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Most people can return to work and the activities they enjoy within a few months of having a heart attack. Others may have to limit their activity if the heart muscle is very weak. The amount of activity you can do will be based on the condition of your heart. Your doctor will work with you to develop a recovery plan.

You will need to start slowly. For the first few days after your heart attack, you may need to rest and let your heart heal. As your heart heals, you'll be ready to start moving around again. A few days after your heart attack, your doctor may want you to move around more. You may do stretching exercises and get up and walk. You'll then slowly become more active based on advice from your doctor.

Once you've gotten through the early period after a heart attack, your doctor may talk to you about how to be active within your limits. Your doctor will probably want you to do an exercise test, also called a stress test. During this test, your doctor will ask you to exercise (usually walking on a treadmill) while he or she monitors your heart. Based on the results, your doctor will develop an exercise plan for you.

Your doctor may also recommend that you get involved in a rehabilitation program. Rehabilitation programs are supervised by exercise specialists. Many hospitals sponsor these to get people started with a safe level of exercise after a heart attack. After a while, you'll probably be able to exercise on your own. But you have any of the symptoms listed in the box below, call your doctor. You may be working too hard.

Exercise strengthens your heart muscle. It can also help you feel more energetic, help you feel more in control of your health and help you lose weight and keep it off. Exercise may also lower your blood pressure and reduce your cholesterol level.

Exercise alert!

Call your doctor right away if you have any of the following symptoms during exercise:

Shortness of breath for more than about 10 minutes
Chest pain or pain in your arms, neck, jaw or stomach
Dizzy spells
Pale or splotchy skin
Very fast heart beat or an irregular heart beat
Cold sweats
Nausea and vomiting
Weakness, swelling or pain in your legs

The best types of exercise are those that involve your whole body, such as walking, cycling, jogging, rowing, cross-country skiing or swimming. Your doctor or rehabilitation therapists may also prescribe activities to increase your strength and flexibility.

Risk factors for another heart attack

Taking charge of the things that put you at risk for another heart attack (see the list below) can help you feel better and reduce your risk of future problems.

Not exercising
Being overweight
High cholesterol level
High blood sugar level if you have diabetes
High blood pressure
Smoking
Too much stress in your life

This depends on your exercise plan. You'll probably start slowly and gradually add to how much you do. Your doctor may want you to exercise 3 or 4 times a week for about 10 to 30 minutes at a time. Be sure to warm up before exercising by stretching for minutes or more.

What is a "MET"?

You may hear your doctor talk about METs when he or she discusses your activity level. METs stands for "metabolic equivalents." Different activities are given different MET levels depending on how much energy they take to do (see below). The higher the MET level, the more energy the activity takes. Your doctor may asks you not to do things that take more than 3 or 3.5 METs right after your heart attack.

MET Activities
Sitting in a chair
1.0

Sweeping the floor
1.5

Driving a car
2.0

Ironing
3.5

Showering
3.5

Bowling
3.5

Sex
3.7-5.0

Golfing
4.0

Gardening
4.5

Playing tennis
6.0

Mowing lawn by hand
6.5

Shoveling
7.0

Skiing
8.0

Your doctor will probably recommend that you make some changes in your diet, such as cutting back on fat and cholesterol and watching how much salt you eat. If you smoke, you will have to quit. Your doctor may also suggest that you learn better ways to deal with stress, such as relaxation training and deep breathing.

Most people go back to work within 1 to 3 months after having a heart attack. The amount of time you are off from work depends on the condition of your heart and how strenuous your work is. You may have to make some changes in how you do your job or you may have to change jobs at least for a short time if your job is too hard on your heart.

You can probably start having sex again in 3 to 4 weeks after your heart attack. As with other types of activity, you may need to start out slowly and work your way back into your normal patterns.

Don't be afraid of sex because of your heart attack. Try different positions if one position seems to make you uncomfortable. Let your partner be on top to reduce the amount of energy you use during sex. Talk with your doctor if you or your partner have any concerns.