Show me:
Show me:
Donate
Heart attack recovery – your first month
heartfoundation.org.au|Helpline 13 11 12

Heart attack recovery – your first month

Explore the Heart Foundation’s guide on what to expect in the first month after your heart attack.

Key takeaways

  • Having a heart attack can be a scary and overwhelming event.  
  • You need to know what has happened to you.  
  • There are steps you can take in the first month after your heart attack to start recovering. 
  • If you’re alone and think you’re having a heart attack, call triple zero (000) immediately.  
A heart attack can be a life-changing event. It’s common for many people to feel scared, confused and overwhelmed after a heart attack.  

After your treatment, you likely received instructions and a lot of information from your doctor. You may not remember a lot of what the doctors and nurses told you, especially during the first few days. Don’t be afraid to ask questions of the staff. You can also talk to your family about what’s happening. 

Find out what to expect in the first few weeks after having a heart attack.   

What happened to you?

It’s important to know what has happened to your heart, in order to recover.  

A heart attack usually happens when an artery that supplies blood to an area of your heart is suddenly blocked.  

Ask your doctor or nurse exactly what happened and what treatment or procedure you have received.  
Learn about the heart attack risk factors that are relevant to you, including: 
 
  • High blood pressure 
  • High cholesterol 
  • Diet 
  • ​​Smoking
​Speak to your doctor about your heart-health history. They can advise you on the heart attack risk factors you need to manage. Keeping your heart healthy and ongoing management of risk factors is critical to reducing the risk of another heart event.  
Cardiac rehabilitation, also called cardiac rehab, provides personalised support, including information about: 

  • Your heart condition and treatment  
  • Getting back to your usual activities (for example, work, driving, having sex)  
  • Changing your lifestyle to improve your heart health 
  • Managing your medicines 
  • Stopping smoking 
  • Knowing warning signs 
  • What to do in an emergency. 
Ask questions about things that worry you and get support if you feel stressed, anxious, or depressed. 
Cardiac rehabilitation can help you recover and get back to normal activities sooner. 

Find your nearest cardiac rehab program today.
There are many medicines that treat: 
 
  • Heart attack 
  • Angina 
  • High blood pressure 
  • High cholesterol 
  • ​Other heart conditions 
Your cardiologist, along with your doctor, will decide the best medicines for you to take at home. These will help you manage your heart condition. Speak to your doctor or cardiologist to understand the medicines you need to take.  

When you leave the hospital, you will only have enough medicine for a short time. You must keep taking these medicines. See your doctor for more prescriptions and discuss any concerns you have with them.   
Warning signs of a heart attack can differ. Not everyone will experience the same symptoms or have the same severity of symptoms. Some people have mild pain, while others have more severe pain.  
Some heart attacks strike suddenly. Many people have warning signs and symptoms, hours, days, or weeks in advance.  

It’s important to know: 
 
  1. The warning signs and symptoms of a heart attack  
  2. What to do if you or someone close to you is having a heart attack.  
If you’re alone and think you’re having a heart attack, call triple zero (000) immediately. 

Don’t wait, every minute counts – recognising symptoms and acting quickly by calling triple zero (000) can reduce damage to your heart and save your life.  
Regular doctor visits are essential to monitor your heart health and medicines. You can also use these visits to discuss any questions you have about your medicines, emotional health, or recovery in general. They’re there to help, so don’t be afraid to talk about any concerns.  

There are also more resources where you can get information. Call the Heart Foundation Helpline on 13 11 12 to speak with one of our cardiac nurses to find out more.  
 

Your first steps to recovery 

 
Having a heart attack can be a scary and overwhelming event. It’s important to know what has happened to you and what you can do in the first month after to start recovery. 
 
  • Understand what has happened 
  • Understand potential future risk factors 
  • Join a cardiac rehab program 
  • Understand your medications 
  • ​Know the warning signs of a heart attack.    
Learn more about how cardiac rehab can help you get back to normal activities. 

More on this topic

What is cardiac rehab?

What is cardiac rehab?

What is cardiac rehab?

Cardiac rehab is proven to keep you out of hospital and reduce your risk of death from heart conditions....

Feelings and emotions after a heart attack

Feelings and emotions after a heart attack

Feelings and emotions after a heart attack

This is a guide to how you might be feeling after a heart attack. ...

Nutrition after a heart attack

Nutrition after a heart attack

Nutrition after a heart attack

Discover key information on heart-healthy eating and drinking....

You might also be interested in

Daniel's cardiac arrest helped him discover another problem

Daniel's cardiac arrest helped him discover another problem

Daniel's cardiac arrest helped him discover another problem

Dan was six minutes into his treadmill session when his heart stopped beating....

Heart Health Check Toolkit

Heart Health Check Toolkit

Action Plans

Action Plans

Action Plans

Recovery is a long journey, so having a plan makes a huge difference. Using an action plan gives you a step-by-step guide to improving your lifestyle....

Alcohol action plan

Alcohol action plan

Heart health information in your language

Heart health information in your language

A selection of heart health information brochures in a range languages...

What is cardiac rehab?

What is cardiac rehab?

What is cardiac rehab?

