How to Strengthen the Heart After a Heart Attack

Heart attack is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the US. While having a heart attack was long considered a risk primarily for men, more women are prone to having a heart attack today than their gender counterparts were a decade ago. In fact, more women die of heart attack each year in the US than all cancers combined. However, just because you've had a heart attack doesn't mean you can't recover and enjoy a full life. Help yourself by learning how to strengthen the heart after a heart attack.

Instructions

Learn How to Strengthen the Heart After a Heart Attack

• 1

  Start a regular exercise routine. Exercise is one the most important things you can do to strengthen the heart after a heart attack. The heart is, after all, a muscle, and cardiovascular exercise such as cycling, jogging, tennis or even walking briskly will help your heart regain strength.

• 2

  Adhere to a heart-healthy diet by skipping refined flours (including limiting some pastas) and sugars and loading up on whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables. If rice is a staple in your house, switch to whole grain and brown rice, instead of the processed variety.

• 3

  Get your cholesterol under control by avoiding saturated fats. Your blood cholesterol and triglycerides levels should be 180 mg/dl (mg per deciliter), with 150 mg/dl being ideal. You should also strive to have HDL cholesterol (the good kind) levels of around 60 mg/dl, with a lipoprotein level of 25 mg/dl.

• 4

  Quit smoking, if you haven't already. Smoking greatly increases your risk of having a second (or third) heart attack. However, quitting almost immediately minimizes this risk.

• 5

  Limit your alcohol consumption. If you drink, opt for red wine which contains catechins that help strengthen the heart and circulation, but only in moderation. Generally, one to three glasses per day is fine.