Secondary Prevention

Your risk for heart attack is tied to a lot of factors. Some things (like your age and family history) you can't control. But you do have control over many others. So if you're worried about your risk, focus on these aspects of your health.

It's already known that aspirin itself can help prevent heart attacks. What makes it so beneficial?

See how smoking damages your heart and learn several common strategies that have helped others quit.

Understand what cholesterol is, how it affects your body, and what you can do to help keep your levels in a healthy range.

Understand the health concerns of having high blood pressure and learn several strategies to help keep your blood pressure within a healthy range.

Understand that having diabetes increases your risk for heart disease and learn steps you can take to better manage your blood glucose levels, lowering your chances of having a heart attack or stroke.

Understand the relationship between unmanaged stress and heart disease and learn several useful management techniques to reduce the stress in your life.

Learn that getting regular physical activity is one of the best things people with heart disease can do to prevent another heart attack, stroke, or cardiovascular procedure, and increase their overall well-being.

People with heart disease are at an increased risk of health problems caused by excessive heat and humidity. This video describes how heat affects your heart and gives tips on how to avoid heat-related injury.

Many people who have heart disease also have problems with their teeth and gums. Researchers are trying to find out if there is a direct link between the health of your heart and the health of your mouth.

Learn which foods to choose and which to limit when eating heart healthy to reduce your risk factors for heart disease.

Small changes in what you eat can make a big difference in your heart health. Watch and learn how easy it is to improve your health by eating right.

Certain foods can make your blood pressure go too high. Watch and learn how easy it is to have delicious meals without harming your health.

Understand the potential health benefits from the Mediterranean Diet and learn what foods are included and limited in the eating pattern.

Learn tips for safely taking your heart medications as prescribed to reduce your heart disease risk factors and your risk of heart attack and stroke.

Recognize the amount of stress being overweight puts on your heart. Learn tips for choosing healthier foods and increasing your activity so you can lose weight and keep it off.

Heart disease changes many aspects of life, and heart patients often wonder if sex is still safe. This video helps viewers understand how to have a healthy, safe sex life after a diagnosis with heart disease.

American Heart Association Activity Log: Date Type of Activity Total Minutes How I felt Personal Goals © AHA

Document the time of day you eat specific meals and snacks, the type and amount of the food and beverage you consume, the number of calories and any important notes. © AHA

Most foods in the grocery store have a Nutrition Facts label and ingredient list. When you go grocery shopping, take time to read the Nutrition Facts labels on the foods you purchase. Compare the nutrients and calories in one food to those in another. The information may surprise you. Make sure you aren't buying foods high in calories, saturated fat, trans fat, sodium and added sugars! © AHA

It's very important to quit smoking, even if you gain a few pounds. The good news is that the average weight gain after quitting is less than 10 pounds. And even if you do gain a few pounds, that's not as important as saving your life — and the lives of others. When people gain weight, it's usually because they start to eat more once they quit smoking. If you watch what you eat and stay physically active, you may not gain at all! © AHA

A healthful eating plan means more than just choosing the right foods to eat. It's important to prepare foods in a healthy way. Some ways of cooking are better than others for cutting saturated fat, trans fat, sodium, added sugars and calories. At the same time, you want to maximize your nutritional benefits. © AHA

No one says that quitting tobacco is easy. But everyone says it's worth it! Quitting will reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke. It will also lower your chance of developing lung disease and cancer. Most of all, quitting can save your life and the lives of others around you. © AHA

Taking care of your heart is one of the most important things you can do in life. Planning a healthy diet and a regular physical activity program is the key to success. © AHA

Reaching and maintaining a healthy weight can be a challenge. You may have tried to lose weight before without much long-term success. Be assured, you are not alone. There is no magic weight-loss formula that works for everyone. The key is to find a plan that works for you and provides the right balance of calories and nutrition with the appropriate amounts of physical activity. © AHA

It's important to learn how to recognize how stress affects you, learn how to deal with it, and develop healthy habits to ease your stress. What is stressful to one person may not be to another. Stress can come from happy events (a new marriage, job promotion, new home) as well as unhappy events (illness, overwork, family problems). © AHA

If you smoke or vape, you have good reason to worry about its effect on your health and the health of your loved ones and others. Deciding to quit is a big step. Following through is just as important. Quitting tobacco and nicotine addiction isn't easy, but others have done it, and you can, too. © AHA

If you aren't in the habit of being physically active, you're probably being told you should start. That's because regular physical activity reduces your risk of heart disease and stroke. It also helps you reduce or manage other risk factors — high blood pressure, high cholesterol, excess weight and diabetes. But the benefits don't stop there. You may look and feel better, become stronger and more flexible, have more energy, and reduce stress and tension. © AHA

