BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuHeart attack – dischargeMyocardial infarction - discharge; MI - discharge; Coronary event - discharge; Infarct - discharge; Acute coronary syndrome - discharge; ACS - dischargeA heart attack occurs when blood flow to a part of your heart is blocked long enough that part of the heart muscle is damaged or dies. This article discusses what you need to do to take care of yourself after you leave the hospital.Related video goes here for no-HTML5 browsersWhen You're in the HospitalYou were in the hospital because you had a heart attack. A heart attack occurs when blood flow to a part of your heart is blocked long enough that part of the heart muscle is damaged or dies.Heart attackMost heart attacks are caused by a blood clot that blocks one of the coronary arteries. The coronary arteries bring blood and oxygen to the heart. ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Previous imagePlay SlideshowStop SlideshowNext image / What to Expect at HomeYou may feel sad. You may feel anxious and as though you have to be very careful about what you do. All of these feelings are normal. They go away for most people after 2 or 3 weeks. You may also feel tired when you leave the hospital to go home.ActivityYou should know the signs and symptoms of angina.You may feel pressure, squeezing, burning, or tightness in your chest. You may also notice these symptoms in your arms, shoulders, neck, jaw, throat, or back. Some people also feel discomfort in their back, shoulders, and stomach area. You may have indigestion or feel sick to your stomach. You may feel tired and be short of breath, sweaty, lightheaded, or weak. You may have angina during physical activity, such as climbing stairs or walking uphill, lifting, sexual activity, or when you are out in cold weather. It can also happen when you are resting or it can wake you up when you are sleeping.AnginaAngina is a type of chest discomfort or pain due to poor blood flow through the blood vessels (coronary vessels) of the heart muscle (myocardium). T...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Know how to treat your chest pain when it happens. Talk with your health care provider about what to do.How to treat your chest pain when it ha...Angina is a type of chest discomfort due to poor blood flow through the blood vessels of the heart muscle. This article discusses how to care for yo...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Take it easy for the first 4 to 6 weeks after your heart attack.Avoid heavy lifting. Get some help with household chores if you can. Take 30 to 60 minutes to rest in the afternoon for first 4 to 6 weeks. Try to go to bed early and get plenty of sleep. Before starting to exercise, your provider may have you do an exercise test and recommend an exercise plan. This may happen before you leave the hospital or soon afterward. Do not change your exercise plan before talking with your provider. Starting to exerciseA heart attack occurs when blood flow to a part of your heart is blocked long enough that part of the heart muscle is damaged or dies. Starting a re...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Your provider may refer you to cardiac rehabilitation program. There, you will learn how to slowly increase your exercise and how to take care of your heart disease.You should be able to talk comfortably when you are doing any activity, such as walking, setting the table, and doing laundry. If you cannot, stop the activity.Ask your provider about when you can return to work. Expect to be away from work for at least a week.Talk to your provider before engaging in sexual activity. Ask your provider when it is OK to start again. Do not take Viagra, Levitra, Cialis or any herbal remedy for erection problems without checking with your provider first.How long you will have to wait to return to your normal activities will depend on:Your physical condition before your heart attack The size of your heart attack If you had complications The overall speed of your recoveryDiet and LifestyleDo not drink any alcohol for at least 2 weeks. Ask your provider when you may start. Limit how much you drink. Women should have only 1 drink a day, and men should have no more than 2 a day. Try to drink alcohol only when you are eating.If you smoke, stop. Ask your provider for help quitting if you need it. Do not let anybody smoke in your home, since second-hand smoke can harm you. Try to stay away from things that are stressful for you. If you are feeling stressed all the time, or if you are feeling very sad, talk with your provider. They can refer you to a counselor.Learn more about what you should eat to make your heart and blood vessels healthier.Avoid salty foods. SaltyToo much sodium in your diet can be bad for you. If you have high blood pressure or heart failure, you may be asked to limit the amount of salt (whi...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Stay away from fast food restaurants. Fast foodMany fast foods are high in calories, fat, salt, and sugar. Use these tips to guide you in making healthier choices when eating in a fast food resta...