Problems after a heart attack?

Question

My neighbour had a heart attack 3 months ago and is now waiting for a triple bypass operation. She goes for a walk every morning early and I go with her. She does very well but later in the day, every movement even from room to room, brings on fluttering in her chest and she feels a little faint for a few seconds and breaths heavily. She finds stairs difficult. If we go shopping, she has to walk slowly because of the same problem. I am sure she is worse now than say 6 weeks after the heart attack. Is this normal?

Answer 1

The symptoms she is having sounds like she is having some kind of arrhythmia on exertion she needs to speak to her GP ASAP who could ask her cardiologist to do a 24hr tape (is worn home monitors the heart for 24hours) or if she is very breathless and dizzy when it happens or it takes very little exertion to bring on the symptoms take her to your local accident and emergency dept, if she is having some kind of arrhythmia taking her in while she is actually experiencing symptoms means she can get an ECG at the time so it will actually show whats going on. If an ECG is done once the symptoms have settled it may not show the problem.

Some arrhythmias, espec if the rate is very fast can be harmful if they keep happening for prolonged periods and in the worst case scenario could lead to a cardiac arrest, I'm not saying this will happen but you wouldn't want to risk it.

Answer 2

dont let her walk as much, it might give her another heart attack

Answer 3

It sounds like she may be developing heart failure which can be a delayed effect from the heart attack.  Generally this can be effectively treated with medication and should be done so promptly, because heart failure puts an added burden on an already damaged heart.  

Answer 4

No it's not normal at all-- last yr my dad went in just for a catharization (if thats spelled correctly) not expecting to find much of anything but then as they were doing it they told him he had to go to the emergency room immediately & he had to get a quadruple bypass. I dunno why she's not in the hospital rite now-- I would definitely recommend her go immediately till she gets the operation.

Answer 5

If she is still waiting for a triple by pass then her heart isn't right yet, she's feeling faint cos the blood isn't get pumped round the body properly so she's not getting enough oxygen, and when she's moving around her hearts going faster. Tell her to take it easy and support her as you are doing already, i imagine that she is having regular visits to the doctor already.

Answer 6

Heart attack is a serious condition as it has multiple and invariable problems/complications after the attack. It appears she is doing all the things which are not to be done hastly but to be done carefully in a graded fashion under your cardialogist supervision only.

You may consult yor cardialogist immediately for necessary examination and advice please.    

Answer 7

No it isn't. It sounds like she may have an episodic rhythm problem. She needs to report this to her GP/Cardiologist who will want to arrange 24 hour monitoring or a cardio-memo.