A. Atherosclerosis or narrowing of the coronary arteries causes Coronary Heart Disease. Coronary arteries are the blood vessels that bring blood to the heart muscle. Coronary heart disease can lead to chest pain (angina) that can restrict a person's ability to perform normal activities, or cause a heart attack.
Q. Who gets coronary heart disease?
A. Patient factors associated with a higher risk of heart disease include a family history of heart disease, smoking, high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, being overweight or obese, diabetes mellitus, and physical inactivity.
Q. How will I know if I have angina or symptoms of a heart attack?
A. The symptoms of a heart attack usually last longer and are more severe. If you have severe chest pain or discomfort that lasts for more than a few minutes, or is not relieved by rest or nitroglycerine, you should notify your doctor's office. Do not drive yourself. It is very important that you do not put off going to the hospital, because early medical treatment can prevent or minimize a heart attack.
Q. What can I do to help prevent heart problems in the future?
A. By making changes in lifestyle, you can decrease risk of heart disease in the future. Exercising regularly, achieving optimal blood pressure and cholesterol levels, not smoking, and maintaining a healthy weight will help prevent recurrent problems.
Q. How much exercise is recommended following a heart attack or bypass surgery?
A. A minimum of 30 to 60 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity (walking, jogging, cycling, stair climbing, rowing, aerobic dance, and swimming) three to five days a week is recommended. After a cardiac event, start out by walking 5 minutes per day. Once you are comfortable with this level of exertion, try building up your walk by one to five minutes each week.
Q. How soon the patient can undertake long distance journey after the surgery?
A. Normally patient can undertake journey right after the stitch removal, i.e. 15 days after the surgery. But the doctor takes the final decision after assessing the patient's overall condition.
Q. What kind of diet is recommended when you have heart disease?
A. We recommend a diet that has 30% or less of total calories from fat. Less than 7% of total calories should come from saturated fat, and dietary cholesterol should be no more than 200 mg/day. Take in just enough calories to achieve and maintain a desirable weight.
Q. When can a patient join office/work?
A. You may gradually return to work in approx. 8 weeks after discharge.