Cardiac rehab is proven to keep you out of hospital and reduce your risk of death from heart conditions....

Cardiac arrest at 33: the challenges of restarting your life

Cardiac arrest at 33: the challenges of restarting your life

Cardiac arrest at 33: the challenges of restarting your life

Emma shares her story and opens up about her emotional struggles....

What is a heart attack?

What is a heart attack?

What is a heart attack?

The most common cause of a heart attack is coronary heart disease....

Blood pressure action plan

Blood pressure action plan

Key steps that can help you manage your blood pressure....

Driving and travelling after a heart attack

Driving and travelling after a heart attack

Driving and travelling after a heart attack

Explore our guide for driving and heart attack recovery. ...

Time to book a Heart Health Check?

Time to book a Heart Health Check?

Time to book a Heart Health Check?

If you're 45 and over, or 30 and over if you're of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent, you should book your Heart Health Check today...

Health Professional Tools

Health Professional Tools

Health Professional Tools

Guidelines, publications and support for the health professional community....

Together, we can change the future of heart disease

Together, we can change the future of heart disease

Together, we can change the future of heart disease

The power of your ongoing support can help save lives and keep more families together. Help us continue to fund promising heart research projects by donating today. ...

Heart Health Check Toolkit

Heart Health Check Toolkit

Heart Week 2022

Heart Week 2022

Heart Week 2022

With one Australian having a heart attack or stroke every 4 minutes, you have the power to change this statistic. ...

Grilled haloumi and crunchy green salad

Grilled haloumi and crunchy green salad

Grilled haloumi and crunchy green salad

8-10 minutes
Serves 4 (as a side)

Wholegrains and heart health

Wholegrains and heart health

Wholegrains and heart health

All you need to know about wholegrains to put you on the right track...

Seared salmon with lentil salad

Seared salmon with lentil salad

15 minutes
Serves 4

Vegetarian lasagne

Vegetarian lasagne

Vegetarian lasagne

1 hour
Serves 6

Your heart medicines

Your heart medicines

Your heart medicines

Information about commonly prescribed heart medicines. ...

Support after a heart attack

Support after a heart attack

Support after a heart attack

Many different thoughts may go through your head after a heart attack and you may be presented with complicated medical info. Know where to get support. ...

Donate Monthly | Become a Regular Donor

Donate Monthly | Become a Regular Donor

Donate Monthly | Become a Regular Donor

Join the fight against heart disease....

What is acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease?

What is acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease?

What is acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease?

Rheumatic heart disease is a serious disease that causes damage to your heart valves. ...

Key Statistics: Heart attack

Key Statistics: Heart attack

Statistics and information on heart attack in Australia...

Food and healthy eating during COVID-19

Food and healthy eating during COVID-19

Food and healthy eating during COVID-19

Healthy eating and COVID-19 FAQ...

Absolute CVD risk clinical guidelines

Absolute CVD risk clinical guidelines

The Absolute Cardiovascular Disease Risk (CVD) Guidelines helps healthcare professionals identify, prevent and manage a person's risk of developing CVD. ...

Eating well to protect your heart (information sheet – download PDF)

Eating well to protect your heart (information sheet – download PDF)

Meatloaf

Meatloaf

40-50 minutes
Serves 6

Clinical Guidelines

Clinical Guidelines

Clinical Guidelines

Full list of clinical guidlines and references for CVD, heart failure, ACS, hypertension, atrial fibrillation, SCAD and RHD...

Coronary Angiogram Test

Coronary Angiogram Test

This is a common test done to find out angina symptoms, or during or after a heart attack. ...

Future Leader Fellowship

Future Leader Fellowship

Stipend and project support funding for the best and brightest in cardiovascular research. ...

Is salt bad for your heart?

Is salt bad for your heart?

Is salt bad for your heart?

Most Australians are eating more than the recommended amounts and this can cause health problems....

How to make healthier meals at home

How to make healthier meals at home

How to make healthier meals at home

Cooking at home is often healthier than eating out....

Asian (Chilli, soy and sesame) dressing

Asian (Chilli, soy and sesame) dressing

Asian (Chilli, soy and sesame) dressing

10 minutes
Serves 12 (1 tablespoon)

What is a cardiac arrest?

What is a cardiac arrest?

What is a cardiac arrest?

With immediate help a cardiac arrest can be survived. Learn how to save a life....

Tackling oxidative stress in heart failure

Tackling oxidative stress in heart failure

Professor Gemma Figtree, Institution: University of Sydney...

Sit less, move more

Sit less, move more

Sit less, move more

You may be surprised to know that on average, adults sit for nine hours a day....

Pre-hospital point-of-care troponin and risk assessment in chest pain patients

Pre-hospital point-of-care troponin and risk assessment in chest pain patients

Associate Professor Dion Stub, Institution: Monash University...

Chicken recipes

Chicken recipes

Chicken recipes

Find heart healthy chicken recipes....

For professionals: Guidelines for acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease

For professionals: Guidelines for acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease

Australian  guidelines  for  prevention, diagnosis and  management of  acute  rheumatic  fever and  rheumatic  heart  disease ...