Saturday, August 6, 2011

HCFI Update: Living alone after heart attack risky


Living alone after a heart attack increases the chances of death in the next four years, said Padmashri and Dr B C Roy National Awardee Dr KK Aggarwal, President Heart Care Foundation of India and MTNL Perfect Health Mela.

Citing a recent study published in the American Journal of Cardiology, he further added that the chances of death at one year after a heart attack was roughly the same for individuals living alone
compared to those living with someone else. But, patients who lived alone had 35% greater risk of death at four years after the heart attack.

Social support greatly influences the outcome of an illness. It enhances not only physical health but also mental health. Family support, including those of their friends, helps these patients to recover and have a good quality of life. Lack of social support in people who live alone hampers their recovery. They do not have the assistance they need to take their medicines, the motivation to follow the prescribed exercise regime and keep up with follow up visits to their doctor.

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