Use recipes with ingredients that are low in saturated fat, sodium and added sugar and rework your favorite recipes with healthier substitutions to cook more healthful meals. There's a lot you can do when you cook and bake to control the amount of saturated and trans fats, sodium and added sugar in your diet. In other words, you can have your cake and eat it, too! © AHA

The American Heart Association recommends a healthy eating pattern that emphasizes vegetables, fruits and whole grains. It includes skinless poultry, fish and legumes (beans, peas and lentils); nontropical vegetable oils; and nuts and seeds. Limit your intake of sodium, sweets, sugar-sweetened beverages and red and processed meats. Everything you eat and drink is part of your diet pattern. Make healthy choices today and they'll add up to healthier tomorrows for you! © AHA

If your doctor has suggested that you begin a physical activity program, follow that advice. The American Heart Association recommends that adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity each week. People who don't get enough physical activity are much more likely to develop health problems. © AHA

You may have been told by your health care professional to reduce the sodium, or salt, in your diet. Most people eat too much sodium, often without knowing it. Reducing the amount of sodium in your diet can help you lower or avoid high blood pressure.

People who are overweight or obese are more likely to develop heart disease and stroke, even if they have no other risk factors. Obesity is unhealthy because excess weight puts more strain on your heart. It can raise blood pressure and cholesterol and can lead to diabetes. Losing weight is one of the best ways to reduce your risk of heart problems and other diseases. © AHA

Most foods in the grocery store have a nutrition facts label and list of ingredients. When you go grocery shopping, take the time to read the nutrition facts labels on the foods you purchase. Compare nutrients and calories in one food to those in another. The information may surprise you. Make sure you aren't buying foods high in calories, saturated and trans fats, sodium and added sugars! © AHA

Learn about the 3 stages of cardiac rehabilitation and how each is important to your journey of living a heart healthy lifestyle.

Learn about the different kinds of exercises your cardiac care team may prescribe for you as you recover, and how your progress can be monitored.

Recognize that you don't have to go through cardiac rehabilitation alone and learn who will be available to support you along the way.

Understand that by identifying your risk factors for heart disease and making lifestyle changes, you can improve the health of your heart and prevent further damage.

Recognize the importance of setting healthy lifestyle change goals that are doable for you. Learn about making your goals SMART; specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely.

Understand that following your exercise plan is key in making sure you are exercising safely and are benefiting the health of your heart. Learn how to monitor your heart rate to ensure you are exercising within your target range.

Learn tips for shopping in the supermarket and for using the resources available to help you fill your cart with heart healthy foods.

Understand what is included on the nutrition facts food label and how to use that information to help you make heart healthy choices now, and in the future.

Learn how to use the resources available to you to make dining out an enjoyable and heart healthy experience.

Cardiac rehabilitation is a medically supervised program designed to improve your heart health after heart problems or surgery. It can take place at an outpatient clinic or in a hospital rehab center. © AHA

Use this checklist when touring a rehab facility to help you decide if the facility is right for you. © AHA

Learn about the symptoms of a heart attack in women.

Many people don't realize that women and men often experience heart attack differently. We tend to think of a heart attack as a dramatic, chest-clutching event. But for many women, the signs are more subtle. Some women may mistake them for symptoms of heartburn, the flu, or aging. This can be dangerous.

Learn how hormone replacement therapy affects the risk of heart disease, breast cancer, and other conditions.

Watch this to learn about the symptoms of heart attack in women and what to do if you experience them.

Learn how stress and depression can affect the risk of heart disease in women.

Learn why quitting smoking is the most important lifestyle change you can make to protect your heart, and your overall health.

Learn how managing your weight, gaining control of your diabetes and exercising regularly can reduce the risk factors that lead to heart disease.

Learn what certain medications do to help reduce heart disease risk factors, and ways to remember when to take your medications.

A weekly glucose tracker that includes the time of day a reading takes place and the MG/DL at that time. © AHA

In any treatment plan, your health care professional will likely ask you to start with lifestyle changes first, but over time you may also need medications to reach your targets.

If you have type 2 diabetes, learning about your higher risk for heart disease and stroke is one of the best ways you can take care of yourself.

Knowing five numbers can give you a more accurate picture of your health. At your next appointment, talk to your doctor about how to keep them in target range to lower your risk of heart disease and stroke.

A heart-healthy recipe for tuna melt with sweet potato chips.

A heart-healthy recipe for Persian salad.

A heart-healthy recipe for zucchini salad.

A healthy recipe for Oatmeal Pumpkin Pie.

A healthy recipe for BBQ Skillet Chicken.

A healthy recipe for Mushroom Meatloaf.