Dr. JD Schwalm
Cardiologist at Hamilton Health Sciences
Appropriate care and support following a heart attack can drastically reduce the risk of having another cardiac event.
Did you know that, on average, men are diagnosed with heart disease about 10 years earlier than women and are twice as likely to have a heart attack?
A heart attack is most often caused by a buildup of plaque (a mix of fat and cholesterol) inside the arteries, which can block blood flow to the heart muscle. One third of Canadian men have unhealthy cholesterol levels, placing them at a greater risk of having a heart attack.
If you’ve had a heart attack, high-quality health care in the days, weeks, and months that follow can lower the risk of complications and help prevent another cardiac event. Support from family and friends is also important, and changes to your daily routine may be needed to support your recovery.
“Good care during the first year after a heart attack is crucial to optimizing recovery,” says Dr. JD Schwalm, a cardiologist at Hamilton Health Sciences. “By making lifestyle changes and taking medications as prescribed, patients can reduce the risk of having another heart attack by as much as 80 per cent.”
You may feel worried, confused, or overwhelmed at times, but taking your recovery step by step will help you feel more in control and return to doing the things you enjoy.
Following are some steps you can take to recover well from a heart attack:
Know your care plan
Review your care plan with your health care team before you leave the hospital. Your care plan can help you navigate important steps once you return home.
Recognize emergency warning signs
Signs that you need to call 911 include severe chest pain or discomfort; sudden shortness of breath; fainting or dizziness; sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or leg; and unexplained swelling in the legs or feet.
Attend cardiac rehabilitation
Cardiac rehabilitation is key to a good recovery and includes exercise training, education on heart-healthy living, and counselling.
Ask for support
Your family and friends can help by supporting your care plan, watching for warning signs, encouraging a healthy lifestyle, and listening when you want to talk.
Take your medications
Most people need to take several medications, often for life, to help prevent another heart attack. Be sure to talk to your doctor before stopping any cardiac medications.
Go to your appointments
Your family doctor or nurse practitioner will provide important long-term follow-up care to support your physical and emotional well-being after a heart attack.
Have your tests
Your health care team may arrange tests before you leave the hospital and after you’re home to check your recovery and guide your ongoing care.
Make healthy lifestyle choices
A healthy lifestyle helps your recovery. You may need to change your daily routine to include more exercise, regular blood pressure checks, heart-healthy foods, or vaccinations, or to quit smoking or vaping.
Communicate with your health care team
Good communication with your health care team supports your recovery.
Recovery after a heart attack shouldn’t be faced alone. Partners, family members, and caregivers can help support your care plan and make recovery feel more manageable.
The Canadian Cardiovascular Society has developed a guide for patients and carers to support recovery and help prevent future heart attacks after being discharged from the hospital. “Your Health after a Heart Attack” is available in English and French. It includes a care tracker along with links to expert-approved resources.
Learning all you can about heart attack recovery helps put you in control. For more information from the Canadian Cardiovascular Society on care after a heart attack, visit ccs.ca/guidelines/ccs-secondary-prevention-pathway.