How To Care For Heart Patients At Home

1. How To Care For Heart Patients At Home

2. Two major factors lie behind heart diseases – genetics and lifestyle. With our lives becoming increasingly stressful, we have stopped paying attention to our body’s needs – poor diets, little or no exercise and harmful habits such as alcohol and smoking have led to an increase in heart diseases. While there is excellent care available in hospitals for treatment of heart diseases, it is important to understand how to take care of a cardiac patient at home as cardiac rehab plays a big role in the recovery process. Following are some aspects of home cardiac care that are essential to ensure best care for heart patients at home:

3. A Healthy Balanced Diet For best cardiac rehab results, a cardiac patient should go back to the basics when it comes to nutrition - eat more fresh fruits and vegetables and cut down on processed foods, which might have high saturated fats, sodium and cholesterol, all of which are harmful for a cardiac patient. Home cardiac care should include strictly following a customized diet plan prescribed by a nutritionist. It is important to oversee the diet of the cardiac patient to ensure that they do not indulge in food items that could worsen their condition.

4. Moderate Exercise Regime A balanced diet and moderate exercise go hand in hand. Once their doctor has given the go-ahead, a cardiac patient should include some form of activity in their daily routine to stay heart healthy. The activity could be as simple as a walk, and could be built up to include cardio and strength exercises. This part of home cardiac care is best followed when the cardiac patient is motivated and the caregiver is involved in the exercise routine.

5. Monitoring of Medication An essential part of cardiac rehab is the medication that the cardiac patient has been prescribed. Faltering on medicine could result in the cardiac patient’s condition worsening. The caregiver should ensure that the cardiac patient has their medicines on time and should provide support if the patient shows signs of getting lax with the medicine.

6. Tracking Progress Regularly A cardiac patient’s condition needs to be monitored carefully and progress needs to be tracked regularly. Since a cardiac case can get complicated quickly and can even prove to be fatal, it’s important to keep a look out for signs and symptoms such as trouble breathing, irregular heart rate, increased fatigue, etc. These should be communicated to the cardiac patient’s doctor at the earliest.

7. Ensuring a Well Balanced Life While medication, nutrition and exercise are extremely important for cardiac rehab, home cardiac care should involve a cardiac patient enjoying a healthy normal life as much as possible. Socialising with friends and family, indulging in hobbies, and living a full life should be encouraged to ensure that the person doesn’t fall prey to mental health disorders such as depression or anxiety.

8. While a family member can take care of these home cardiac care requirements, they are not trained or equipped to do so. Also, with our busy hectic lives today, most of us do not have the time or energy to provide proper care. Hence, it is always preferable to opt for a trained nurse at home who can perfectly attend to the needs of a cardiac patient. For example, someone who is experienced at cardiac rehab will be able to guide a cardiac patient on recommended nutrition, motivate them to exercise,

9. ensure that they have their prescribed medication on time and most importantly, look out for any signs or symptoms that need a doctor’s attention, thereby preventing further complications. Also, a caregiver will be able to provide a support system for the cardiac patient, ensuring their mental and emotional wellness along with their physical health. This will ensure that the cardiac rehab process is effective and that the patient is back to their normal health at the earliest.

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