T.J. Samson | Destination Health | October 2019

October 2019 7 Wellness CHECK IN COMPLETE CARDIAC REHAB 3 See your doctor for all recommended follow-up appointments to be sure your recovery is progressing well and your heart is healing as it should. Heart attack How to avoid a repeat event You’ve survived a heart attack. So what’s your next step toward making a full recovery? Do- ing all that you can to prevent a second attack. While most people live full, active lives after a heart attack, once you’ve had one, your chances of having another one go up. In fact, about 20% of people 45 and older have a repeat heart attack within five years after their first. But these five steps can help you beat those odds and protect your heart. This medically supervised program includes exer- cise training to strengthen your heart, plus coun- seling to help you adopt a heart-healthy lifestyle and to ease the stress of living with heart disease. If your doctor hasn’t already recommended rehab to you, ask to be referred to a program. THINK BIG PICTURE 2 MIND YOUR HEART MEDICINE Take it precisely as prescribed. Otherwise, it may not work. If you take several drugs, it can be easy to forget a dose—and every one counts. Try a pill organizer, or create a medicine calendar and note every time you take a dose. See your doctor for all recommended follow- up appointments to be sure your recovery is progressing well and your heart is healing as it should. Survivors who skip follow-up visits face a high risk of a hospital readmission. 5 Work with your doctor to control other condi- tions that make a heart attack more likely, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabe- tes. Your heart will thank you. Sources: American Heart Association; National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute MAKE HEART-HEALTHY CHANGES 4 Even when you take heart medicine as directed, healthy habits are still a must. Stick to a heart-smart diet, be physically active on a regular basis and do your best to get to—or stay at—a healthy weight. If you’re a smoker, ask your doctor to help you quit. Smoking hurts your heart as well as your lungs. 1