The main message in a paper published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology is that it is now possible for the heart attack patients that have the desire of returning to work.
The lead author of the paper from the University of Potsdam, Germany, Dr. Rona Reibis noted that patients will make a success of their work if they believe they can still do the job. It is rare for patients may be physically unable to do their previous posts after a heart attack, including complex work.
Patients that have acute coronary syndromes between 67 percent and 93 percent such as unstable angina, chest pain, and heart attack, get back to work in two to three months. But one in four quit after a year.
The possibility of getting back to work depends mainly on the decision of the patient. Do they have the desire of going back or not? After that, there are psychological factors, with lack of confidence, anxiety, depression all forecasting failure to return. The medical condition of the patient and the kind of work can also have an impact.
Blue collar workers can struggle if they have heart failure, rhythm instability, or ischemia which reduce physical performance. Patients with implanted cardiac devices might need to avoid workplaces with electrical fields.
Dr. Reibis further said that as for the gender indifferences, traditional concepts that the man must go back to work since he is the breadwinner still exists. Whereas women can be reintegrated, but it depends on whether they plan to do that. Also, women still have more doubts about their ability to perform their prior tasks, especially blue-collar roles. But there's no problem with educated women with white collar jobs.
To successfully get back to work, heart attack patients must not change jobs. Apart from that, they must do fewer hours/days at the start, work from home once a week, take more breaks, and delegate some responsibility.
Also, they may attend cardiac rehabilitation for advice on a healthy lifestyle, including personalized tips from a cardiologist, psychologist, physiotherapist, social work, and occupational therapist on returning into employment.
Dr. Reibis claimed that the best way is to get back to the job that the patients know. Those who had a relatively small heart attack with a total restoration of blood flow and consistently taking their medication without any implanted device can still do their work as before without any precautions.
Following up after they get back to work, patients with no sign of anxiety and depression and feel positive about their ability to work and can meet the physical requirements don't need specific follow-up advice.
For those with work-related problems, they still need further observation even when they are typically middle-aged male blue-collar workers with low education and the high burden of comorbidities such as obesity, diabetes, and smoking.
