Coping with Medical Procedures, Events, and Symptoms

Chapter 9 focuses on how to handle cardiac events, symptoms, and medical procedures, and it reviews the recommendations for specialized, lifelong cardiac care. The concept of becoming a patient expert and advocating for care is discussed, along with a review of the Affordable Care Act in the United States. Advice on preparing for medical appointments, cardiac procedures, and surgery by assembling a team, hospital self-care, stress reduction exercises, and visualization are all covered. Coping strategies for taking medication, dealing with COVID-19, deteriorating health, heart failure, and transplant are all discussed. Information on heart failure and heart transplant is provided in two personal interviews by Yale cardiologist Dr. Dan Jacoby and social worker Dawn Lorentson.