Heart Attack Survivors

Dealing with depression By S. M. Acharya

Depressed heart-attack survivors may not follow
medical advice as per study results that were
published in the Archives of Internal Medicine's June
26, 2000 issue. Depression does affect survival of
those recovering from heart attack. Fear psychosis is
the main reason for depression after heart attack.
Hence, it is very important for patients to study
about his heart problems and exchange notes with other
similar patients and also discuss the same with his
doctor. The doctors should also give enough time to
hear the patients' problems and give them proper
advice to build their confidence. Instead, some
doctors issue warnings about minor lapses on the part
of the patients which make the latter further
distraught leading to more depression.

My own experience as a heart-attack survivor is that
the remaining life should be considered as bonus years
which the survivors can enjoy by engaging in some
useful activity as social service which strengthens
both the heart and the head by the sheer pleasure of
doing good. Such survivors should do some things that
interest them the most or take to some hobby depending
on their ability, experience and knowledge. As for
example, a survivor may take to letter writing on
subjects in which he has rich experience. The
newspapers are full of news pertaining to corruption,
social turmoil and what not. The pen is said to be
mightier than the sword; so why not wield it?

The human mind is very creative. In my own case, one
of the reasons why I got heart attack was my nagging
backache due to which I used to be bed-ridden for days
together without much activity which made me
over-weight. When large scale degeneration in the
spinal area was noticed, the doctors' prognosis was
that even if spinal surgery was done, I could not hope
to be normal except that I would be able to do some
work but not as before. Hence it was no use to get
operated because with advancing age, the degeneration
was going to increase further.

So after studying every thing possible about
backaches and observing the instinctive behaviour of
animals and birds, I could devise some simple nature
cure exercises which cured me completely of repeated
attacks of backaches. That gave me so much confidence
that I could help many other persons to cure
themselves with the same exercises. Similarly, the
heart-attack survivors can find some such pastime
which can engage them in useful social service
activity which strengthens the heart. That would also
ward off any chances of getting depression too.

S. M. Acharya
155 St. Patrick's Town,
Pune 411013, Ph: +91-20-2687020, Email:
smacharya@yahoo. co.uk