Exercise after a heart attack, rebound headaches and blood thinners

Posted on 10 January 2013

When is it okay to start exercising after a heart attack? And could painkillers be causing this reader’s headaches? Plus, precautions for people taking blood thinners are the issues we’re addressing today.

My husband survived a heart attack about four months ago, but he’s still nervous about doing any physical activities. When should things return to normal and how can I help him to cope?
You should encourage him to start light exercise – walking, swimming and cycling are particularly good. Physical activity will help strengthen his heart muscle and also relieve stress. He needs to start slowly and gradually build up intensity and duration with the goal of moderate exercise most days of the week. However, if he gets short of breath, dizzy, weak or has chest pain, he must contact his doctor immediately. You can help, too – don’t be overprotective and encourage him to resume normal activities such as exercise, work, hobbies and helping around the house.

My wife constantly suffers from headaches and takes several painkillers every day. Could they be adding to the problem?
Always avoid taking too many painkillers – while they’re fine for infrequent headaches, overuse of paracetamol and anti-inflammatories may cause kidney damage or gastric irritation. Your wife may be experiencing ‘rebound’ headaches – this happens when the body gets so used to pain medication that a vicious cycle, which may make the headaches worse, is set in motion. She should stop taking the painkillers with the help of her doctor, who may consider safer treatment options such as tricyclic anti-depressants or calcium channel blockers. She also needs to avoid possible headache triggers like caffeine, stress and certain foods.

I’ve just been put on blood thinners for the rest of my life. Are there any long-term effects I should know about?
First make sure your doctor knows about any other medicines or supplements you’re taking – dangerous interactions may occur. Some vegetables, such as garlic, also have anti-platelet effects and may cause bleeding, which is the most common side effect. Call your doctor immediately if you have any signs of serious bleeding, such as heavier-than-usual periods, red or brown urine, red or black stools, brown or bright red vomit, unusual bruising or severe pain. Also get medical attention after a bad bump or fall – you may be bleeding internally and not know it.

If you have questions on this post, or any other medical matter, please comment below or visit our Facebook page.

 

The information provided in this article was correct at the time of publishing. At Mediclinic we endeavour to provide our patients and readers with accurate and reliable information, which is why we continually review and update our content. However, due to the dynamic nature of clinical information and medicine, some information may from time to time become outdated prior to revision.