Please share some do's and don'ts for patients that have had, or are at risk for, a heart attack.

Controlling: Controlling hypertension can reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke.

A new TipTap: Taking a baby Aspirin daily reduces the risk of stroke and heart attack.

Be: Be aware that diabetes, hypertension & high cholesterol are risk factors for heart attack & stroke!

Don't: Don't take more than 1, 400 mg of calcium in pills a day because it can double heart attack risk.

Myth:: Myth: atherosclerosis symptoms may be hard to appreciate before heart attacks or strokes occur.

Gingivitis: Gingivitis can be linked to increased risk of heart attacks and strokes.

Being: Being active & eating healthy may reduce possibility of a heart attack.

Avoid: Avoid the sulfonylurea class (glipizide/glyburide). They have been found to cause more heart attacks!

Dental: Dental hygiene can prevent heart attacks and strokes. More than a pretty smile!

Eat: Eat healthy, exercise regularly, maintain a healthy weight and above all - don't smoke.

Control: Control your diabetes, cholesterol, weight, blood pressure, and don't smoke.

Post-op,: Heart surgery? Post-op, i recommend pycnogenol and horse chestnuts for support of blood vessels.

2: Heart surgery? Two internal mammary arteries as grafts are better than just 1 + 1 saphenous vein graft.

There: There is debate, but i prefer "off-pump" robotic surgery.

Heart: Heart attack! Reduce your risk with regular exercise and healthy diet. Avoid obesity. Don't smoke!

Eat: Eat less, exercise more, sleep well, don't smoke, keep blood pressure down, and take your medication.

Low: Low fat, low-meat diet, cardio exercise 3-5x/ week. Stay at optimal weight, watch your cholesterol.

Take: Take it as a learning opportunity to change your style habits; diet and exercise, let go of stress.

Exercise: Exercise regularly but clear it with your doc. Low fat diet, consider vegetarian diet. Relax!

Do: Do cardiac rehab and follow doctor's orders regarding meds and diet.

STOP: Stop smoking. Get lean. Regular exercise. Common sense and diet.

Take: Take Aspirin 81 mg every day. Don't get depressed. Keep a positive outlook.

Do:: Do: take meds as prescribed. Do: exercise daily. Don't: smoke. Don't: be sad - enjoy every day!

Make: Make a doctors visit just to discuss preventive cardiology - you'll be glad you did.

Very: Very important to control your risk factors. Stop smoking. Diet and exercise. Take medications.

Heart: Myth: heart attacks just happen. Fact: 80% of all cardiovascular events are preventable.

Do: Do take your medications no matter how good you feel.

Get: Get a coronary calcium screening if you're a man over 45 or a woman over 55 with one or more risks.

Do: Do exercise for 30 minutes at least every other day or more.

Two: Two of the best predictors for early heart attack and death in men: low vitamin d & low testosterone.

Green: Green tea & blood thinner interactions: green tea can reduce effect of warfarin. Be careful!

Have: Have pacemaker? Some tablets & smart phones use powerful magnets which can deactivate! keep 12in from chest.

The: The most important step to recovery is a healthy low fat, high veggie diet and mild exercise.

Diet: Diet most important. Avoid animal fat, fried foods, eat fish & poultry & lots of veggies. Walking exercise.

Men: Men with high Estradiol levels are at much greater risk for heart disease. Have your doctor check!

If: If you have heart disease and are on Aspirin treatment & also have arthritis, most nsaids block aspirin's effect!

If: If smoking, stop today. This is a huge risk factor.

Regular: Regular, moderate exercise is very important.

Vitamin: Vitamin and antioxidant supplements do not prevent heart attacks.

No: No alcohol or smoking, baby Aspirin as indicated, coq10 supplements & multi-vitamins/antioxidants.

Those: Those who eat breakfast are less apt to have a heart attack than those who skip breakfast.

Low: Low vit d levels are associated with a 38-192% increase in heart attack risk. Take vit. D3 2000iu!

Aspirin,: Aspirin, beta-blockers, statin drugs are all important, but don't forget to breathe and relax.

Depression: Depression can be common following a heart attack. Counseling can help in restoring positive mood.

A: A combination of significant chest pain & shortness of breath may be a heart attack - call 911.

Chest: Chest pain, shortness of breath, nausea, arm / jaw pain - don't wait until it's too late - call 911.

If: If you have heart attack symptoms, don't wait any longer than 5 minutes to call 911.

Don't: Don't dismiss chest pain.

Regular: Regular visits with your cardiologist for checkups. Take prescribed medications regularly.

Take: Take an Aspirin a day. Eat healthy, exercise, and decrease the stress that kills.

You: You can stop smoking, cut out sugar & fried food, control blood pressure and stress, walk daily.

The: The risk of a heart attack decreases by 50% within a year of quitting smoking.

Slow: Slow and steady wins the race here - the race of life. Don't overdo, but add a little more every day.

Get: Get your flu shot. It may help prevent heart attacks.

Don't: Don't procrastinate. Taking care of your duties before they are due means decreased stress.

Mediterranean: Mediterranean diet - tasty and good for vascular health.

