Myocarditis Recovery: How Long Does It Take to Heal?

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1. In mild cases, it’s usually recommended to restrict any activities that cause more pressure or workload on the heart for at least 3-6 months. With adequate rest, reducing workload on your heart can play a role to help boost your recovery faster.
2. While exercise is a good way to keep your heart and cardiovascular system healthy, it could be counterproductive if you choose the wrong one. In general, patients with myocarditis should avoid competitive sports for a while. For more guidance, ask your doctor about types of exercise that you can do safely during recovery. Ask also when you’re allowed to resume normal activities!
3. Since many cases of myocarditis are associated with infectious causes, keep up to date on the recommended vaccines! Also, practice good hygiene. Wash your hands regularly, this is important to help prevent spreading infectious illness.
4. Keep far away from risky behaviors – unsafe sexual intercourse and abusing illegal drugs, for examples.
5. Stop smoking, and (if possible) avoid alcohol or drink at minimum level at least until you have complete recovery from the disease!

A few changes in diet may help, too. Keep your dietary sodium (salt) to a minimum since high sodium in the bloodstream can cause high blood pressure (hypertension) and make your heart work harder. Also, include more heart-healthy foods such as almonds, avocados, whole grain, fruits, and vegetables.

And if you’re obese, lose the extra pounds of your weight gradually. Being obese or overweight is bad for the performance of your heart — more extra weight you gain, more workload you put on your heart.