Heart Attack And Unstable Angina: Ongoing Concerns

Content provided by Healthwise

Ongoing Concerns

After you've had a heart attack, your biggest concern will probably be that you could have another one. Taking your medicines as directed will be an important part of preventing another heart attack. Medicines commonly prescribed after a heart attack include drugs to:

• Prevent blood clots.
• Decrease the work of your heart.
• Improve your heart’s pumping ability.
• Lower cholesterol.
• Treat irregular heartbeats.
• Lower blood pressure.

Understanding what coronary artery disease (CAD) is and how to treat it may help prevent a future heart attack. For more information, see the topic Coronary Artery Disease.

Your doctor will want to closely monitor you after a heart attack. Be sure to keep all your appointments. Tell your doctor about any changes in your condition, such as changes in chest pain, weight gain or loss, shortness of breath with or without exercise, and feelings of depression.

About half of all people who have a heart attack will experience a serious complication. The kinds of complications you may have depend upon the location and extent of the heart muscle damage. The most common complications are:

• Abnormal heart rhythms, called arrhythmias. These include life-threatening ventricular tachycardia, which is a rapid heart rate, and atrial fibrillation, a type of irregular heartbeat.
• Heart failure, which can be short-term or can become a lifelong condition.

Managing angina

You should notify your doctor about any chest pain or discomfort (angina) you have after a heart attack, because it will probably be treated more aggressively and may indicate that you are at risk for another heart attack. Many people have stable angina, which is predictable and diminishes after taking nitroglycerin (a medicine to control angina) and resting.

Nitroglycerin is often prescribed to be taken on an as-needed basis for angina. In most cases, you may take 1 nitroglycerin tablet or 1 dose if you use the spray form. If after 5 minutes the chest pain doesn't improve or gets worse, call 911 or other emergency services immediately. Continue to stay on the phone with the emergency operator—he or she will give you further instructions.

See how to use and store nitroglycerin. Keep nitroglycerin with you at all times. Some doctors recommend that you use it before you exercise or exert yourself, to prevent an angina attack.

Last updated:	May 14, 2007
Author:	Robin Parks, MS
Reviewed By:	Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine, Stephen Fort, MD, MRCP, FRCPC - Interventional Cardiology
Editors:	Kathleen M. Ariss, MS, Pat Truman, MATC