Before you leave the hospital, make sure you understand what has happened to you. Talk about your heart attack, the results of tests and your drugs with your doctors. Ask whether you need to change your diet or exercise more.

Your doctor should answer all of your questions. You may also be given some written information that tells you what you can do to reduce your chance of having another heart attack.

You'll probably get a number of drug treatments to take after a heart attack to reduce your risk of having another one. These may include the following:

If you smoke, you should quit. Smoking narrows the arteries that supply blood to your heart (your

 

 

 

 

 

coronary arteries
Coronary arteries are the vessels that supply blood to the heart muscle. If yours are blocked, you may have a pain in your chest (known as angina) or a heart attack because parts of the heart are not getting enough blood and oxygen.

 

 

 

 

 

coronary arteries). Start helping yourself now by deciding to quit. Then get help from a health professional. The doctors at the hospital, your family doctor, or your cardiac rehabilitation team will be able to help you. There are lots of treatments that can help you quit. These include nicotine replacement therapy and a drug called bupropion (brand name Zyban).

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
Smith SC, Blair SN, Brass LM, et al.
AHA/ACC guidelines for preventing heart attack and death in patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease: 2001 Update. A statement for healthcare professionals from the American college of cardiology.
Circulation. 2001; 104: 1577-1579.

 

 

 

 

 

¹ Getting counseling with other people who are trying to quit can also help. To learn more, see our articles on Smoking.

Tell your friends and family that you are going to give up smoking. Their support will be important. And be realistic. You may not quit on your first try. But it's important to keep trying until you're successful. It could save your life.

Health care providers run workshops to help you recover from your heart attack, keep your heart healthy and help you live life to the fullest. Before you leave the hospital, you and your doctors should discuss how you can join a program. If your doctors don't mention it, ask about a rehabilitation program.

Cardiac rehabilitation is an important part of your recovery. It will help you:

Most cardiac rehabilitation programs include:

Everyone is different, so the rehabilitation team at your hospital will plan a program that suits you. It may last six weeks, six months, or even longer. But it can't work without your commitment. Don't give up.

If you're overweight, you should try to lose a few pounds. If you want to find out whether you are overweight, you can work out your Body Mass Index (BMI). The body mass index is a formula that compares your height with your weight. You should aim for a BMI of between 18.5 and 24.9.

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
Smith SC, Blair SN, Brass LM, et al.
AHA/ACC guidelines for preventing heart attack and death in patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease: 2001 Update. A statement for healthcare professionals from the American college of cardiology.
Circulation. 2001; 104: 1577-1579.

 

 

 

 

 

¹ You can ask your doctor about the best way to lose weight.

With help from your health care providers, you can develop an exercise plan that suits your needs, abilities and interests. You'll probably be supervised for six weeks or so.

Exercise improves stamina, strength and makes you feel good. Over time, exercise makes your heart work better. It can also help you lose weight. For most people, a supervised exercise program after a heart attack is safe. Many people can continue to exercise safely on their own after a few weeks.

Doctors say you should try to exercise for at least 30 to 60 minutes every day, or at least three or four times a week.

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
Smith SC, Blair SN, Brass LM, et al.
AHA/ACC guidelines for preventing heart attack and death in patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease: 2001 Update. A statement for healthcare professionals from the American college of cardiology.
Circulation. 2001; 104: 1577-1579.

 

 

 

 

 

¹ Walking, jogging and cycling are all good ways to get your heart working better. Doing things around the house and garden are also good.

If you have diabetes, it's important to keep your blood sugar as near to normal as you can.

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
Smith SC, Blair SN, Brass LM, et al.
AHA/ACC guidelines for preventing heart attack and death in patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease: 2001 Update. A statement for healthcare professionals from the American college of cardiology.
Circulation. 2001; 104: 1577-1579.

 

 

 

 

 

¹ Your doctor will advise you how to do this. Exercising regularly, controlling your weight and keeping your blood pressure and cholesterol down can all help.

Learning about your heart attack and the treatment you need is an important part of getting better and lowering your risk of future trouble. Your health care providers will help you learn:

You may feel anxious or depressed after a heart attack. These feelings are common, and they can slow down your recovery. A good cardiac rehabilitation program will spot these problems and offer you treatment. If you need help, make sure you ask for it. It is an important part of your recovery.

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