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Taking Your Heart MedicinesHave your prescriptions filled before you go home. It is very important that you take your medicines the way your provider told you to. Do not take any other medicines or herbal supplements without asking your provider first if they are safe for you.Take your medicines with water. Do not take them with grapefruit juice, since it may change how your body absorbs certain medicines. Ask your provider or pharmacist for more information about this.The medicines below are given to most people after they have had a heart attack. Sometimes there is a reason they may not be safe to take, though. These medicines help prevent another heart attack. Talk with your provider if you are not already on any of these medicines:Antiplatelets medicines (blood thinners), such as aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix), warfarin (Coumadin), prasugrel (Efient), or ticagrelor (Brilinta) to help keep your blood from clotting. AspirinCurrent guidelines recommend that people with coronary artery disease (CAD) receive antiplatelet therapy with either aspirin or clopidogrel. Aspirin ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article ClopidogrelPlatelets are small cells in your blood that your body uses to form clots and stop bleeding. If you have too many platelets or your platelets stick ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article WarfarinWarfarin is a medicine that makes your blood less likely to form clots. It is important that you take warfarin exactly as you have been told. Chang...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Beta-blockers and ACE inhibitor medicines to help protect your heart. ACE inhibitorAngiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors are medicines. They treat heart, blood vessel, and kidney problems.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Statins or other drugs to lower your cholesterol. Statins or other drugs to lower your ch...Your body needs cholesterol to work properly. But extra cholesterol in your blood causes deposits to build up on the inside walls of your blood vess...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Do not suddenly stop taking these medicines for your heart. Do not stop taking medicines for your diabetes, high blood pressure, or any other medical conditions you may have without talking with your provider first.If you are taking a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin), you may need to have extra blood tests on a regular basis to make sure your dose is correct.When to Call the DoctorContact your provider if you feel:Pain, pressure, tightness, or heaviness in your chest, arm, neck, or jaw Shortness of breath Gas pains or indigestion Numbness in your arms Sweaty, or if you lose color LightheadedChanges in your angina may mean your heart disease is getting worse. Contact your provider if your angina:Becomes stronger Happens more often Lasts longer Occurs when you are not active or when you are resting Medicines do not help ease your symptoms as well as they used toOpen ReferencesReferencesAmsterdam EA, Wenger NK, Brindis RG, et al. 2014 AHA/ACC guideline for the management of patients with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndromes: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on practice guidelines. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2014;64(24):e139-e228. PMID: 25260718 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25260718/.Bohula EA, Morrow DA. ST-elevation myocardial infarction: management. In: Libby P, Bonow RO, Mann DL, Tomaselli GF, Bhatt DL, Solomon SD, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 12th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 38..Fihn SD, Blankenship JC, Alexander KP, et al. 2014 ACC/AHA/AATS/PCNA/SCAI/STS focused update of the guideline for the diagnosis and management of patients with stable ischemic heart disease: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines, and the American Association for Thoracic Surgery, Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association, Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions, and Society of Thoracic Surgeons. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2015;149(3):e5-23. PMID: 25827388 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25827388/.Giugliano RP, Braunwald E. Non-ST elevation acute coronary syndromes. In: Libby P, Bonow RO, Mann DL, Tomaselli GF, Bhatt DL, Solomon SD, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 12th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 39.Kumbhani DJ, Bhatt DL. Percutaneous coronary intervention. In: Libby P, Bonow RO, Mann DL, Tomaselli GF, Bhatt DL, Solomon SD, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 12th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 41.Morrow DA, de Lemos J. Stable ischemic heart disease. In: Libby P, Bonow RO, Mann DL, Tomaselli GF, Bhatt DL, Solomon SD, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 12th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 40.O'Gara PT, Kushner FG, Ascheim DD, et al. 2013 ACCF/AHA guideline for the management of ST-elevation myocardial infarction: executive summary: a report of the American College of Cardiology Foundation/American Heart Association Task Force on practice guidelines. Circulation. 2013;127(4):529-555. PMID: 23247303 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23247303/.AllVideoImagesTogAcute MI - illustration A heart attack or acute myocardial infarction (MI) occurs when one of the arteries that supplies the heart muscle becomes blocked. Blockage may be caused by spasm of the artery or by atherosclerosis with acute clot formation. The blockage results in damaged tissue and a permanent loss of contraction of this portion of the heart muscle.Acute MIillustrationAcute MI - illustration A heart attack or acute myocardial infarction (MI) occurs when one of the arteries that supplies the heart muscle becomes blocked. Blockage may be caused by spasm of the artery or by atherosclerosis with acute clot formation. The blockage results in damaged tissue and a permanent loss of contraction of this portion of the heart muscle.Acute MIillustrationA Closer Look Heart attack and acute coronary syndrome - InDepth(In-Depth)Menopause - InDepth(In-Depth)Migraine headaches - InDepth(In-Depth)Hypothyroidism - InDepth(In-Depth)Gallstones and gallbladder disease - InDepth(In-Depth)Smoking - InDepth(In-Depth)Pneumonia - InDepth(In-Depth)Pelvic inflammatory disease(Alt. Medicine)Burns(Alt. Medicine)Hodgkin disease - InDepth(In-Depth)Related Information Heart bypass