After A Heart Attack
What should I know before I leave the hospital after a heart attack?
It's important to talk with your doctor as you leave the hospital after a heart attack and make sure you understand exactly what he wants you to do on going home. In particular there are a number of medications that are important for all patients who have had a heart attack and have coronary disease to take when they go home. And while those must be individualized, you want to be sure that your doctor lets you know which of them are important for you to take when going home after a heart attack. For most people aspirin, a beta blocker, an ace inhibitor and a statin will be an important part of your regimen on going home after a heart attack. In some people there will be additional medications that will be equally important and that you must take regularly to get their full benefit after a heart attack. Your doctor will also give you advice about lifestyle and activity and in many cases because of the desire to get home quickly, the rush and shorter stays in the hospital, there may not be time taken to explain all of the medications you need to take and all of the activities that are beneficial for you. So make sure to spend the time as you leave to be sure you understand what to do as you go home after a heart attack.
How soon can I resume normal activity after having a heart attack?
These days many heart attacks are actually quite small. If people come to the hospital quickly, within the first hour or so after they begin to have heart attack symptoms, and we open the artery, sometimes there's hardly any damage and there is very little need for restriction on activity when you go home. However, in other circumstances, the amount of heart muscle that's damaged is larger and it's going to take some time to heal - probably four to six weeks to heal fully following a heart attack. Your doctor looking at your electrocardiograms and your blood tests will have a good estimate of how much damage has been done to the heart and when you can return to full activity.
What is the best exercise regimen after a heart attack?
The best exercise regimen after a heart attack is a gradually increasing one, an exercise regimen that you discuss with your physician, who will know how much a problem in terms of heart damage you have when you had the heart attack, and how quickly you can get back to vigorous physical activity. The best exercise regimen is also one that ends up with your doing at least 3 minutes a day, nearly every day of the week, of vigorous leisure time physical activity and exercise, because we know that will reduce your risk of having another heart attack.