Why heart attack survivors need loved ones to openly express their fears and feelings

Relatives of survivors tend to hide their feelings, but this can create distance and affect mental health, say heart specialists

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Relatives of heart attack survivors are often overprotective and hide their own feelings, but this can cause problems for patient and carer. Photo: Shutterstock

Published: 6:15pm, 10 Feb 2025

If you are a relative of a heart attack survivor, you might believe you should step up right away, do all you can to help, and not show any sign of struggle or weakness yourself.

But that can be difficult, experts say. After all, whether it is your father, sister or partner, when someone you love has a heart attack, there is a tremendous sense of relief that they survived – but new worries emerge.

Often, people tend to choke back those feelings out of concern for the patient, not wanting to upset them or place any additional burden on them.

German heart specialists say relatives tend to hide their own fears, worries and feelings out of a desire to help.

If you’re experiencing poor sleep and feeling isolated while caring for a heart attack survivor, it is best to talk to the family doctor and clarify what to do next, not only for the patient, but also the loved ones affected. Photo: Shutterstock

But that can inadvertently have the opposite effect. Isolating yourself and being less than open and frank can create emotional distance, say cardiologist Christoph Herrmann-Lingen and psychologist Jonas Nagel in an article for the German Heart Foundation’s magazine.