Life after a Heart Attack or Heart Surgery | Mental, Emotional & Practical Heart Health Wellness
Sallie Crawley is a heart attack survivor, cardiac coach and therapist. She specialises in holistic heart health and helping survivors and their families navigate the "emotional and mental rehab" that follows a life-changing cardiac event. This show delivers actionable strategies regarding heart health wellness, rebuilding your confidence, managing health anxiety, and implementing practical wellness tools for life after your event or diagnosis. If you are looking for emotional support and expert mindset tips from someone who has walked the path of a heart patient, you are in the right place. This podcast provides valuable insights for heart attack survivors, heart surgery patients (bypass, stents, valve repair), cardiac arrest survivors, those living with implantable devices (ICDs and pacemakers), and their families. If you want to learn how to move past the fear of "what if" and manage your energy so you can live a full, happy life again, you are in the right place! This show will provide answers to questions like: How do I manage the fear of having another heart attack? What does long-term heart health look like beyond just medication? How do I adjust to life with implantable devices like an ICD or pacemaker? Why do I feel depressed or anxious after my heart surgery? How can I rebuild my confidence when my body feels different? How do I manage fatigue and improve my energy levels naturally? Is it safe to exercise or be intimate after a cardiac event? How do I talk to my family about my recovery and emotional needs? How do I stop the "inner critic" and find joy after a heart diagnosis? What are the best mindset tools for long-term cardiac wellness? 🎧 Follow now to start healing from the inside out.
Episodes
After a heart event, the emotional storm can be just as taxing as the physical recovery. In this episode, we explore how Reiki, a Japanese energy healing practice, can act as a gentle lifeline to help you reclaim your calm.
In this episode, we discuss:
- The Emotional Aftermath: Dealing with the fear and "body betrayal" that often follows a heart attack.
- What is Reiki? A simple breakdown of how this non-invasive, complementary thera...
Have your favourite foods started tasting strange after a heart attack or heart surgery?
In this episode, we’re talking about something that doesn’t get discussed nearly enough - changes in taste after a cardiac event.
- If coffee suddenly tastes disgusting…
- If chocolate no longer hits the spot…
- If everything feels metallic, bland or just “off”…
You are not imagining it and you are not...
Are you waiting for heart surgery and feeling anxious, overwhelmed, or unsure what to expect? In this episode, I guide you through every stage of preparation – physically, mentally, and practically – so you can enter surgery feeling empowered, supported, and ready for recovery.
We cover:
- How to prepare your body for surgery with nutrition, exercise, and medication tips.
- Ways to reduce stress and anxiety leading up to y...
After a heart attack, cardiac arrest, or open heart surgery, something shifts.
Even when your body is healing, your mind can feel on constant alert. Every twinge feels suspicious. Every flutter feels dangerous. And beneath it all … there can be a quiet, persistent fear:
“What if it happens again?”
“What if I die?”
In this episode, I’m talking openly about the nagging fear of d...
Today, we explore the powerful intersection of brain science and belief. We dive into the Reticular Activating System (RAS) - the brain’s gatekeeper - and how it filters the world based on what you focus on. By consciously expecting "magic," you program your unconscious mind to find evidence of beauty, opportunity, and joy that you might otherwise miss.
Highlights:
- The RAS Factor: Understanding how your brainstem regulates ...
Heart disease isn’t just a physical journey - it’s emotional, mental, and sometimes spiritual. In this episode, I’m opening my heart to share something new I’ve been creating: a membership club designed for people living with heart disease or recovering from a cardiac event.
I talk honestly about the emotional reality of heart disease, the fear, anxiety, grief, and overwhelm that come with it and why I felt c...
Have you ever noticed a diagonal crease on your earlobe and wondered if it means something serious?
In this episode, we explore Frank’s Crease (also known as Frank’s Sign), the line across the earlobe that some researchers have linked to heart disease.
If you’re living with or beyond a heart attack, cardiac surgery, heart failure or a diagnosis that changed everything, it’s so easy for small things to trigger ...
Have you ever felt grateful to be alive… and deeply anxious at the same time?
Relieved your surgery is over… and frustrated that recovery feels slow?
Motivated to change your lifestyle… and grieving your old one?
If so, you are not doing recovery wrong.
In this episode, we explore the powerful mindset shift of Both/And thinking — a compassionate way of allowing two truths to exist at the same time without jud...
Can You Really Go on Holiday After a Heart Attack or Surgery? Here’s How to Travel Without Worry
Planning a holiday after a heart attack, heart surgery, or living with heart disease can feel overwhelming.
Should you fly?
- Is hot weather dangerous?
- What about travel insurance?
- What if something happens while you’re away?
In this episode, I gently walk you through how to travel safely and confidently a...
The hospital fixed your heart, but who is helping you heal your mind?
