Can I prevent another heart attack?

After having one heart attack, you're at higher risk of having another. Find out what changes you can make to reduce that risk.

You have an important role to play in your heart health. The choices you make today can lower your risk of having another heart attack.

Changes you can make to lower your risk

There are a number of factors that are known to increase your risk of coronary artery disease. Risk factors you can’t do anything about include age, ethnicity, gender, personal or family history of heart attack or stroke.

Risk factors that are within your power to change include:

• Smoking
• High cholesterol
• High blood sugar (diabetes)
• High blood pressure
• Being overweight
• Physical inactivity
• Poor nutrition 
• Poor mental health and wellbeing

Making changes to your risk factors can slow or stop the damage to your arteries and lower your risk of having another heart attack.

• Quit smoking
• Take your medications as prescribed
• Make heart healthy eating and drinking choices
• Move more
• If you are overweight, lose weight

Attending a cardiac rehabilitation programme can help you and your loved ones gain confidence as you work together to improve your heart health.

Is every heart attack the same? Many people do not recognise their next heart attack, as it may feel different to the first one.

Learn all the warning signs