Patient Information --> Medical and Surgical Information --> Recovery --> Recovering After Discharge

The goal of emergency treatment for heart disease is to restore blood flow and save heart muscle. The next target is to promote healing of your heart and prevent further heart disease. Once the doctor feels you are stable, we will start making plans with you for your discharge home. Part of this is making sure you know what happened to you and know how to take care of yourself from this point on. It is during this period that you receive this book and may be shown some videos. Many people will come to visit you and instruct you on heart healthy living like the dietitian, the respiratory therapist, the pharmacist, a physical therapist, and of course your nurse and doctor. Education is every bit as vital as the medications and treatments we provide you so please help us help you by asking questions.

In the next section, Healthy Lifestyle Changes will be discussed including Tobacco Cessation, Heart Healthy Diet, and Exercise. You are already on your way with a good start in the hospital.

• How many days has it been since you've smoked? Did you know you've been eating a heart healthy diet, low in fat, cholesterol, and salt right here in the hospital? And you may have noticed we are pestering you to get out of bed and walk. Soon, a Cardiac Rehabilitation Nurse will be seeing you to plan an exercise program with you for while you are in the hospital and for when you go home. As soon as the doctor feels that it is time, you will also be referred to a formal Cardiac Rehabilitation Program either at Central Maine Medical Center or one that is closer to your home. Cardiac Rehabilitation is as crucial as the drugs and the procedures we provide . It has been shown to greatly reduce the chances of a second heart attack and some of the problems that can result.