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Use nicotine patches, gum, or nasal sprays instead of cigarettes " � Nicotine is the main drug found in cigarettes.Work with a counselor to find ways to make it easier to quitTake a prescription medicine to reduce cigarette cravingsGetting exercise " � Getting regular exercise can keep your heart healthy. Your doctor or nurse will suggest an exercise program that is safe for you. Most doctors recommend that people exercise 30 to 60 minutes a day, 5 or more days of the week. In your exercise program, you should include 3 main types of exercise:- "Aerobic exercise " � to raise your heart rate " � Examples of aerobic exercise include walking, swimming, and jogging.
- "Resistance training " � to make your muscles stronger " � People can use weights or exercise bands to do these exercises.
- Stretching your muscles and joints
Improving your diet " � Eating the right foods can help keep you healthy. Fruits, vegetables, and foods with fiber can help prevent heart disease and strokes (figure 1). Try to avoid eating foods that can make heart disease worse. These include "trans " � fats, which are found in many fast foods. "Saturated " � fats, which are found in red meats and many cheeses, can also worsen heart disease. If you are overweight, it's important to lose weight. Losing extra weight lowers your chance of having another heart attack.
What is cardiac rehab? " � "Cardiac rehab " � is short for "cardiac rehabilitation. " � It is a special type of care people receive after having a heart attack. In your cardiac rehab program, doctors, nurses, and other health professionals will teach you how to keep your heart healthy. This includes ways to: � �
- Exercise safely
- Improve your diet, stop smoking, and control your other health conditions
- Cope with feeling sad or worried after your heart attack
When can I have sex again? " � Having sex during the first 2 weeks after a heart attack could lead to more heart trouble. Check with your doctor about when it is safe to start having sex again. The timing will depend on the size of your heart attack, if you had problems after your heart attack, and if you still have symptoms. � �
After a heart attack, some people are less interested in sex or do not enjoy sex as much. This can be caused by certain heart medicines. It can also happen if people are worried about having a heart attack during sex. If you have problems with sex, let your doctor or nurse know. He or she might be able to treat those problems. � �
When can I drive again and return to work? " � Check with your doctor about when it is safe for you to drive again and return to work. Most people can drive again 1 week after their heart attack. Many people can return to work within 2 weeks of having a heart attack. � �
What symptoms should I watch for? " � After you have a heart attack, you should watch for chest pain or symptoms of another heart attack (figure 2). People who have a heart attack have a higher than normal chance of having another heart attack and other heart problems. � �
If you think you might be having another heart attack, call for an ambulance right away (in the US and Canada, dial 9-1-1). Do not try to get to the hospital on your own. � �
All topics are updated as new evidence becomes available and our peer review process is complete. � �
This topic retrieved from UpToDate on: Nov 04, 2014. � �
Topic 16327 Version 4.0 � �
Release: 22.8 - C22.206 � �
� � 2014 UpToDate, Inc. All rights reserved. � �
figure 1
Foods with fiber
Foods with a lot of fiber include prunes, apples, oranges, bananas, peas, green beans, kidney beans, cooked oatmeal, almonds, peanuts, and whole-wheat bread.
Graphic 79063 Version 1.0
View Originalfigure 1
Foods with fiber
Foods with a lot of fiber include prunes, apples, oranges, bananas, peas, green beans, kidney beans, cooked oatmeal, almonds, peanuts, and whole-wheat bread.
Graphic 79063 Version 1.0
View Original
figure 2
Heart attack symptoms
This picture shows the main symptoms of a heart attack. People who are having a heart attack often have only some of these symptoms. The pain, pressure, and discomfort caused by a heart attack mostly affect the left side of the body (shown in darker red) but can also affect the right. If you think you are having a heart attack, call 9-1-1 for an ambulance. Do not try to get yourself to the hospital.
Graphic 52579 Version 1.0
View Originalfigure 2
Heart attack symptoms
This picture shows the main symptoms of a heart attack. People who are having a heart attack often have only some of these symptoms. The pain, pressure, and discomfort caused by a heart attack mostly affect the left side of the body (shown in darker red) but can also affect the right. If you think you are having a heart attack, call 9-1-1 for an ambulance. Do not try to get yourself to the hospital.
Graphic 52579 Version 1.0
View Original
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� � 2014 UpToDate, Inc. All rights reserved. � �