If you have recently been diagnosed with coronary heart disease, suffered from a heart attack, or have undergone a major cardiac surgery, it is normal to feel apprehensive about regular everyday activities like going back to work. The good news is that, in most cases, you will be able to return to work and resume your regular activities in just a few months. The exception is if you have a job that involves manual labor or other strenuous activities that can be bad for your heart health.
1. Talk to your doctor before you return to work
Discussing your return to work with your doctor is a good idea, as they can help you determine whether you have recovered adequately to resume your job. Your doctor will take several different factors into account before they give you the go ahead to return to work, including:
- What type of disease you have?
- How severe is your condition?
- How long ago did you have a cardiac event?
- How long will it take for you to recover?
- How stable is your condition?
- What type of job do you have and does it include manual labor?
After being assessed by your doctor, you will be able return to work get a better idea of when this will be safe. Your doctor can also help you decide whether you should go back full-time or part-time with the eventual goal of going back full time.
2. Talk to your employer about any adjustments to support your return to work
Most countries have anti-discrimination laws that will stop your employer from firing you for your health condition. When you return to work and find that the conditions are not healthy for you, talk to your employer about making adjustments so that you can stay at your current place of employment.
3. Don’t be afraid to find a new job
While an employer can’t fire you for having a disease, it might be best for you to leave your place of employment if you work somewhere that is not conducive to your post-diagnosis life. For example, if you work at a construction site and do manual labor, it may be hard for your employer to find you a role that will suit your needs. Other jobs that you may want to leave include those that require driving long distances over long periods of time. Again, depending on how severe your heart condition is, it might be okay for you to stay in a role that involves manual labor, but you need to discuss this with your doctor.
4. Listen to your body
Don’t be afraid to take time off if you don’t feel ready to return to work. You should feel comfortable returning to work and not afraid that something bad will happen. If you don’t feel ready, look into options for extending your leave of absence.
5. You don’t have to tell your boss that you have a heart condition
You are not obliged to share your diagnosis with your employer, as that is classified as sensitive personal information. Diseases that pose a safety risk are the only exception. However, it might a good idea to let your place of work know you have a medical condition in case of emergencies or if you need to take time off for doctor’s appointments. Additionally, you will need to tell your employer if any adjustments need to be made to your role. If you don’t tell your employer about your condition, you can’t hold them responsible for not making adjustments for you.
6. You are entitled to take time off
Talk to your doctor if you have just experienced a heart attack or have undergone heart surgery and see if you are able to go back to work. If you are, great. If you are not and you need to take a leave of absence, you may be entitled to sick pay. People who are not eligible for sick pay, like temporary workers or self-employed people, should contact their local government to see what type of support is available. You will likely require notes from your doctor.
7. You may be able to continue to do manual work
Talk to your doctor about this, but if your condition is not too severe, you may be able to return to a manual job in which you lift or move heavy objects or operate heavy machinery. However, if you choose to return to a manual job and you experience angina (chest pain) or discomfort at any time, you shouldn’t be lifting heavy objects or use any heavy equipment. You will need consult with your doctor to make sure you can continue doing your job without health risks.
Keep in mind that some medications prescribed for heart disease may cause you to not be able to operate heavy equipment.
8. Check that your pacemaker or ICD (implantable cardioverter defibrillator) can be safely used at your place of work
Speak to someone in charge at work, preferable a safety officer, about any potential magnets or electromagnets that may be at your place of work.
- Ades, P. A. (2001). Cardiac rehabilitation and secondary prevention of coronary heart disease. New England Journal of Medicine, 345(12), 892-902.
- Nagle, R., Gangola, R., & Picton-Robinson, I. (1971). Factors influencing return to work after myocardial infarction. The Lancet, 298(7722), 454-456.
- Kivimäki, M., Lawlor, D. A., Smith, G. D., Kouvonen, A., Virtanen, M., Elovainio, M., & Vahtera, J. (2007). Socioeconomic position, co-occurrence of behavior-related risk factors, and coronary heart disease: the Finnish Public Sector study. American journal of public health, 97(5), 874-879.
- Photo courtesy of SteadyHealth
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