Dad had a heart attack - recovering well, any tips?

[IndelibleDotInk]

So yesterday, my dad had a heart attack! He's in his mid 60s, somewhat overweight, just had a physical, golfs 2x week for exercise, stress relief, and fun (rides in cart vs walking the whole time). Lot of sedentary work at the computer on Zoom for meetings, tons of email, some Netflix.

He got something put up his wrist which restored full function to his heart, if there will be permanent damage, it will be minimal. So he's all joking with the staff and says he feels better than he has in ages.

So he needs to make some changes, starting with diet. My mom will help with that. And he needs more exercise, probably walking, which is great cause I need some exercise too, and walking (Nordic walking for me) is an easy thing to do.

But I was wondering if anyone had ideas on lifestyle changes which would help, esp. you personally had a heart attack, or someone close to you, or if you have general knowledge to be shared. We are nonsmokers and nondrinkers. I used to smoke and drink, but gave it up years ago.

Thanks for any suggestions guys, this has been a trying time but with lots of support, we're not lost and confused, we're ready to move on with positivity and hope, even great expectations.

[herbalhippie]

Oh no, I am sorry to hear that.

My only advice would be diet (oatmeal is magic, plenty of extra virgin olive oil, go easy on the carbs, fish), Alaskan Wild Salmon Oil softgels and COQ10 Ubiquinol both from Costco. I raised my 'good' cholesterol and really lowered my 'bad' with just those things.

[IndelibleDotInk]

<3

[Greyfeather]

Sorry for your dad's illness, IDI.

It sounds like he's trying to do all of the right things.

Since most of our diseases find their origins in anxiety and stress I would recommend taking up meditation - Vipassana, for example. I won't claim that it's easy. It takes patience and practice, but the concept is fairly simple: the Breath. Everything is about the breath. We focus only on this (no chanting or counting, etc..)

I find it very helpful. In particular I use it to help me fall asleep. The tricky part about meditation is that Westerners are not accustomed to being THAT relaxed without also falling asleep. So I guess you could say that I often do it WRONG but for the right reasons.

Anyway, you can find plenty of information on the Webz if you're interested. You like to have quiet when meditating, but I find that meditating in groups can be a very powerful experience.

All the best to you and your family.

[IndelibleDotInk]

TY <3

[Luvndpeace]

Sorry for your dad's illness, IDI.

It sounds like he's trying to do all of the right things.

Since most of our diseases find their origins in anxiety and stress I would recommend taking up meditation - Vipassana, for example. I won't claim that it's easy. It takes patience and practice, but the concept is fairly simple: the Breath. Everything is about the breath. We focus only on this (no chanting or counting, etc..)

I find it very helpful. In particular I use it to help me fall asleep. The tricky part about meditation is that Westerners are not accustomed to being THAT relaxed without also falling asleep. So I guess you could say that I often do it WRONG but for the right reasons.

Anyway, you can find plenty of information on the Webz if you're interested. You like to have quiet when meditating, but I find that meditating in groups can be a very powerful experience.

All the best to you and your family.

Great advice Greyfeather ! Sorry Dotnik Thoughts are with you and your fam!

I can second Grey's advice. Funny my beginning experiences with meditation I could not stop myself from falling asleep. I'd argue there is no wrong way to meditate it's part of your process connecting with the moment. Have you ever tried a walking meditation. Its a very slow paced walking, and it helped me to find a balance and not fall asleep, which I could then bring to my regular practice.

I have been out of my routine for such a while. It's madness, life gets win the way, go through tough things, so I stop doing the exact thing I should be doing that would help me? Yeah insanity... Might have just given me a nudge to get back at it thanks Grey

[IndelibleDotInk]

A few days ago, after he got discharged, he nibbled on some fried chix wings, lol. But he's not prohibited from doing so, no restrictive diet. Of course moderation is necessary, and my mom has him in check.

I am gonna have a look around for a heart healthy class or something for dad.

Apparently his one artery was severely blocked (to the point he would have died if it wasn't treated then), got it cleared with the stent (inserted through the wrist, neatly!) and is feeling superhuman. Another artery has some blockage, but with meds it should clear up soon. Amazingly he was only in the hospital overnight.

