How do I take care of myself?
The most important thing you can do is keep up with your treatment plan. This may include lifestyle changes and medications. It may also involve a procedure or surgery and the necessary recovery afterward.
Along with treatment, your provider may recommend cardiac rehab. A cardiac rehab program is especially helpful for people recovering from a heart attack or living with heart failure. Cardiac rehab can help you with exercise, dietary changes and stress management.
Coronary artery disease and mental health
A CAD diagnosis may make you think about your heart and arteries more than ever before. This can be exhausting and overwhelming. You may worry a lot about your symptoms or what might happen to you. Many people with coronary artery disease experience depression and anxiety. It’s normal to worry when you’re living with a condition that can be life-threatening.
But the worry shouldn’t consume your daily life. You can still live an active, fulfilling life while having heart disease. If your diagnosis is affecting your mental health, talk with a counselor. Find a support group where you can meet people who share your concerns. Don’t feel you need to keep it all inside or be strong for others. CAD is a life-changing diagnosis. It’s OK to devote time to processing it all and figuring out how to feel better, both physically and emotionally.
When should I see my healthcare provider?
Your provider will tell you how often you need to come in for testing or follow-ups. You may have appointments with specialists (like a cardiologist) in addition to your primary care visits.
Call your provider if you:
- Experience new or changing symptoms.
- Have side effects from your medication.
- Have questions or concerns about your condition or your treatment plan.
When should I go to the ER?
Call 911 or your local emergency number if you have symptoms of a heart attack or stroke. These are life-threatening medical emergencies that require immediate care. It may be helpful to print out the symptoms and keep them where you can see them. Also, share the symptoms with your family and friends so they can call 911 for you if needed.
What questions should I ask my doctor?
If your provider hasn’t diagnosed you with coronary artery disease, consider asking:
- What are my risk factors for coronary artery disease?
- What can I do to lower my risk?
- What lifestyle changes are most important for me?
- What medications would lower my risk, and what are the side effects? How long do I need to stay on these medications?
If you have coronary artery disease, some helpful questions include:
- What can I do to slow down disease progression?
- What’s the best treatment plan for me?
- What lifestyle changes should I make?
- What medications do I need, and what are the side effects?
- Will I need a procedure or surgery? What does the recovery look like?
- Are there support groups or resources you can recommend?
A note from Cleveland Clinic
Learning you have coronary artery disease can cause a mix of emotions. You may feel confused about how this could happen. You may feel sad or wish you’d done some things differently to avoid this diagnosis. But this is a time to look forward, not backward. Let go of any guilt or blame you feel. Instead, commit to building a plan to help your heart, beginning today.
Work with your provider to adopt lifestyle changes that feel manageable to you. Learn about treatment options, including medications, and how they support your heart health. Tell your family and friends about your goals and how they can help you. This is your journey, but you don’t have to do it alone.
FAQs
It's basically all the Heartbreakers on that record. The lyrics are about a woman who feels weighed down by relationships and wants to part despite a strong sentimental attachment to her lover. The melody is described by AllMusic as "dark and sinister".
When did the song Stop Draggin My Heart Around come out? ›
The music video to “Stop Draggin' My Heart Around” shows Nicks and Petty in the studio performing the song at the helm of the Heartbreakers, including Blair. The single was released on July 8, 1981, a week after Petty's “A Woman in Love (It's Not Me).”
What song did Tom Petty give Stevie Nicks? ›
Nicks initially wanted the song “Insider” for her album, but Petty realized he liked it too much to give it up. Instead, he gave her “Stop Draggin' My Heart Around.” When he heard her version, though, he felt a bit betrayed.
Did Stevie Nicks love Tom Petty? ›
And even at their final performance together — a surprise appearance by Nicks during Petty's set at London's BST festival in Hyde Park in July 2017 where they performed their 1981 hit “Stop Draggin' My Heart Around” — Nicks was forever a Petty fan, declaring on stage, “You know that Tom Petty is my favorite rock star!”
What did Stevie Nicks say when Tom Petty died? ›
Stevie Nicks started to choke up as she gave a touching speech about her late friend Tom Petty during a pre-Grammys tribute event on Friday. “The loss of Tom Petty has just about broken my heart,” Nicks, 69, said at the MusiCares Person of the Year event honoring Fleetwood Mac at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.
Who did Stevie Nicks sing Stop Draggin My Heart Around with? ›
In 1981, Stevie Nicks kickstarted her solo career by collaborating with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers on “Stop Draggin' My Heart Around.” The song peaked at No. 3 in the United States and set her up for the strongest solo career of any of her Fleetwood Mac bandmates.
Who is the husband of Stevie Nicks? ›
Following Robin's death in 1982, Nicks married Robin's widower, Kim Anderson, believing that Robin would want her to care for the baby.
Does Stevie Nicks have a child? ›
Does Stevie Nicks Have Children? Stevie does not have any biological children. She is a godmother to several kids and once opened up about her decision not to have a family of her own. “I couldn't have really done both,” the songstress told ABC News in September 2001.
Who was Tom Petty's best friend? ›
Following his departure from the world, millions across the globe were devastated. However, few felt as despondent as his long-time friend Stevie Nicks.
Did Elvis and Tom Petty ever meet? ›
Petty's interest in rock and roll music began at age ten when he had an opportunity to meet Elvis Presley. In the summer of 1961, his uncle was working on the set of Presley's film Follow That Dream, in nearby Ocala, and invited Petty to watch the movie's filming.
Most Fleetwood Mac fans know that singer Stevie Nicks and guitarist Lindsey Buckingham had a turbulent relationship. But Nicks also had an affair with drummer Mick Fleetwood in 1977, during the Australian leg of the Rumours tour.
Who did Stevie Nicks want to marry? ›
What is the meaning behind the song my heart will go on? ›
“My Heart Will Go On” happens to be the theme song of 1997 movie, Titanic, from the main character Rose's perspective. She tells her lover Jack who died in the sinking of the ship, that he still exists in her heart and mind. The singer talks about the distances and spaces as a major factor that separates them.
Who did Stevie Nicks write a song about? ›
After Stevie Nicks split with longtime partner Lindsey Buckingham, she was involved in a brief affair with drummer Mick Fleetwood. Their relationship only lasted a few years, but it did lead to a few new songs from Nicks. Here are three songs Nicks wrote about Fleetwood.
Did Stevie Nicks want to join Tom Petty's band? ›
But the story of Nicks' solo debut effort began in 1978 with her quest to become a member of Tom Petty's Heartbreakers. Nicks recalls that she fell in love with Petty's music and his band. “I almost preferred the Heartbreakers' music to Fleetwood Mac's music at that point.
