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Returning to Fitness and activity after heart problems

Feeling apprehensive as you leave hospital is normal. If you find you need support, you should contact a member of the support team who is following you up on your discharge from hospital.

Although you'll receive follow up appointments at the hospital after you leave, your family health care provider will also follow up your care. Within the first few days after you've been discharged home, information about your stay in hospital should be forwarded on to your GP. If you need to see him in the first few days after leaving hospital, take your discharge letter and medicines with you as the information from the hospital may not yet have reached him.

You'll need to have your cholesterol levels checked approximately 4-6 weeks after your discharge. If you have raised cholesterol or fats in your blood, your health care provider may suggest your whole family is checked. He'll then periodically check your blood fat levels to ensure they are kept at a reasonable level.

Tiredness is very common during the first few weeks after discharge from hospital after a heart attack. But if you notice excessive tiredness, increasing breathlessness or more frequent angina attacks, then you should make arrangements to see your health care provider for a check up.

If you suspect you're experiencing side effects from your medication, inform your health care practitioner.

Never stop taking your medication without consulting your health care provider first!

Some of the medication you started taking in hospital can affect your blood pressure. You should have it checked at least monthly initially. Once your blood pressure is properly stabilised, your health care provider will probably want to check it every 3-4 months.

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