surgery(Surgery)Angioplasty and stent placement - carotid artery(Surgery)Heart bypass surgery - minimally invasive(Surgery)Ventricular assist device(Surgery)Cardiac ablation procedures (Surgery)Heart pacemaker(Surgery)Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator(Surgery)Heart attack(Condition)Unstable angina(Condition)High blood cholesterol levels(Condition)Deep vein thrombosis - discharge(Discharge)ACE inhibitors(Self-Care)Angina - when you have chest pain(Self-Care)Angina - discharge(Discharge)Heart attack – discharge(Discharge)Angioplasty and stent - heart - discharge (Discharge)Aspirin and heart disease(Self-Care)Cholesterol - drug treatment(Self-Care)Being active when you have heart disease(Self-Care)Butter, margarine, and cooking oils(Self-Care)Coronary artery disease - InDepth(In-Depth)Heart attack and acute coronary syndrome - InDepth(In-Depth)Heart-healthy diet - InDepth(In-Depth) Review Date: 8/16/2022 Reviewed By: Michael A. Chen, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington Medical School, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. © 1997- All rights reserved. A.D.A.M. content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.Content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.
Heart attack – dischargeMyocardial infarction - discharge; MI - discharge; Coronary event - discharge; Infarct - discharge; Acute coronary syndrome - discharge; ACS - dischargeA heart attack occurs when blood flow to a part of your heart is blocked long enough that part of the heart muscle is damaged or dies. This article discusses what you need to do to take care of yourself after you leave the hospital.Related video goes here for no-HTML5 browsersWhen You're in the HospitalYou were in the hospital because you had a heart attack. A heart attack occurs when blood flow to a part of your heart is blocked long enough that part of the heart muscle is damaged or dies.Heart attackMost heart attacks are caused by a blood clot that blocks one of the coronary arteries. The coronary arteries bring blood and oxygen to the heart. ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Previous imagePlay SlideshowStop SlideshowNext image / What to Expect at HomeYou may feel sad. You may feel anxious and as though you have to be very careful about what you do. All of these feelings are normal. They go away for most people after 2 or 3 weeks. You may also feel tired when you leave the hospital to go home.ActivityYou should know the signs and symptoms of angina.You may feel pressure, squeezing, burning, or tightness in your chest. You may also notice these symptoms in your arms, shoulders, neck, jaw, throat, or back. Some people also feel discomfort in their back, shoulders, and stomach area. You may have indigestion or feel sick to your stomach. You may feel tired and be short of breath, sweaty, lightheaded, or weak. You may have angina during physical activity, such as climbing stairs or walking uphill, lifting, sexual activity, or when you are out in cold weather. It can also happen when you are resting or it can wake you up when you are sleeping.AnginaAngina is a type of chest discomfort or pain due to poor blood flow through the blood vessels (coronary vessels) of the heart muscle (myocardium). T...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Know how to treat your chest pain when it happens. Talk with your health care provider about what to do.How to treat your chest pain when it ha...Angina is a type of chest discomfort due to poor blood flow through the blood vessels of the heart muscle. This article discusses how to care for yo...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Take it easy for the first 4 to 6 weeks after your heart attack.Avoid heavy lifting. Get some help with household chores if you can. Take 30 to 60 minutes to rest in the afternoon for first 4 to 6 weeks. Try to go to bed early and get plenty of sleep. Before starting to exercise, your provider may have you do an exercise test and recommend an exercise plan. This may happen before you leave the hospital or soon afterward. Do not change your exercise plan before talking with your provider. Starting to exerciseA heart attack occurs when blood flow to a part of your heart is blocked long enough that part of the heart muscle is damaged or dies. Starting a re...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Your provider may refer you to cardiac rehabilitation program. There, you will learn how to slowly increase your exercise and how to take care of your heart disease.You should be able to talk comfortably when you are doing any activity, such as walking, setting the table, and doing laundry. If you cannot, stop the activity.Ask your provider about when you can return to work. Expect to be away from work for at least a week.Talk to your provider before engaging in sexual activity. Ask your provider when it is OK to start again. Do not take Viagra, Levitra, Cialis or any herbal remedy for erection problems without checking with your provider first.How long you will have to wait to return to your normal activities will depend on:Your physical condition before your heart attack The size of your heart attack If you had complications The overall speed of your recoveryDiet and LifestyleDo not drink any alcohol for at least 2 weeks. Ask your provider when you may start. Limit how much you drink. Women should have only 1 drink a day, and men should have no more than 2 a day. Try to drink alcohol only when you are eating.If you smoke, stop. Ask your provider for help quitting if you need it. Do not let anybody smoke in your home, since second-hand smoke can harm you. Try to stay away from things that are stressful for you. If you are feeling stressed all the time, or if you are feeling very sad, talk with your provider. They can refer you to a counselor.Learn more about what you should eat to make your heart and blood vessels healthier.Avoid salty foods. SaltyToo much sodium in your diet can be bad for you. If you have high blood pressure or heart failure, you may be asked to limit the amount of salt (whi...