Occupational Therapy Activities for Coronary Artery Disease
- A coronary-artery disease patient who has undergone a cardiac procedure may feel especially vulnerable and fearful of engaging in daily living tasks. Even formerly easy tasks such as taking a shower or dressing themselves can be intimidating activities for someone who has just undergone a heart procedure. An occupational therapist teaches patients how to regain strength and endurance safely and effectively. Help with dressing, bathing and grooming are common tasks an occupational therapist will offer any cardiac patient. For example, patients are often taught to make visual decisions, such as those required for grooming and dressing, prior to taking physical action in an effort to conserve energy and strength.
- One of the most intense feelings a coronary-artery disease patient may have is the feeling of vulnerability. Even actions such as sneezing or coughing can produce intense anxiety in a patient. Occupational therapists show patients how to utilize "heart pillows" to place and hold over the heart during such actions to help protect incisions in the chest. Occupational therapists also offer help and advice on making the hospital or home environment more user friendly to a cardiac patient. Activities may include learning to walk with adaptive devices to using adaptive equipment to cook, clean and perform personal hygiene. Such equipment may include grab bars, support devices, extended grabbers and eating utensils that cater to those with limited range of motion, strength or grasping ability.
- An occupational therapist will help and encourage a recuperating coronary-artery disease patient to adapt various personal habits to his or her specific needs and strength levels. For example, the therapist may instruct the patient on deep breathing exercises to relieve stress and anxiety, as well as show the patient how to conserve energy and strength during the healing process. Such techniques can be used in daily lifestyle changes adopted by patients for optimal benefit in their future as well.
