Medical Questions » Heart Questions » Question No. 498
| Question: | My mother-in-law had a heart attack 3 years ago, and she suffers from knee arthritis. Her doctor and physiotherapist tell her to exercise but she won' t. All she does is lie on her bed or sit and watch TV all day. My husband and I are fighting as I say she should do as the doctor says, but he says she doesn' t have to. What do you think? |
| Answer: | Your mother-in-law' s doctor and physio are quite correct in their advice. Those who exercise and control their weight after a heart attack do much better, and survive far longer than those who remain sedentary. Appropriate exercise (eg. swimming) will also help her knee arthritis.
Conversely, your mother-in-law has the right to reject their advice and do whatever she wishes. Provided she has had the risks of her inactivity explained to her, and she understands those risks, there is nothing more that you can do.
You and your husband should stop fighting, and get on with your lives, after you have explained to your mother-in-law that you are looking forward to receiving some benefit from her will in the near future, now that she has rejected all your good advice.
|
|
|