After 55 episodes of navigating the emotional, mental, and practical side of heart recovery together, I have some big news to share. As we look toward the future of this community, I want to make sure our "signpost"—the name and look of this show—is as clear and welcoming as possible for the person who needs it most.
In this episode, I...
A relaxamation to help you adapt to life’s changes after a heart attack or cardiac surgery. I will guide you through a gentle journey of relaxation and with the affirmation “I adapt and adjust to what is.” You'll learn how to reduce resistance, find emotional flexibility, and rebuild confidence.
What You’ll Experience:
- Progressive body relaxation
- A quiet the mind
- The affirmation “I adapt an...
End-of-life planning doesn’t have to be scary. In this episode, Sallie Crawley gently guides you through how to plan your care, medical wishes, and farewell in a way that brings clarity, comfort, and peace for both you and your loved ones.
Through heartfelt personal stories, practical advice, and compassionate guidance, Sallie shows how even small decisions—from choosing music for a ceremony to writing a will can transfo...
In this episode, I will explain what vasodilators are, the difference between short-acting and long-acting nitrates, and how to use GTN spray and tablets safely. Learn about common side effects, emergency tips, and practical advice for living confidently with angina.
Key Points Covered:
- How vasodilators work to improve blood flow and reduce heart workload
- Short-acting vs long-acting nitrates
- Step-by-step instructions for GTN tablet...
Reclaiming Your Life Story: Why “A Heart Attack” or “The Heart Attack” Matters More Than “My Heart Attack”.
The words we use to describe a health event can influence how we cope, heal, and view ourselves. In this episode, I explore why saying “a heart attack” or “the heart attack” instead of “my heart attack” can empower recovery, reduce fear, and help you...
I will guide you through a relaxamation session that supports balanced living and moderation during the festive season. Using gentle relaxation, body awareness, and the affirmation “I trust myself to find balance and moderation”, this session helps people living with cardiac conditions enjoy celebrations with confidence and calm.
Not sure what a Relaxamation is?
You can find more information here: Episode 22 called Re...
Today, I explore the hidden psychology behind why it can be so difficult to quit smoking after a cardiac event, especially when you’ve tried before. Discover how your brain’s limbic system tricks you into believing you can’t cope without nicotine, and how to rewire that inner dialogue using calm, compassionate, and evidence-based tools.
What You’ll Learn:
- The real reason your brain resists quit...
Intimacy, love, and sexual connection can feel complicated after a heart attack, cardiac arrest or surgery but they are a vital part of your recovery and emotional wellbeing. In this episode, Sallie Crawley walks you through the challenges, practical strategies, and gentle steps to help you reconnect with your partner and with yourself.
You’ll learn:
- Common sexual and intimacy challenges after heart surgery or a heart attac...
Understanding your ejection fraction (EF) can feel confusing, especially after a heart attack, heart surgery, or when living with heart disease. In this episode I break down EF in simple, relatable terms and explains why it matters for your heart health.
You’ll learn:
- What ejection fraction is and what the numbers mean
- Why EF matters for your energy, oxygen flow, and overall wellbeing
- How EF is measured and what to ask ...
Discover how to boost your happiness and improve your heart health after a cardiac event. In this episode, I explain how stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline impact your recovery, and how “happy hormones” - dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin, and endorphins - can help you feel joyful, motivated, and connected. Learn practical tips for regulating these hormones and reclaiming your life after heart surgery or a heart a...
Many people worry about whether alcohol is off-limits after a cardiac event. In this episode, I explore the effects of alcohol on the heart, the truth about moderation, and practical strategies to enjoy life safely.
Learn:
- How alcohol affects heart health and medications
- What moderation really looks like
- Practical tips for reducing intake without feeling deprived
- Benefits of mindful drinking and reducing alcohol for heart reco...
Popular Podcasts
Betrayal Weekly is back for a new season. Every Thursday, Betrayal Weekly shares first-hand accounts of broken trust, shocking deceptions, and the trail of destruction they leave behind. Hosted by Andrea Gunning, this weekly ongoing series digs into real-life stories of betrayal and the aftermath. From stories of double lives to dark discoveries, these are cautionary tales and accounts of resilience against all odds. From the producers of the critically acclaimed Betrayal series, Betrayal Weekly drops new episodes every Thursday. If you would like to share your story, you can reach out to the Betrayal Team by emailing them at betrayalpod@gmail.com and follow us on Instagram at @betrayalpod and @glasspodcasts. Please join our Substack for additional exclusive content, curated book recommendations, and community discussions. Sign up FREE by clicking this link Beyond Betrayal Substack. Join our community dedicated to truth, resilience, and healing. Your voice matters! Be a part of our Betrayal journey on Substack.
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Listen to 'The Bobby Bones Show' by downloading the daily full replay.
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by Audiochuck Media Company.
The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.