He is bored with taking it easy and has decided he will fly to Maui to keep his meeting with a church patron there (he is interim head pastor at his church). Somewhat ironically she is in the hospital there cause she fell last week. I am hoping the plane ride will be ok, really want him to be around to spoil my sister's son. They live in Colorado and he can't make the plane ride to the mainland yet.

Thanks for your prayers and concern!

[IndelibleDotInk]

Managed to get my dad into a treatment program which is part education and part medical monitoring and exercise. He's already normal and doing Zoom meetings all day and Netflix all night, lol.

It was cool seeing him in the hospital bed at the ER after I dropped him off, he was joking with the nurses and techs about how the heart attack spoiled his excellent golf day; he was clearly not afraid to die. Mad love.

[WhiteAngelica]

So yesterday, my dad had a heart attack! He's in his mid 60s, somewhat overweight, just had a physical, golfs 2x week for exercise, stress relief, and fun (rides in cart vs walking the whole time). Lot of sedentary work at the computer on Zoom for meetings, tons of email, some Netflix.

He got something put up his wrist which restored full function to his heart, if there will be permanent damage, it will be minimal. So he's all joking with the staff and says he feels better than he has in ages.

So he needs to make some changes, starting with diet. My mom will help with that. And he needs more exercise, probably walking, which is great cause I need some exercise too, and walking (Nordic walking for me) is an easy thing to do.

But I was wondering if anyone had ideas on lifestyle changes which would help, esp. you personally had a heart attack, or someone close to you, or if you have general knowledge to be shared. We are nonsmokers and nondrinkers. I used to smoke and drink, but gave it up years ago.

Thanks for any suggestions guys, this has been a trying time but with lots of support, we're not lost and confused, we're ready to move on with positivity and hope, even great expectations.

I didn't know this, and I'm so, so sorry. I am guessing that convincing your dad to become a vegetarian is out, right? But for serious, and it is very important: he must completely cut out salt from his diet. All salt. All sodium. Possibly a switch from golfing to tennis/tennis lessons. Walking is great, but high intensity interval training--exercise in spurts, so the heart rate goes up and down--spurt, recover. Spurt, recover. He can do it alone, even hit the ball against the wall. It's not about winning--in fact, if he could use both arms to hold the racket with...even if he's right handed, by using the left hand to swing (even if he can't hit the ball--I couldn't with my left hand, but it is about the fact the left is where the heart is, and so activity with the left arm is important too.

If it is possible, taking stairs instead of elevators. A fit bit is good, because it can watch blood pressure, heart rate, steps, even the type of sleep you had. These are just some things for overall wellness. Walking on sand is good--more resistence. It is also relaxing and meditative.

Other ideas: a yoga class, or look up 'yoga for cardiovascular health' and probably find things he can do at home, that are tailored to his needs. I always recommend swimming, if accessible. And if there are lots of Zoom meetings and email, either a standing desk or sitting on a bouncy ball. Every 30 minutes he should get up and walk around.

This may not be his jam, but there are lots of meditation apps that can help with any stress relief.

Laying off the red meat, less oils, butters, fats. If it is spreadable, it's not edible, so a cardiologist said to me. He should watch caffeine, except perhaps green tea because it has antioxidants and detoxes.

A three pronged approach: what you consume (for the love of god, not salt); what you do (activity); and stress reducing mindfulness approach (like meditation).

Sorry if any of this was repetitive, but it's a stream of conscious approach to what it is I know. I have a rare peripheral vascular disease, and so have to visit the cardiologist every so often. This is much of what I've gleaned.

I hope he is doing so much better by now!

[IndelibleDotInk]

Mahalo Leigh! Love 'if it's spreadable, it's not edible' lol.

Yeah, so I found this program and got my sis to help railroad him into it. (He's not being bad about it or anything.) It combines information, medical monitoring / testing, exercise, dietary changes, and other types of therapy. Plus meds he got from cardiologist who had to sign off on him being let in the classes and program.

Apparently his heart has some damage to it, he no longer feels 100% like right after the surgery; there's fluid in his lungs so he has a cough and his voice is off timbre. So we're walking a little to increase stamina. He has to monitor blood sugar cause there was damage to his kidneys from the dye used in the heart surgery?? But prognosis is excellent.

Thanks you guys.