People who have already had a heart attack can do the following things to reduce the likelihood of a recurrence. Taking the same steps also reduces the risk of having a heart attack in the first place.
Stopping Smoking.
Smoking is one of the major causes of coronary heart disease and increases the risk of having a heart attack. For smokers, stopping smoking is the single most important step that people can take to help recover from a heart attack and to reduce the risk of having another heart attack. Doctors, practice nurses and the cardiac rehabilitation team can provide advice on how to give up.
Controlling high blood pressure
People who have high blood pressure are at greater risk of having a heart attack or a stroke. Over time high blood pressure can cause the heart to become less efficient. For someone with high blood pressure, even a small reduction can lower the risk of having another heart attack. The target blood pressure for the general population is below 140/85 and below 130/80 for people with diabetes. Some people are able to control their blood pressure by losing weight, doing more physical activity, and cutting down on alcohol and salt. Many other people need to takes medication as well in order to keep their blood pressure under control.
Reducing fats and blood cholesterol.
Too much cholesterol in the blood increases the chances of having a heart attack. Eating too much fat (especially saturated fat) is the most common cause of high blood cholesterol levels in the UK. Saturated fats come from fatty meats, biscuits, cakes,and full fat dairy products. Cutting these from the diet can reduce cholesterol levels. People who have had a heart attack are normally prescribed statins which reduce the blood cholesterol produced by the liver.
Eating oily fish.
Eating oily fish regularly can help to protect against coronary heart disease and also helps to improve the chances of survival after a heart attack. The British Heart Foundation advises that members of the general population should eat two portions of fish per week, one of which should be oily fish (eg salmon, trout, sardines, pilchards, mackerel and fresh tuna) whereas people who have already experienced a heart attack should aim to have two to three portions of oily fish per week.
Eating Fruit and Vegetables.
Eating a diet that contains wide range of fruit and vegetables is good for your heart. People should aim to eat at least five portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables per day.
Keeping active.
According to the British Heart Foundation, people who are not physically active are twice as likely to have a heart attack compared with active people. An exercise prgramme as part of rehabilitation can reduce the risk of dying from a heart problem. Physical activity can help to:
Moderate, rhythmic (aerobic) exercise is recommended for the heart- such as cycling, swimming, or brisk walking. People should aim to do 30 minutes of physical activity per day on at least five days per week. For those who have recently had a heart attack, it is important to start slowly and gradually build up to this level of activity over a period of time.
Keeping to a healthy weight
Keeping to a healthy weight will help lower blood pressure and reduce the workload on the heart. It will also help lower cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of developing diabetes. The best way to lose weight is by reducing calorie intake and increasing daily activity.
Alcohol
It is important to drink within sensible limits. Men should drink no more than 3 to 4 units per day, women should drink no more that two to three units per day.
Drinking more than the sensible limits does not protect the heart and can actually lead to damage to the heart muscle, high blood pressure, and other diseases.
