Heart attack recovery – your first month

Learn about the heart attack risk factors that are relevant to you, including: 

• High blood pressure 

• High cholesterol 

• Diet 

• ​​Smoking

​Speak to your doctor about your heart-health history. They can advise you on the heart attack risk factors you need to manage. Keeping your heart healthy and ongoing management of risk factors is critical to reducing the risk of another heart event.  

Cardiac rehabilitation, also called cardiac rehab, provides personalised support, including information about: 

• Your heart condition and treatment  

• Getting back to your usual activities (for example, work, driving, having sex)  

• Changing your lifestyle to improve your heart health 

• Managing your medicines 

• Stopping smoking 

• Knowing warning signs 

• What to do in an emergency. 

Ask questions about things that worry you and get support if you feel stressed, anxious, or depressed. 

Cardiac rehabilitation can help you recover and get back to normal activities sooner. 

Find your nearest cardiac rehab program today.

There are many medicines that treat: 

• Heart attack 

• Angina 

• High blood pressure 

• High cholesterol 

• ​Other heart conditions 

Your cardiologist, along with your doctor, will decide the best medicines for you to take at home. These will help you manage your heart condition. Speak to your doctor or cardiologist to understand the medicines you need to take.

When you leave the hospital, you will only have enough medicine for a short time. You must keep taking these medicines. See your doctor for more prescriptions and discuss any concerns you have with them. 

Warning signs of a heart attack can differ. Not everyone will experience the same symptoms or have the same severity of symptoms. Some people have mild pain, while others have more severe pain.

Some heart attacks strike suddenly. Many people have warning signs and symptoms, hours, days, or weeks in advance.

It’s important to know: 

1. The warning signs and symptoms of a heart attack  

2. What to do if you or someone close to you is having a heart attack.  

If you’re alone and think you’re having a heart attack, call triple zero (000) immediately. 

Don’t wait, every minute counts – recognising symptoms and acting quickly by calling triple zero (000) can reduce damage to your heart and save your life.  

Regular doctor visits are essential to monitor your heart health and medicines. You can also use these visits to discuss any questions you have about your medicines, emotional health, or recovery in general. They’re there to help, so don’t be afraid to talk about any concerns.