Half of heart attack survivors face hidden shock and depression, and people who constantly suffer from these symptoms are approximately 1.5 times more likely to have a second heart attack.
Studies in the United States show that 1 in 5 people who have a heart attack are readmitted to the hospital for a second attack within 5 years.
Many cardiologists believe that by taking the correct proactive steps, a second heart attack can be easily prevented. What are these proactive steps?
Take your medications
A combination of medications is prescribed for anyone having a heart attack. A consultant cardiologist at St Bartholomew’s Hospital in the United Kingdom explains to the British newspaper The Telegraph that the minimum usually consists of a statin medication (a lipid-lowering medication); two blood thinners (one of which is aspirin), a beta blocker, and an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (a medicine that reduces the activity of enzyme-regulating hormones that can narrow the arteries); And another medicine to protect the stomach from aspirin.
“They may need other medications if their cholesterol is not under control or if their blood pressure is still high,” says Riaz Patel, a consultant cardiologist and clinical academic at University College London, UK. “But with an uncomplicated heart attack, the patient will still be taking five or six medications, and while they can stop taking one or two of them after a year, aspirin and statins will continue for life.”
Exercise under medical supervision
Patel says that while it was previously assumed that heart attack survivors would need to remain relatively inactive for the rest of their lives, in recent decades cardiologists have realized just the opposite, and that gradually rebuilding the body’s ability to exercise under the supervision of a doctor, whether aerobic exercise such as swimming or running, or strength training, can be very beneficial.
Rehabilitation of the body includes exercising tailored to what suits each patient’s heart. Recommended exercises can range from raising the leg in a seated position and moving the arms to increase blood flow, to walking in the hallways and light walking, before moving on to riding a stationary bike several times a week and jogging.
Quit smoking
Quitting smoking after a heart attack may seem intuitive, but with nicotine addiction, many people still find it very difficult to quit.
Cindy Godard, senior cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation, points out that quitting smoking is one of the most impactful steps.
Follow a heart-healthy diet
Patel points out that a person’s risk of having a second heart attack arises not only from a high level of harmful cholesterol in the blood, but also from other harmful biological processes within the blood vessels.
One of the most important lifestyle changes that makes a difference in reducing oxidative stress and persistent inflammation is following a diet closer to the Mediterranean diet, limiting salt, refined carbohydrates, and saturated fats, while giving priority to whole foods.
Take the recommended vaccines
People who have already had a heart attack are more at risk of seasonal respiratory infections such as influenza and Covid-19, as well as other infections in later life.
“Influenza and infectious diseases in general increase the risk of a heart attack because of the inflammation caused by the infection,” Patel says.
Adopt the right mindset
Patel points out that having a heart attack does not necessarily mean that a subsequent heart attack or stroke is inevitable, and he believes that it is essentially a matter of a person’s mindset and how they choose to face the rest of their life.
Patel describes preventing the next heart attack as a 20% game of treatment with medications and the like, but 80% of it depends on the patient making simple changes, from a better diet to getting more exercise and quitting smoking, that can make a big difference.