You have just gone through the worst ordeal of your life-a heart attack. And though your doctor assures you that you will soon get back to normal, you are plagued with doubts and uncertainties. You repeatedly ask yourself: "When will I get back to work?" "Will I be able to run again, or workout as rigorously again?" "Will I be normal?" Anyone who has suffered a heart attack goes through this phase and it is but natural. However, it is important to recognize that the worst is over and you will soon be on your feet again.

Life takes on a new meaning after you've had a heart attack. There are many do's and don'ts that you need to keep in mind to ensure proper recovery. What is most necessary, however, is a cardiac rehabilitation program to put the rails of your life back on track.

What is cardiac rehab?
A cardiac rehab program is a kind of training, which the heart patient undertakes after a heart attack. It helps you modify your lifestyle so as to reduce the risk of another attack. What you eat, how you work, the kind of exercise you do and even how you live are all included in a cardiac rehab program. Such a program may last for 8-10 weeks depending upon the severity of the problem. However, programs are generally tailored to fit individual needs of the patient and can differ in diet and exercise routine.

Your heart needs extra care especially if you have suffered from an attack or some other cardiovascular problem. That is where secondary prevention plays an important role.

What is Secondary Prevention?
Secondary prevention is simply identifying and treating people with established heart disease and those at a very high risk of developing cardiovascular disease. It involves treating those who have suffered a heart attack once so as to avoid the second. Thus the goal of secondary prevention is to reduce the risk of future heart complications.

Your heart is one of the most brilliant machines that you can think of. Although it is fairly self-sufficient and can function continuously and perfectly, this extraordinary muscle mass needs lots of oiling. Remember you may live with many things but there can be no life without a heart. Read on to learn how you should take care of your heart.

Mind your temperament
In today's hectic environment, there is no escaping stress. Everybody faces stress at some point or the other. However, what is important is the way you react to stressful situations. Remember, quick and angry responses should not become a habit as this can lead to heart attack and other related problems. If you are hot-tempered, blood vessels in the heart are more likely to thin out over a period of time. What this means is that your blood flow is 19 times less than a person with a cool head and can damage your heart.

Did you know that physical inactivity and cardiovascular mortality are related. Being physically active and fit is obviously far more important and not just for good physique. It's a matter of your heart and a question of life and death. What else could be more important? The relation is simple and straight: patients who remain physically active after a first heart attack have a 60 per cent lower risk of having a second attack as compared to those who are not physically active.