PREVENT HEART ATTACK FROM OCCURRING AGAIN
The goal after your heart attack is to keep your heart healthy and reduce your risks, to prevent future damage to your heart.
- Take your medications
- Change your lifestyle
- See you doctor for regular heart checkups
Take your medications Medications are prescribed after a heart attack to - prevent future blood clots
- lessen the work of your heart and improve your heart’s performance and recovery
- lower cholesterol
Other medications may be prescribed if needed. These include medications to treat irregular heartbeats, lower blood pressure, control angina (chest discomfort) and treat heart failure. Check the drug search to find out about your medications. It is important to know: - the names of your medications
- what they are for
- how often and at what times to them.
Your doctor or nurse should review your medications with you. Keep a list of your medications and bring them to each of your doctor visits. If you have questions about your medications, ask your doctor or pharmacist. Change your lifestyle There is no cure for coronary artery disease. In order to prevent the progression of this disease, you must follow your doctor's advice and make necessary lifestyle changes: - Stop Smoking
- Lower high blood cholesterol
- Control high blood pressure
- Maintain tight diabetes control
- Follow a regular exercise plan
- Achieve and maintain your ideal body weight
- Control Stress and Anger
Cardiac Rehabilitation Make a doctor's appointment four to six weeks after you leave the hospital. Your doctor will want to check the progress of your recovery. Your doctor may ask you to undergo diagnostic tests (such as exercise or pharmacological stress tests or cardiac catheterization) at regular intervals. |
