Preventing Another Heart Attack!

Preventing Another Heart Attack

No one can say for sure whether you’ll have another heart attack. Follow your healthcare provider’s recommendations about your weight, diet, physical activity, work, medicine and rest. That way, you’ll have a better chance of improving your health and avoiding future attacks. 

Managing Your Blood Pressure

High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart attack and stroke. Be sure to have your blood pressure checked regularly. If your blood pressure is high, talk to your doctor about what steps to take to lower it. A combination of diet, weight control, physical activity and medicine can help bring blood pressure under control.

• Diet: Some people can lose weight and reduce how much sodium (salt) they consume to lower their blood pressure. If your healthcare provider thinks these actions might help you, he or she will suggest some changes in your diet.

• Physical activity: Exercise helps to control weight and lower your blood pressure. Talk to your healthcare provider before you start a physical activity programme. Try to do atleast 150 minutes ,i.e., two and half hours of moderate intensity physical activity per week.

• Medication: For some people, losing weight, reducing sodium and making other lifestyle changes doesn’t lower blood pressure enough. Your doctor may prescribe medicines that can help. Be sure to take them as directed. If you don’t feel well after taking the medicine, tell your doctor. He or she can adjust it so side effects are less bothersome. It is very important to keep your blood pressure under control. So be sure to follow all your doctor’s advice. Refill your prescriptions before you run out. You don’t want to miss taking medication, not even for one day. And don’t stop taking a prescribed medicine just because your symptoms go away.

• Taking medication: Taking certain medications can help prevent another heart attack. Your doctor will talk to you about which medications might be right for you. Some of the most common ones are listed below.

• Beta-blockers: Relieve stress on the heart by blocking the effects of a hormone called adrenaline. They have been successful in preventing second heart attacks. However, because they can tighter airways, these drugs aren’t prescribed for people with asthma or lung disorders.

• Angiotensin: Converting enzyme inhibitor drugs (ACE inhibitors) help reduce the risk of having another heart attack. They also treat high blood pressure and reduce salt and water retention in patients with congestive heart failure.

• A cholesterol-lowering medication can also help prevent another heart attack.

• Anticoagulant drugs hamper the normal clotting of blood. These drugs help prevent blood clots that may occur in a coronary artery or leg vein.

Watching Your Weight

It is important for people with heart disease to keep their weight in a healthy range. Aim to eat a well-balanced diet. That means a diet containing healthy amounts of proteins, vitamins and minerals. 

If you are overweight, losing weight can help you in many ways. It can reduce your blood cholesterol level, lower your blood pressure, improve your glucose tolerance (glucose intolerance is a pre-diabetes condition). This may help prevent or delay the onset of diabetes - a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke.

The TLC Diet:

The goal of a fat-controlled diet is to reduce your blood cholesterol. This lowers your risk of heart attack or stroke. The diet will help you cut down on total calories and calories from fat and saturated fat. These fats are often found in meat and high-fat dairy products which may also contain unhealthy trans fat. A fat-controlled diet will also help lower your dietary cholesterol intake.

Your healthcare provider may prescribe the Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes (TLC) diet. It is a three-part programme that uses diet (low in saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium), physical activity and weight management to help lower your high blood pressure.

Quitting Smoking

Smoking is unhealthy for everyone! And is an even bigger risk for people who have coronary disease. In fact, if you resume smoking after having had a heart attack, your chances of having a second one double. If you smoke, get help to quit and be sure to avoid second-hand smoke.

Limiting Alcohol

If you didn’t drink alcohol before your heart attack, don’t start drinking too much alcohol can lead to major health problems. These include stroke, raised blood pressure and heart failure. It can also contribute to obesity and high triglyceride levels.

Managing Angina

Many people don’t have chest pain after a heart attack. But you may. It will typically happen during or right after physical activity, intense emotion or eating a heavy meal. If you are having any chest pain, tell your doctor. There are exercises and medications that can help ease or prevent the pain.

Being Physically Active

Most people who recover from a heart attack can be physically active with no trouble. In fact, physical activity is good for you. It’s recommended for most heart attack survivors.

But it is important to talk to your healthcare provider to find out how much and what type of activity is right for you. He or she will likely give you some special exercise tests. These tests use a treadmill, exercise bicycle or steps to help find the amount of physical activity that is safe for you.

One of the best things you can do for yourself is to join a cardiac rehabilitation program. Cardiac rehab can do a lot to speed your recovery and reduce your chances of future heart problems. All the skills you need to get and stay healthy are offered in one place. And medical staff is on hand at all times for your safety.

During your rehab program, you will be monitored by your healthcare professional. He or she will watch for changes in your symptoms while you exercise. Exercise may involve a treadmill bike, rowing machine or walk/ jog track.

A safe exercise program will help you become stronger over time. Start slowing. You will gradually be able to move into a more intense program that lets you work together and harder.

Resuming Sexual Activity

You may be worried about returning to normal sexual activity. Most people can continue their same pattern of sexual activity a few weeks after they recover from a heart attack. If you or your sexual partner have concerns, talk to your healthcare provider. He or she may prescribe some medication if you experience chest pain during or after sex.