My father had a major heart attack aged 50. He was a smoker and a stresser, but very fit, he gave up smoking immediately and Mum changed his diet but he still stresses. Now aged 87 ,he has a pacemaker and defibrillator, today he was told via results of an echo cardiogram that he only has 20% operating capacity. I would like to know if this comes with a useby date, he is still planting tomatoes etc and planning projects but is quite miserable. A well meaning doctor told him to cut down his alcohol and he cut out his 1 drink at happy hour which I think was the one time he unwound.

He takes C0Q10 and water tablets and a few other things. I worry about his trace minerals like potassium, but don't like taking a strong stance because I am no expert and fear other consequences.

I guess in a nutshell my question is can I assure Dad that he is not necessarily going to cark it in the next week and how bad is alcohol to a patient in this condition. He has an incredibly bad temper and loses it regularly, even while acknowledging it is bad for him and my Mum.At this stage would this be shortening his life expectancy..