LIFE AFTER A HEART ATTACK
Congratulations on your wonderful recovery from a heart attack. You are now up and about after the convalescent period. It takes about six months for nature’s repair processes to take full effect. Your doctor would have assessed the amount of damage suffered by your heart muscle, its repair and progress, the present status of the heart and its exercise tolerance. There is now no reason for despondency. People have lived for 25 years or more after a heart attack and have lived well. Only a bit of care and some precautions are necessary to ensure longevity and a trouble-free life in the future.Q. Can my heart function as long as it would have done had there been no heart attack ?A. Certainly; it is not only possible, but you can make it happen. Let me tell you a true story first.Thirty years ago I purchased a shaving mirror, a small beautiful round piece, and I loved it very much. Unfortunately my small son cracked a corner soon after purchase. I felt unhappy, repaired it with araldite and started reusing it. Since I loved the piece, I became doubly cautious in handling it. I still have the mirror and it is useful today as it was 30 years ago. I am sure, if it had not been damaged, I would not have given it the extra care that I did and it would have long ago disappeared.Similarly, your heart has survived an injury. Nature has healed it. With due care and by observing some precautions you can make it last for a long period probably longer than if nothing had happened to it. These precautions, mentioned here and in the following chapters, are simple and easy to follow.*86\328\8*
