How You Can Help

When someone you care about has a heart procedure or a heart condition, whether it's a family member or a friend, it has an effect on you. It's good to know that there are things you can do to help both your loved one and yourself as you all recover from this life-altering event.

You can start by acknowledging that your loved one will need to make lifestyle changes—which means that your life will also change.

If your loved one needs to quit smoking, you'll want to be supportive. This may include quitting yourself, if you smoke (which is the smart thing to do anyway!) —or at least not smoking in front of your loved one or in your home. Bridgeport Hospital's Quit Smart program can help.

One or, at most, two ounces of alcohol per day may be beneficial—especially red wine, which contains natural antioxidants that are good for the heart. More than this, however, can be harmful to the heart. Again, you'll want to encourage your loved one to limit alcohol intake.

Sensible exercise and nutrition will become an important part of all of your lives. Cut back on saturated fats, and as soon as your loved one is up to it, join him or her in half-an-hour of exercise at least five times a week. You can join the Project Heart Smart to learn how to take care of yourself and your family. Learning to cook low fat foods, exercise and practice stress reduction is not only good for heart patients - it is good for everyone. Support your loved one's lifestyle changes by improving the whole families' health. Get Heart Smart!

You'll all enjoy greater heart health with these few basic changes.

After Cardiac Catheterization

After cardiac catheterization, make sure your loved one follows the doctor's and nurse's directions. Remember that it is important for the patient not to bend over, strain, or lift heavy objects (more than five pounds) for the first 24 hours. It's easy to forget, so watch and remind your loved one if you think he or she is about to do any of these things. It's also important for him or her to drink plenty of fluids, even if he or she is not thirsty, so it might be helpful if you offer beverages every hour or so.

Open-Heart Surgery

After open-heart surgery, you'll find that it will take at least 6-8 weeks for your loved one to get back to a normal routine. You can help by making sure the patient stays in touch with his or her physicians, takes medications as exactly prescribed, and follows the doctor's and cardiac rehabilitation specialist's advice regarding diet and exercise.

After three to four weeks, your loved one will be ready to enroll in the Healthy Heart Program (formerly Outpatient Cardiac Rehab). The program will help him or her get back in step and help set reasonable goals and limits for physical activity. By four weeks, you can encourage the patient to begin doing light housework or minor household repairs, but avoid strenuous jobs like mowing or vacuuming, which can put stress on the breastbone as it heals.

As the patient becomes stronger, encourage him or her to take up a more active life. The exercise goal is to work toward 30-60 minutes of exercise 3-4 times per week. Boost your loved one's confidence by supporting his or her efforts. Try not to be overprotective or controlling. Let him or her do as much as he or she feels able to do.

It is quite common for heart patients to become depressed during the recovery process. (You may become depressed yourself!) Talk about your feelings. And remember, if depression lasts too long or becomes too severe, treatments are available. There is no reason to "live with it."