Heart Attack Prevention

A combination of lifestyle changes and medication can help you reduce your risk of heart attack, even if you’ve already had one. Your WellStar physicians will discuss a prevention plan with you, whether you have already had a heart attack or are at high risk of having one.

Medication

• Aspirin, a blood thinning medication, can keep your blood from clotting. Other prescription blood thinners may be recommended as well.
• Beta blockers lower your heart rate and your blood pressure, reducing demand on your heart.
• Angiotensin -converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors may be prescribed by your WellStar physician after a heart attack, especially one that was moderate to severe and reduced your heart's pumping capacity. ACE inhibitors allow blood to flow from your heart more easily, can prevent complications of heart attacks and make another heart attack less likely.
• Cholesterol-lowering medications also may be prescribed following a heart attack. A number of different medications are available that can help lower the risk of a second heart attack even if your cholesterol was not very high at the time of the heart attack.

Lifestyle Factors

• Quit smoking
• Exercise
• Eat a healthy diet
• Manage stress
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Control other medical conditions, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes

Tests and Screenings for Heart Attack

If you are over 35 years old and have heart attack risk factors, your WellStar physician may recommend screenings, which can detect heart disease in early stages and allow you to take steps to keep from having a heart attack.

The procedures or screenings your physician recommends may include:

• CT cardiac calcium score, also called a Calcium Score or Heart Scan
• Complete lipid profile, which measures cholesterol, triglycerides and glucose
• Blood pressure check
• Body mass index assessment
• Family heart history analysis
• Sleep study