These medications reduce the stress load to the heart, thereby allowing the damaged muscles to recover. In some patients, PTCA can be technically difficult to perform. In others, PTCA and medications fail to achieve reperfusion or maintain open arteries. Heart attack patients are monitored in the hospital for 3 to 6 days prior to discharge home. Rhythm disturbances, shortness of breath due to heart failure, or recurrent pain are indications for further therapy such as balloon angioplasty, medications, or bypass surgery.
Patients gradually increase their activity under observation.
Before discharge, low level stress tests are useful for detecting significant residual narrowing in the coronary arteries, rhythm changes, and heart muscle failure. They also guide the physicians in prescribing activity regimens after discharge. Before resuming full activity or work, several weeks are needed for the area of the heart attack to heal. After a small heart attack, which is measured by the size of heart muscle damage, patients can resume normal activities after two weeks. These activities include returning to work as well as normal sexual activity.