Heart Disease Community

Hi:

I can't comment regarding the muscle spasms, though it is well known that depression, be it periods of, or chronic, happens in many individuals who are diagnosed with cardiac-related conditons, especially if a heart attack has occured, with or without stents or bypass.

Some individuals have reported a so-called "heightened sense of awareness". Sometimes, heart disease patients have reported anger, mood swings/emotional outbursts/emotions running wild, personality changes (which sometimes can be directly due to prescription drugs or even brain damage from a stroke that occurred during or right after heart surgery, as applicable, which can cause neurological alterations or deficits), and fear as well. Additionally, a feelng of hopeless in which one has decided to give up, throw in the towel (something that obviously one should not do).

Cleveland Clinic

Depression & Heart Disease

http://my.clevelandclinic.org/heart/prevention/stress/depressionandheart.aspx
Most important, coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery is just a clever way of temporarily circumventing the problem (atherosclerosis), as it doesn't address the disease process and what drives the progression.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a lifelong unpredictable (may/can exhibit periods of stabilization, acceleration and even sme regression) condition requiring a continuum of care.

Best of luck down the road of life.

Take care,

CardioStar*

WebMD member (since 8/99)



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Be well-informed

Understanding Your Ejection Fraction

http://my.clevelandclinic.org/heart/disorders/heartfailure/ejectionfraction.aspx
WebMD

Living with Coronary Artery Disease

A chronic disease with no cure. When you have CAD, it is important to take care...

This is especially true if you have had an interventional procedure or surgery to improve blood flow to the heart../It is up to you to take steps...

Recognize the symptoms. Reduce your risk factors. Take your medications. See your doctor for regular check-ups...

http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/guide/living-with-heart-disease

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Good to know, for the primary/secondary prevention of heart attack/brain attack

Epidemiologic studies have revealed risk factors (encompasses some new, novel or emerging) for atherosclerosis, typically affecting the carotid, coronary and peripheral arteries, which includes age, gender, genetics (gene deletion, malfunction or mutation) , diabetes (considered as being the highest risk factor), smoking (includes second and thirdhand), inactivity, obesity (a global epidemic, "globesity"), high blood pressure (hypertension), Low HDL (now questionable, according to recent studies) high LDL, small, dense LDL, RLP (remnant lipoprotein), high Lp(a), high ApoB, high Lp-PLA2, high triglycerides, HDL2b, high homocysteine (now questionable), and high C-reactive protein (CRP/hs-CRP).


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KNOW your prescription drugs!

WebMD

Drugs A-Z

http://www.webmd.com/drugs/index-drugs.aspx

Ask A Patient

Rate a drug, side effects, comments, etc.

http://askapatient.com/rateyourmedicine.htm

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As applicable to the patient

Cardiac Rehab


Typically, cardiac rehab plays an important role in the overall recovery process, which is DIFFERENT FOR EVERYONE, and at any age.

WebMD/Healthwise

Cardiac Rehab

http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/tc/cardiac-rehabilitation-topic-overview

Mayo Clinic

Cardiac rehab: Building a better life after heart disease

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/cardiac-rehabilitation/HB00017

Mended Hearts

Hope for recovery. Hope for a rich, full life.

For more than 50 years, Mended Hearts has been offering the gift of hope and encouragement to heart patients, their families and caregivers.

http://www.mendedhearts.org

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Quote!

"Be a questioning patient. TALK to your DOCTOR and ASK QUESTIONS. Studies show that patients who ask the most questions, and are most assertive, get the best results. Be vigilant and speak up!"

- Charles Inlander, People's Medical Society

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It's your future......be there.

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WebMD/WebMD forums does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

First of all, if you are not in it, talk to your doctor about getting cardiac rehab.

The exercise and learn that you can safety exercise helps a lot of people get past the depression and anxiety.

I had a bad spasm that went from my left shoulder blade to spine.

Mine was helped with some Advil and "exercise". But check with your doctor. It is not recommend right after an MI, but I don't know how long. In my case I had not had an MI, so this did not come up. If you do take the Advil you want to take it several hours before or after taking the aspirin. Taking them at the same time reduces the effectiveness of the aspirin.

After my bypass I had a friend of mine finishing a deck that I had started. Part of it was instating 100 balustrades which took 200 brackets and screws. My "exercise" was opening the package and handing them to him one at a time.