citizensmemorial.com 7 Life after a heart attack You’ve survived a heart attack, and now you’re on the road to recovery. You may be motivated more than ever before to improve your heart’s health and avoid another heart attack. Great news! There’s a lot you can do to get back to an active lifestyle, start feeling like yourself again and prevent more heart problems. Here are some things the American Heart Association and other experts suggest: Go to cardiac rehabilitation. Cardiac rehab helps people safely recover from heart problems like heart attacks. During rehab sessions, you will gradually get stronger as you exercise under medical supervision, and you will learn things to help keep your heart healthy going forward. Take medicines as directed. Your doctor may have prescribed medicines to help protect your heart. It’s important to take them exactly as prescribed. If you have any problems with your medicines, let your doctor know right away. Keep your follow-up appointments. You likely received a follow-up schedule when you were discharged from the hospital. These follow-up visits allow your doctor to check on how your recovery is going and help you manage your heart disease. So don’t be a stranger! Manage other conditions. Many heart attack survivors have other conditions, such as diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol, that raise their risk for further heart problems. If you have any of these conditions, follow your health team’s advice about how to control them. Adopt a few good habits. Learn about the lifestyle changes you may need to make, such as quitting smoking, eating heart-healthy foods, lowering stress and being physically active. Prioritize these changes. Mind your mood. People often experience a range of emotions after a heart attack, such as fear, anxiety and stress. Ask your friends and loved ones for support. If you go to cardiac rehab, you may meet other heart attack survivors you can talk to as well. You can also tell your doctor how you’re feeling. Speaking up is especially important if you think you might be depressed. Additional source: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Ask your doctor if cardiac rehab is right for you To learn about our cardiopulmonary rehab program, certified by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation, call 417-328-6574 or visit citizensmemorial.com.
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