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Stay away from fast food restaurants. Fast foodMany fast foods are high in calories, fat, salt, and sugar. Use these tips to guide you in making healthier choices when eating in a fast food resta...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Taking Your Heart MedicinesHave your prescriptions filled before you go home. It is very important that you take your medicines the way your provider told you to. Do not take any other medicines or herbal supplements without asking your provider first if they are safe for you.Take your medicines with water. Do not take them with grapefruit juice, since it may change how your body absorbs certain medicines. Ask your provider or pharmacist for more information about this.The medicines below are given to most people after they have had a heart attack. Sometimes there is a reason they may not be safe to take, though. These medicines help prevent another heart attack. Talk with your provider if you are not already on any of these medicines:Antiplatelets medicines (blood thinners), such as aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix), warfarin (Coumadin), prasugrel (Efient), or ticagrelor (Brilinta) to help keep your blood from clotting. AspirinCurrent guidelines recommend that people with coronary artery disease (CAD) receive antiplatelet therapy with either aspirin or clopidogrel. Aspirin ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article ClopidogrelPlatelets are small cells in your blood that your body uses to form clots and stop bleeding. If you have too many platelets or your platelets stick ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article WarfarinWarfarin is a medicine that makes your blood less likely to form clots. It is important that you take warfarin exactly as you have been told. Chang...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Beta-blockers and ACE inhibitor medicines to help protect your heart. ACE inhibitorAngiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors are medicines. They treat heart, blood vessel, and kidney problems.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Statins or other drugs to lower your cholesterol. Statins or other drugs to lower your ch...Your body needs cholesterol to work properly. But extra cholesterol in your blood causes deposits to build up on the inside walls of your blood vess...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Do not suddenly stop taking these medicines for your heart. Do not stop taking medicines for your diabetes, high blood pressure, or any other medical conditions you may have without talking with your provider first.If you are taking a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin), you may need to have extra blood tests on a regular basis to make sure your dose is correct.When to Call the DoctorContact your provider if you feel:Pain, pressure, tightness, or heaviness in your chest, arm, neck, or jaw Shortness of breath Gas pains or indigestion Numbness in your arms Sweaty, or if you lose color LightheadedChanges in your angina may mean your heart disease is getting worse. Contact your provider if your angina:Becomes stronger Happens more often Lasts longer Occurs when you are not active or when you are resting Medicines do not help ease your symptoms as well as they used toOpen ReferencesReferencesAmsterdam EA, Wenger NK, Brindis RG, et al. 2014 AHA/ACC guideline for the management of patients with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndromes: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on practice guidelines. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2014;64(24):e139-e228. PMID: 25260718 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25260718/.Bohula EA, Morrow DA. ST-elevation myocardial infarction: management. In: Libby P, Bonow RO, Mann DL, Tomaselli GF, Bhatt DL, Solomon SD, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 12th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 38..Fihn SD, Blankenship JC, Alexander KP, et al. 2014 ACC/AHA/AATS/PCNA/SCAI/STS focused update of the guideline for the diagnosis and management of patients with stable ischemic heart disease: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines, and the American Association for Thoracic Surgery, Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association, Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions, and Society of Thoracic Surgeons. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2015;149(3):e5-23. PMID: 25827388 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25827388/.Giugliano RP, Braunwald E. Non-ST elevation acute coronary syndromes. In: Libby P, Bonow RO, Mann DL, Tomaselli GF, Bhatt DL, Solomon SD, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 12th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 39.Kumbhani DJ, Bhatt DL. Percutaneous coronary intervention. In: Libby P, Bonow RO, Mann DL, Tomaselli GF, Bhatt DL, Solomon SD, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 12th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 41.Morrow DA, de Lemos J. Stable ischemic heart disease. In: Libby P, Bonow RO, Mann DL, Tomaselli GF, Bhatt DL, Solomon SD, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 12th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 40.O'Gara PT, Kushner FG, Ascheim DD, et al. 2013 ACCF/AHA guideline for the management of ST-elevation myocardial infarction: executive summary: a report of the American College of Cardiology Foundation/American Heart Association Task Force on practice guidelines. Circulation. 2013;127(4):529-555. PMID: 23247303 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23247303/.