In: In the acute setting, oxygen is administered even before the diagnosis can be confirmed.

Don't: Don't smoke. It increases your risk of heart attack and other illnesses.

30: 30 to 60 minutes of moderately intense physical activity can reduce your risk of heart attack.

Maintain: Maintain tight diabetes control to reduce risk of another heart attack.

Chemicals: Chemicals in tobacco smoke damage the inside layer of blood vessels, leading to heart attacks.

Statin: Statin medications help stabilize cholesterol plaques in arteries - reduce future heart attacks.

Regular: Regular exercise can help develop the small branches of heart arteries before and after heart attack.

Lifestyle: Lifestyle changes, medications, exercise, & following the suggestions of your cardiologist = living!

Early: Early intervention for re-perfusion is the most critical intervention. Time = myocardium.

Routine: Routine visits to physician, indicated screening, healthy diet, exercise, "heart health" supplements.

Know: Know risks and treat them aggressively. F/u on your risk factor control. Ignorance is not bliss.

It: It is a myth that heart attacks only occur during stress. Most occur at rest, and often at night.

Do: Do not touch your chest to "verify" if your pain is still there if you suspect a heart problem.

Myth:: Myth: pain of cardiac origin can only appear in the left side (or the center) of your chest.

It: It is important to follow through with your dr recommendation for rehab if given.

Most: Most heart attack patients take aspirin, a beta blocker and Lipitor (atorvastatin) or equivalent.

Cardiac: Cardiac rehab begins as soon as your are stabilized. Rehab is part of prevention against recurrence.

Make: Make good lifestyle changes, eat healthier & exercise. Take your meds as prescribed.

Do: Do eat healthy, exercise, lose weight. Do take your meds. Don't smoke.

Eat: Eat healthy, exercise, lose weight. Control bp, cholesterol, diabetes. Don't smoke.

An: An Aspirin a day has been known to keep some heart disease away!

Keep: Keep exercising under the care of a physician to maintain a healthy heart!

Need: Need evaluation. Tx depends on patient & findings. Meds +/- stents or bypass surgery are options.

Heart: Heart attacks do not always cause severe left sided chest pain.

Take: Take the medicine on time and follow-up with your doctor regularly.

Keep: Keep your blood pressure and cholesterol to prevent heart attack.

Eat: Eat healthy, exercise as tolerated daily and take your medicine on time. Please quite smoking.

Get: Get treatment. The longer the chest pain goes on the more likely its a heart attack.

Don't: Don't make bad choices. Do make changes for a better diet, more exercise, & be kind to your heart

You: You can't take viagra (sildenafil) if you use Nitroglycerin for chest pain - it will cause dangerously low bp!

ACE: Ace inhibitor + beta blocker + statin + Aspirin improve survival after having a heart attack.

Mediterranean: Mediterranean diet and exercise are very importanta along with your medications.

Do: Do use a vegetarian type diet, do exercise aerobically daily, don't smoke, don't ignore drs.Advice.

Ignore: Do know your choleserol and shoot for LDL below 70 if you have had an attack or 100 if at risk.

Ignore: Do exercise but make sure it is ok with your doc first. Exercise is important !

Ignore: Eat healthy, control blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar. Exercise at least 30 min 3x a week.

Ignore: Baby aspirin: 1 a day. No larger size, 1 only. Chewable, not coated.Statin, no fish oil. No garlic.

Ignore: Healthy diet and exercise. Don't smoke while using the patch.

Ignore: If you use Nitroglycerin you can't use viagra (sildenafil). This can be deadly.

Ignore: Don't use viagra (sildenafil) if you use nitroglycerin. This can be deadly.

You: You can not do anything about family history, but smoking and exercise are within your control.

Ignore: Follow your dr.'s advice and reduce your risk factors.

Most: Most people over 40 should consider taking a daily generic statin pill.

Ignore: If your risk is known, always carry Aspirin with you. 325mg!

Ignore: Ask md if ok to: take aspirin, statin, beta-blocker, ace or arb medications and increase activity.

Ignore: Take medications as directed, exercise regularly, eat healthy foods, maintain an ideal body weight.

Ignore: Do exercise to decrease your risk of a heart attack and don't stop your asa without telling your doc.

Ignore: Make sure your cholesteol has been checked and take meds if needed. Don't smoke

Ignore: Go to the ER if you are having any heart attack symptoms like chest pain, shortness of breath, etc.

Moderation.: Do everything in moderation ! Exercise regularly, make sure that modifiable risk factors such as BP ,Cholesterol are under control. Have a positive attitude. Be happy.

Ignore: Don't stop any of your meds or blood thinners without speaking with your doctor.

Ignore: Quit smoking, adhere to diet restrictions, do not miss your medications, have a positive outlook....

Ignore: Keep sugar normal, do not smoke, have LDL.

Ignore: Make sure your cholesterol and blood pressure are controlled. Exercise regularly. And NO SMOKING!

Ignore: Do check your cholesterol and blood pressure regularly. Do exercise and improve lifestyle .

Ignore: Modify ALL risk factors. Eat right, exercise, lose wt, DO NOT SMOKE.