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Life After Heart Attack - Limitations

After recovering from a heart attack, the patient would like to know the limitations, if any, imposed on his freedom of movement, the prospects of his rejoining duty at the place of his work, the restrictions on the games that he would like to play, exercise that he would like to do and holidays that he would like to enjoy. Can he go to the hills in summer on a vacation? Can he fly to Europe on his business tour? Can he indulge in sex as he used to? These are the questions whose answers an average patient would like to know as early as possible after recovery from a heart attack.

The answers to all the questions posed above depend upon two fundamental points - how much damage has been inflicted on the heart muscle and what is or will be the ultimate physical status of the heart? In simple terms this means how much physical exertion the heart can withstand. There is no doubt that the greater the damage, the lesser is the physical reserve of the heart and the lesser the ability to withstand the stresses and strains of life. Within this framework the physician has to advise the patient on the questions posed above.

There is no doubt that your physician will do his best to restore your maximum level of physical fitness, and, if you cooperate with him, and gradually increase your exercise tolerance as suggested in the previous chapter, you may be amazed to find the level of physical fitness that you can attain.

I will now answer the questions posed above, except that sexual activity after a heart attack has been dealt with separately in the next chapter.

Will I be able to go back to my old job?
This is a very crucial question, on which depend the bread and butter of the family. It has been repeatedly found that the best job for a heart attack patient is that job which he had bee doing all his life, where productivity is likely to be maximum with minimum of effort. This is true whether you are a self-employed person or an employee. In this context, it could be stated with confidence that at least four out of five persons who have had a heart attack can ultimately return to their old jobs. An all-out effort should be made with the cooperation of the employer as well as fellow employees to make the patient adjust to his old job or, at least at his old placer of work, with the nature of duties duly changed, if necessary, to suit the changed physical condition of the patient. the least difficulty in this respect is likely to be experienced in the case of desk workers or others whose job does not involve much physical work. It is in the case of manual workers that adjustment could create some difficulty. It is usually not difficult in the public sector or government service, where, generally, the people are more accommodating for the simple reason that they are all employees. In the private sector real difficulties may sometimes be experienced, because the private employer has to pay from his own pocket, and he, therefore, demands the worth of his money. In any case, it is always worthwhile exploring the possibilities of a more suitable job for the patient without harming the interest of the employer. In a small number of cases it may become necessary to advise a change of job, because the present job would be so demanding physically that the patient’s state of health would not permit.

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