Once you’ve had a heart attack, medical professionals will tell you that your odds of having another are pretty high unless you do something about it.
Fortunately, by paying keen attention to the 10 areas listed here, you can drastically reduce your risk of a second heart attack and live an overall healthy life.
Don’t Play Around With Your Medication
After your first heart attack, your doctor would have prescribed medications that are meant to address your heart’s health. It’s important that you stick to your regimen. If you think the medications are no longer effective, talk to your doctor. It’s never acceptable to just stop taking them, as this may affect how well your heart functions and put you at serious risk.
Walk Away From The Cigarettes
Cigarette smoking has been proven to not only affect the lungs but also damage blood vessels, impair oxygen saturation, and cause blood clots. If you’re having trouble quitting, check out all the available resources as quickly as possible.
Establish An Exercise Routine
Exercising regularly can positively influence different aspects of your health. Specifically, being physically active will strengthen your heart muscles. The ideal amount of exercise is 30-60 minutes of activity at least three days per week. Since you’re recovering from a heart attack, however, you need to get your doctor’s advice to choose the right exercise for you.
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Pay Attention To Your Cholesterol
High cholesterol levels are a risk factor for having heart trouble. While eating well and exercising will go a long way in keeping your heart healthy, other interventions might be needed. Your doctor should monitor your cholesterol levels and prescribe medication if needed.
Have a Heart-Healthy Diet
Generally, doctors will tell you to cut out unhealthy fats, excess salt, and refined sugars to help your heart. If you’re looking for a truly heart-healthy diet, though, the Mediterranean Diet could be just what you need. That diet focuses not only on reducing unhealthy foods but also on promoting a healthy heart.
Control Your Blood Sugar Levels
Studies show a strong link between diabetes and heart disease. If you have diabetes, keeping the condition in check will be integral to minimizing your risk of a heart attack. Bear in mind, however, that you can have diabetes without showing symptoms, so get your blood sugar levels checked regularly.
Cut Down On Your Drinking
It might be appealing to relax with some alcohol, but you’re not doing your heart any favors. Alcohol has been shown to stress the heart, increase blood sugar levels, and raise triglycerides. All of these factors can lead to another heart attack.
RELATED: Small Daily Habits Can Add Up To Better Heart Health
Practice Proper Stress Management
There’s no doubt that chronic stress has a significant impact on the heart. With your heart already weakened, learning how to manage stress well will be vital to preventing another incident.
Research effective stress management techniques and apply them wherever they’re needed.
Maintain A Healthy Weight
People who are overweight are more likely to have several health issues, including heart attacks. It might be difficult to maintain a healthy weight if you’re not able to exercise as well as you’d like. In that case, talk to your doctor to determine if you need any medical intervention.
Control Your Blood Pressure
High blood pressure can put a tremendous strain on your heart. Again, this can be handled through regular exercise and a proper diet, but it’s not always that simple.
Some people have other conditions that make them more predisposed to hypertension, so it’s good to have a regular check-up. Consistently high blood pressure readings may signal the need for a more thorough assessment.
The good thing about this list is that most of them are connected. As long as you tackle areas such as diet, exercise, and the right medication regimen, the other parts will fall into place.
If you’re having trouble maintaining the changes you’ve made, reach out to a friend or loved one who can offer the support you need.
