Your Recovery — GETTING YOU BACK TO HEALTH Finding out you have coronary artery disease is a major life change. Your life with coronary artery disease may be quite different from the life you had before. Your healthcare team is an important part of your recovery. Your team may include doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, pharmacists, dietitians, occupational therapists, social workers and counsellors. Listen to what they say, follow their advice, and make healthy lifestyle changes now. Your care partners — the family and friends who support you most — also play important roles in your recovery. Your recovery is everyone’s goal, so reach out for help and support. How can I help my recovery? 1.
Learn. You need to know the facts about coronary artery disease and recovery. Learn about your treatment options and the lifestyle changes you need to make. 2. Get involved. You need to be involved in planning your care and setting goals. Ask questions and get answers. 3. Do your part. Do what needs to be done to get better. You can’t get better unless you make some lifestyle changes. That means eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly. Take your medication. This guide will provide support on this challenging journey. ROLES AND RELATIONSHIPS Each family is different. And every member has a role to play in the family. Coronary artery disease can change the family balance.
Roles — both for the person with the condition and for other family members — may change. The same may be true with friendships. During recovery, you may need to work out a new role in your family and with your friends. “What is important? It’s your family, it’s your health, those are the things that matter.” ~ Meldon Living Well with Heart Disease | V