If you are having any symptoms or have any questions, please call 811 to speak with a registered nurse 24 hours a day.

If you have had a heart attack, you may feel worried and overwhelmed. Your healthcare provider is an important resource during this time, so be sure to contact them for information and advice. This handout answers some of the basic questions you may have.

How soon can I return to my regular activities?

This will depend on the condition of your heart and what activities you usually do. It’s important to start slowly to give your heart a chance to heal. Your healthcare provider will talk to you about what activities you can do and when you can start doing them again.

Don’t return to any kind of exercise without contacting your healthcare provider first. It is also important to enroll in a cardiac rehabilitation program so that your heart rate, the rhythm of your heart and your blood pressure can be monitored as you exercise.

Exercise alert!

Contact your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms during exercise or activities:

• Shortness of breath for more than about 10 minutes
• Chest pain or pain in your arms, neck, jaw or stomach
• Dizzy spells
• Pale or splotchy skin
• Very fast heart beat or an irregular heart beat
• Cold sweats
• Nausea and vomiting
• Weakness or fainting
• Swelling or pain in your legs

When can I go back to work?

The amount of time you are off from work will depend on the condition of your heart and how strenuous or stressful your work is. You may have to make some changes in how you do your job. If your job is too hard on your heart, you may have to change jobs, at least for a short time.

Can I have sex?

Talk to your healthcare provider about when you can safely have sex again.  Most people can safely have sex 2 to 8 weeks after heart attack or heart surgery. As with other types of activity, you may need to start out slowly. Contact your healthcare provider if you have any concerns.

Recognize symptoms

If you have had a heart attack, you are at higher risk of heart problems. Seek emergency medical assistance if you have any of the following symptoms:

• Chest pain, tightness, pressure or pain in your arms, neck, jaw, or stomach
• Shortness of breath
• Dizziness, feeling like you are going to faint
• Pale, sweaty skin
• Very fast or irregular heartbeat
• Nausea and vomiting
• Swelling or pain in your legs
• Sudden, overwhelming fatigue

What else can I do to help keep my heart as healthy as possible?

There are steps you can take to speed your recovery and to prevent future heart problems. These steps are called “secondary prevention.” First, talk to your healthcare provider to understand the type of heart disease you have. Your healthcare provider will explain your risk factors and tell you how to prevent more damage to your heart. The following are some basic tips for a heart‑healthy lifestyle.

Stop smoking. Tobacco use is a major risk factor for heart disease. It damages the walls of the blood vessels, reduces your blood’s ability to carry oxygen to other organs (such as the heart) and causes blood to clot more easily. Nicotine also raises your blood pressure. If you smoke, ask your healthcare provider to help you make a plan to quit.

In addition to not smoking, try to avoid second-hand smoke. Second-hand smoke is a combination of the smoke that smokers exhale and the smoke that comes from the burning end of a cigarette.

Control your blood pressure. High blood pressure puts a strain on your heart and blood vessels. Your healthcare provider will talk to you about ways to control your blood pressure, such as exercising, eating a diet that’s low in salt, and losing weight if you are overweight. Your healthcare provider may also prescribe one or more medicines to help control your blood pressure. It is important to take medicine just the way your healthcare provider tells you to.

Control your cholesterol levels. Too much cholesterol in your blood can raise your risk of having a heart attack. Eat a heart-healthy diet, and talk to your healthcare provider about developing an exercise program to keep your “bad” (LDL) cholesterol low and your “good” (HDL) cholesterol high. If your bad cholesterol is high, your healthcare provider may prescribe medicines to help lower it.

Check for diabetes. Diabetes increases your risk of heart attack and stroke. Talk to your healthcare provider about getting screened for diabetes. If you have diabetes, talk to your healthcare provider to develop a plan for keeping it under control.

Exercise. Regular aerobic exercise can make your heart stronger. Examples of aerobic exercise include walking, jogging, running, bicycling and swimming. Exercise helps your heart pump more blood with each heartbeat and deliver more oxygen to your body. It can lower your cholesterol level and blood pressure, and it relieves stress.

A combination of regular exercise and a healthy diet can also help you lose weight. If you are overweight, losing just 10% of your body weight can lower your risk of diabetes and heart disease.

Eat a heart-healthy diet. The food you eat affects how well your blood flows through your heart and arteries. A diet that is high in “bad” fats (saturated and trans fats) can gradually cause buildup (plaque) in your arteries. This buildup slows the blood flow to your heart. It can eventually block your arteries.

Add foods to your diet that are low in cholesterol and saturated fats. Eat more fruits and vegetables. Eat less red meat and fewer high-fat dairy products. Cut down on salt, and avoid fried and processed foods.

Control your stress level. Depression, anxiety and stress may increase your risk of heart problems. Ask your healthcare provider for information about healthy ways to cope with your emotions and reduce your stress level.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada
Nova Scotia Toll free 1-800-423-4432
Prince Edward Island: (902) 892-7441

Canadian Heart and Stroke Foundation Website at:
http://www.heartandstroke.ca/