Your Elderly Relative Has Had a Heart Attack — How Does This Impact Long-Term Health and Care?
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Your Elderly Relative Has Had a Heart Attack — How Does This Impact Long-Term Health and Care?

Having a relative suffer from a heart attack can be frightening and overwhelming. However, it is important to understand the different long-term health and care implications of a heart attack in order to ensure that your elderly family member receives the care they need to live as healthy of a life as possible following their incident. 

Long-Term Health Implications of a Heart Attack

A heart attack can be a very serious event. And the long-term health implications of experiencing this medical emergency should not be taken lightly. A relative who has suffered from a heart attack will have an increased risk of future heart attacks, stroke, and even heart failure. Additionally, they may have an increased risk for other cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension (high blood pressure), high cholesterol, and atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). Proper care will be vital in keeping these dangers at bay.

Long-Term Care Implications of a Heart Attack

If a family member has experienced a heart attack, they will require more attentive care in order to keep them as healthy and safe as possible. Following a cardiac event, there is an increased need for lifestyle changes, medication, regular medical check-ups, and physical therapy. These factors should be taken into consideration when considering the long-term care required for your elderly relative. 

Need for Lifestyle Changes

Following any type of cardiac incident, it is important to emphasize the need for lifestyle changes. Your senior loved ones’ diet should be monitored closely, and regular exercise should become part of their daily routine. Additionally, smoking cessation or other deterrent activities are necessary for helping keep them as healthy as possible post-heart attack.

Need for Medication

Medication may be a very common factor in post-cardiac care. 

  • Blood thinning medications such as aspirin and clopidogrel can reduce the risk of stroke.
  • Antiplatelet drugs like cilostazol help prevent future heart attacks.
  • ACE inhibitors (angiotensin-converting enzymes) lessen inflammation associated with heart disease.
  • Beta-blockers decrease one's chances for further damage after a myocardial infarction (heart attack). 

Need for Regular Medical Check-Ups

Regular medical check-ups will also benefit your elderly family member. Visits may range from twice weekly to once per month depending on how severe their event was and how quickly they recover afterward. During these visits, doctors will ensure that all other therapies being implemented are successful in keeping blood pressure and cholesterol levels at desirable readings while reducing risks associated with hypertension. 

Need for Physical Therapy

Physical therapy is quite beneficial too when attempting to strengthen one's cardiovascular system. Incorporating light aerobic exercises could go far in helping your loved one achieve maximum health potential again following their emergency episode.

Get Assistance From Senior Helpers Chandler-Gilbert

Senior Helpers Chandler-Gilbert is a great source to turn to when you're in need of help caring for an elderly relative post-heart attack. We provide compassionate and reliable in-home senior care services throughout the areas of Chandler, Gilbert, Tempe, Ocotillo, Sunlakes, and Santan. With custom-tailored care plans, we will ensure that your loved one receives attentive and top-quality support every step of their long-term recovery journey following a cardiac event. Contact us today to learn more about how we can assist your family during this difficult time.