weather, blood vessels constrict, and blood pressure rises, which increases the stress on the heart. When the body is cold, the heart must work harder to keep warm. This is an additional load on the myocardium after a recent attack. If you need to go outside in cold weather, you need to dress warmly and limit the time you spend in the cold.
6. Nutrition Control
Frequently going out, tea gatherings, consumption of food rich in fat, sweet snacks and desserts, fast food, and pastries can add up to 3-4 kg per year. Being overweight can have a negative effect on heart health by making it work harder. You need a healthy diet to maintain a stable weight, for example, a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean fish, and meat.
Oatmeal can also help lower bad cholesterol, and salmon contains fatty acids that lower blood pressure, allowing the heart to work more efficiently. You should avoid foods that are high in sodium, such as canned vegetables, sausages, French fries, and herring, as these can increase blood pressure.
Conclusion
Any patient who has had a heart attack should really pay attention to his or her heart’s health. They should learn to recognize the early signs of heart problems, such as shortness of breath and chest discomfort, so that they can ask for help quickly.
The chances of getting a heart attack increase, especially when the weather changes. To help you out, we mentioned some effective tips to take care of your heart. Experts are confident that the above recommendations will help prevent recurrences.
