1. Health
2. When a parent has a heart problem

Help me understand the prognosis

• Article - What to Expect After a Heart Attack

  What to expect after a heart attack. A caregiver's guide to common physical and emotional concerns. Find out what to expect and how you can help.

• Article - What to Expect When Your Parent Has Coronary Bypass Surgery

  What to Expect after Coronary Bypass Surgery. Recovery issues may include loss of appetite, leg swelling, shortness of breath and trouble sleeping.

• Article - How to Tell if Your Parent Is Having a Heart Attack

  Five heart attack symptoms to watch for and how to respond if you see symptoms of a heart attack.

• Article - What to Expect When Your Parent Has Coronary Angioplasty and Stenting

  Maximize the benefits of your parent's angioplasty. From what to do when they first get home to how much activity they can handle.

• Article - What Atrial Fibrillation Means for You and Your Parent

  What atrial fibrillation means for your aging parent: how it's treated, how to prevent stroke, and what warning signs you should watch out for.

• Checklist - 10 Questions to Ask After a Heart Attack

  10 Questions to Ask After a Heart Attack. Was it a mild heart attack? What about side effects? Find out and set a realistic timetable for recovery.

Questions & Answers

• Question - Why are my father's heart palpitations getting more frequent?

  What causes frequent heart palpitations in the elderly? Frequent heart palpitations can have various causes, from anxiety to atrial fibrillation.

• Question - What does "end stage" congestive heart failure mean for my mother?

  End stage congestive heart failure doesn't mean someone is dying. End stage congestive heart failure is serious, but some patients live for years.

• Question - How can I tell if my mother's having an angina episode or a heart attack?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - Did bypass surgery change my father-in-law's personality for the worse?

  Can heart surgery change someone's personality? My father-in-law was a very mellow, easygoing person until he had bypass surgery.

• Question - Is my father's discomfort a week after his angioplasty normal?

  This question has been answered by a Community Member

• Question - Is my mother's "racing heart" normal after a bypass?

  After a bypass, is a racing heart normal? A racing heart after a bypass or heart surgery--possibly atrial fibrillation--requires medical attention.

Tips & Reflections

• Tip - Be Prepared With a Heart Emergency Card

  If your parent is at high risk for a heart attack,...