After a Heart Attack: Your Recovery Guide

A heart attack happens when a blocked artery stops blood flow to part of your heart muscle. Cardiac rehab, a slow return to activity, and daily medicines help your heart heal and prevent another heart attack.

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Join cardiac rehab

Cardiac rehab is a supervised exercise and teaching program for your heart.
It helps you live longer and stay out of the hospital.
Ask your care team to sign you up before you go home.

Build up activity slowly

Walk every day, adding a few minutes at a time.
Do not lift, push, or pull heavy things until your provider says it is safe.
Stop and rest if you have chest pain, shortness of breath, or dizziness.
Ask when you can drive, work, and have sex. Sex is usually safe once you climb 2 flights of stairs without symptoms.

Take your heart medicines

Aspirin and a second anti-clot pill keep your stent open. Never stop them unless your heart doctor says so.
A beta blocker eases your heart's work. A statin lowers cholesterol. An ACE inhibitor protects your heart muscle.
Take each one every day, even when you feel well.

Use nitroglycerin for chest pain

Stop, sit, and place 1 tablet under your tongue.
Never use it with sildenafil, tadalafil, or vardenafil.

Care for your feelings

Sadness is common. Tell your care team if it lasts 2 weeks or more.

Call your provider today if you have

Bleeding gums, nosebleeds, or new bruises
More shortness of breath, weight gain, or swollen feet
Dizziness or a cough that will not go away
Sadness lasting 2 weeks or more

Call 911 or your local emergency number if you have

Chest pain not better 5 minutes after the first nitroglycerin
New or worse chest pain, or chest pain at rest
Black, sticky stool or vomiting blood
Fainting, severe trouble breathing, or thoughts of hurting yourself

This handout supports, not replaces, advice from your own nurse or doctor.

For nurses and nursing students: the teaching guide behind this handout →