Recovery from a Cardiovascular Event

Recovery from a Cardiovascular Event

The Cardiac Behavioral Medicine team specializes in helping patients and their families adjust to a diagnosis and cope with challenges throughout the course of treatment. The team's techniques include strategies that encourage behavior change, improve coping strategies, minimize stress, reduce emotional distress, help with extended hospitalizations, and prepare for an upcoming procedure or surgery.

Anxiety, stress and depression after a cardiovascular event (like a heart attack or stroke) are common, and if left untreated, they can slow the healing process. We teach patients how to manage their emotions and express them in a healthy way. Flexibility and patience are important, so we work with patients to map out their recovery path—and celebrate each positive step.

Part of recovering from a cardiovascular event is managing expectations: What can you expect in a week? A month? A year from now? The Northwestern Medicine Cardiovascular Behavioral Medicine team gives patients tools to manage any bumps in the road to a full recovery.

Patients with cardiovascular disease may also experience anxiety, stress and depression and may benefit from changing lifestyle behaviors. We also offer help with preparing for and recovering from surgery.

Whether you’re still receiving treatment as an inpatient at the hospital or you have already returned home after a cardiovascular event, our team will work with you to ensure the strongest recovery possible.