6 Tips to Make Living with Coronary Artery Disease Easier | Cardiovascular Disorders and Diseases articles | Body & Health Conditions center

Coronary artery disease is one of the main factors that lead to heart attacks and heart failure. It is caused by fat deposits that stick to the artery walls, leaving less and less room for the blood to flow and supply the heart with oxygen and nutrients. Because of this lack of supply, the heart tries to compensate by pumping faster, causing its muscles to weaken.

Thankfully, coronary artery disease is reversible, and something you can live with if you follow the doctor’s orders.

1. Understand your condition

Some people with coronary artery disease are able to continue performing their daily tasks as they did before the diagnosis. However, in other cases, there may be irreparable damage or symptoms that will get in the way of patients going through their daily routine.

Your doctor should be able to tell you if there are any restrictions or habits that you should give up if you want to continue having a normal life despite having coronary artery disease. For example, some people with coronary artery disease suffer from chest pains when exercising, in which case they might have to take their physical activity down a notch or perform very specific types of exercises.

Other coronary artery disease symptoms can go away by simply taking the medicine that the doctor prescribed.

2. Establish your medication routine

Taking your medicine exactly as the doctor prescribed is very important because it can help you keep your condition under control. Try to figure out the best way for you to always remember to take your meds. Sometimes, something as simple as a phone reminder can notify you when it’s time to take certain pills. If you're on meds that must be taken at the exact same time every day, include them in your daily routine until it becomes an "autopilot" mechanism.

3. Enroll in a support group

Coping with coronary artery disease is a matter of constant stress and anxiety, particularly if you have to change so many of your lifestyle habits in order to make sure you prevent the condition from progressing. Since change is never an easy thing, an important part of the whole process is understanding you are not alone.

By joining a support group, you will be able to meet people who are going through the exact same situation. Not only does this help you cope with the situation better, but you might discover new and insightful information on how to make your life better despite having coronary artery disease.

Your doctor might be able to direct your towards one of these support groups, but you can also find one online, most likely on your local hospital’s website.

4. Turn to technology

Technology is constantly evolving and finding its way into our lives, with the purpose of making it easier. Depending on the exact symptoms of your coronary artery disease, you can integrate technology to help automate some processes or cope with this condition with more success.

For example, if your heart condition is caused by high blood pressure, you can always monitor it at home by using automated blood pressure monitors, which can be purchased both online and offline. If you have a weight problem, you can also buy a wireless scale, which will record your weight over time, so you can see your evolution.

There are also apps and fitness gadgets that will help you stay on track with your physical activity, such as Fitbit. The important thing is to let technology help you, especially with keeping track of how and if your coronary artery disease symptoms progress.

5. Use aids, if you have to

There is absolutely no shame in needing a wheelchair, nor should you feel embarrassed about needing toileting aids. In more advanced cases of coronary artery disease, people might be more impaired and need help with the more common activities around the house.

For instance, a bath lift or a shower chair can prevent a series of other nasty accidents, such as you tripping and falling in the shower. Some other items, such as perching stools and household trolleys are good for people who need help doing house chores.

The most important thing is to understand that these products are not a sign of weakness, but rather an effort in making your life easier by turning to helpful gadgets and inventions that make it easier to get around the house safely.

6. Accept your emotions

One of the biggest parts of learning you have a heart problem is having to deal with all the emotions that come along with such huge news. Your doctor will tell you how to take your medication, and what foods you should eat, but learning how to deal with the wave of emotions is something that you might have to figure out by yourself.

If you notice that you started feeling anxious, sad, alone, angry, or depressed too often, you should consider talk therapy, particularly if you are not comfortable with joining a support group. With a weekly session of therapy, you will learn to understand where these emotions come from, and how you can keep them under control.

Remember that these powerful feelings won’t just take an emotional toll on you, but when you experience states such as anger, your blood pressure can rise, and the heart starts beating faster, which is something that you want to avoid when you have coronary artery disease.

Conclusion

For many people, living with coronary artery disease can be a real challenge. Regardless of how advanced the condition is, everyone with heart disease has to make at least some changes to the way they eat and exercise, in order to keep the heart healthy, and keep the weight and the fat intake under control.

People who have visible symptoms of coronary artery disease, such as shortness of breath or chest pain, are more likely to be more scared, anxious, even depressed when first diagnosed with this condition. Thankfully, by following the doctor’s orders, it’s not that difficult to live a very long life despite having a heart condition.