Other considerations during and after hospitalization
- Other tests may be done during or after hospitalization to determine the
amount of the damage to the heart, location of the blockage that caused the
symptoms and other possible blockages, function of the heart, and/or ability
of the heart to function with physical activity. Your doctor will determine
if and when these tests need to be done. They include:
- Your risk factors for cardiovascular disease will also be identified.
Lifestyle changes will be discussed in order to modify or eliminate them.
Smoking cessation will be extremely important to reduce your risk of another
event. Medications may need to be prescribed to reduce your risk of another
cardiovascular event. It will be especially important to control blood
pressure and cholesterol levels and blood sugar levels for patients with
diabetes. ·
- You will be started on medications in the hospital that you will continue
to take when you go home. Some of these medications will need to be taken
indefinitely. The medications are important to control the risk factors that
resulted in your cardiac event and/or reduce the risk of another event. Do
not stop taking medications unless you have consulted with your doctor
first. Be sure to report any new symptoms or problems you have after
starting a new medication. Medications from several different classes may be
prescribed, including:
- Antiplatelet (Aspirin,
Plavix)
- Beta Blocker
- Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitor (ACE-I)
- Cholesterol lowering medication
- Nitrates
- Calcium Channel Blockers
- Anticoagulants
- Your nutritional status will also be evaluated during your
hospitalization. Recommendations will be made to address changes you may
need to make. Eating a heart healthy diet can make an enormous contribution
to your overall health and is something you control! Information on heart
healthy nutrition is available on numerous web sites. A list of cookbooks by
the American Heart Association is listed under the Fun Tips for a Better
Heart section on the main page of this web site.
- Getting regular exercise will also be important. Consult with your doctor
before starting an exercise program. Cardiac Rehabilitation programs are
available to monitor patients during exercise training in the weeks
following a
heart
attack, balloon angioplasty, and/or heart surgery.
Educational programs and nutritional counseling are also available in most
programs. All programs require a referral from your doctor and may require a
stress test before starting. It is important to talk to your doctor about
participating in a cardiac rehab program after discharge from the hospital.
Some insurance companies also provide coverage for other cardiac problems
like
stable
angina,
heart valve
surgery, and
heart
failure. Check with your
insurance company to determine what your plan allows.
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