- Experts say healthy lifestyle choices can help quality of life in the years following a heart attack.
- Being active, even for short periods, as well as a healthy diet and stress reduction can help.
- Having a support system can also help decrease your recovery time.
Having a heart attack doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t have a productive and satisfying life in the years following the event.
According to a self-reported survey completed in Denmark, people who have had a heart attack reported a high quality of life 20 years after their incident.
Researchers said the results are comparable to the general Danish population.
The researchers examined the answer provided by 2,552 people who survived a heart attack and completed a self-reported survey on their quality of life.
They reported that long-term health quality of life was consistently high, even 20 years after a cardiac event. The researchers say the findings suggest the need for resources to improve survival rates after a heart attack.
The findings were published in the journal
Non-study author Dr. Lawrence Phillips, director of outpatient cardiology at NYU Langone Heart and an associate professor in the Department of Medicine in the Leon H. Charney Division of Cardiology at NYU Grossman School of Medicine in New York, told Medical News Today:
“I find it to be a really interesting study — it’s looking at patients who are survivors of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest who respond to survey tools to look at quality of life. And what they found is that of the people who respond to the survey, their long-term quality of life metrics was similar to the general population. And so, the big question that it answers is, how do patients do once they survive an out of hospital cardiac arrest? Is their quality of life as a total group stunted or like the general population? And [the study] showed that it was similar to the general population.”
In the United States, the overall rate of death from heart attack fell from about 87 deaths per 100,000 people in 1999 to about 38 deaths per 100,000 people in 2020, according to the American College of Cardiology.
The college attributes this decrease to increased public awareness of cardiovascular risk factors, such as smoking and obesity, and the need for better self-care.
Around 20% of heart attack patients 45 and older will have at least one subsequent heart attack within five years, according to the
Experts say heart-healthy lifestyle changes can reduce that risk and improve the long-term outlook for survivors.
“A heart attack can serve as an opportunity for survivors to improve their quality of life,” Tatiana Ridley, a health coach, holistic nutritionist, and yoga teacher at Healthylicious Bliss who was not involved in the study, told Medical News Today.
“Research in the
“If you have never exercised but have had a cardiac arrest, then starting slow is particularly vital,” MacPherson told MNT.
“Always check with your healthcare provider and ask about a referral to cardiac rehabilitation sessions to be closely monitored when you exercise. Activities such as walking, cycling, gardening, golf, swimming, and more can become part of your normal activity once you are fully cleared to do so. Find something you enjoy and will stick to.”
MacPherson suggested walking as an excellent first step. Start with about 5 minutes, build up to 10 minutes, and then up to 30 minutes over several weeks. Riding a stationary bike can also work, she noted.
“Lifting weights can help with improving longevity and health. Ten repetitions with light weights is a good way to start,” said McPherson. “As your doctor clears you, increase your repetitions.”
After a heart attack, it is essential to choose healthy meals and snacks, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The recommendations include:
- eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables
- limiting processed foods
- limiting your sodium
- lowering sugar consumption
Alcohol can raise your blood pressure. The CDC suggests no more than two drinks per day for men and no more than one for women.
“One of the best diets to follow is the anti-inflammatory diet created by Dr. Andrew Weil,” Ridley said.
“Based on the Mediterranean diet, it adds some foods such as dark chocolate and green tea. It’s made up of a variety of unprocessed, fresh, whole foods (a whole food is a one-ingredient food), including antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables, beans and legumes, brown or wild rice, lean proteins like organic chicken, turkey and eggs, healthy carbs like whole grains, healthy fats like olive oil and avocado oil, nuts and seeds including hemp seeds and flax seeds, fish like wild salmon, tuna and sardines, spices like turmeric and cinnamon, green and oolong tea, and dark chocolate.”
— Tatiana Ridley, health coach
Stress can contribute to cardiovascular disease, according to the
It can also lead to high blood pressure and pose a heart attack or stroke risk.
“Yoga can help by lowering stress levels by relaxing your body and mind through deep breathing, meditation, movement, and relaxation,” Ridley said.
“Emotional stress can activate your body’s fight-or-flight response, triggering a rise in heart rate, blood pressure, and the release of hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, which narrow your arteries and increase blood pressure. Yoga helps to activate your body’s rest-and-digest response, triggering your body to release endorphins and other feel-good hormones, which can help lower blood pressure, blood cholesterol, blood glucose levels, and heart rate. However, it’s important to note that certain types of yoga are better than others. For example, restorative and chair yoga are safer than hot yoga.”
— Tatiana Ridley, health coach
Hot yoga typically occurs in warm and heated studios for a more intense workout.
Recovering from a heart attack can be daunting.
Experts say it can help to have the support of family and friends.
According to the Heart and Stroke Association of Canada, a good support system can:
- shorten the time you need in the hospital and improve recovery
- help you take medication correctly and make healthy lifestyle changes
- help you remember what your cardiologist or other healthcare providers have told you
- get you using cardiac rehabilitation programs
- reduce damage that stress can cause
- reduce symptoms of depression
- improve your quality of life
“Lifestyle changes have to do with the adaptation to a new normal,” Dr. Phillips said.
“It’s what resources we put in place to help someone go from acute to long-term recovery. And so we know one significant thing is a support system. So people with a good support system, family, and friends have better long-term outcomes and quality of life.”