Prevention

You can take steps to help prevent a heart attack or strengthen your heart after having one.

• Eat heart healthy, focusing on a diet that is rich with plant-based foods.
• Lose weight if you need to.
• Be physically active – talk with your health care team about the best program for you.
• Don't smoke. If you do, get support to quit. Ask about smoking cessation programs and treatment.
• Limit alcohol. If you do drink, men should consume no more than two drinks a day and women should have no more than one.
• Ask if you qualify for cardiac rehabilitation.
• Keep other conditions that make a heart attack more likely in check – for example, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and poorly controlled diabetes.
• Reduce stress.
• Keep up with health visits and pay attention to your body and how you feel. Talk with your care team about any issues or concerns with your medications.