Coronary Artery Disease

Living With Heart Disease

A diagnosis of coronary artery disease can be hard to accept and understand. If you don't have symptoms, it may be especially hard to recognize that heart disease is serious and can lead to other health problems.

It's important to talk with your doctor to learn about the disease and what you can do to help manage it and prevent it from getting worse.

Healthy habits

Making healthy lifestyle changes can delay and maybe even reverse heart disease. Quitting smoking, eating a low-fat and low-cholesterol diet, and getting regular exercise are the most important steps you can take to keep your disease from getting worse.¹² For more information, see:

Interactive Tool: Are You Ready to Quit Smoking?

Heart disease: Eating a heart-healthy diet.

Heart disease: Exercising for a healthy heart.

For more information on how to make healthy lifestyle changes, see the Prevention section of this topic.

Controlling chest pain

Most people are able to control chest pain (angina) by taking medicines as prescribed and nitroglycerin when needed. To learn more, see the topic Quick Tips: Taking Charge of Your Angina.

Dealing with depression

It's common to feel sad or depressed when you find out you have heart disease. Depression is also common for up to 6 months after a heart attack. Asking for and getting support from family and friends may help you avoid depression. But if you keep having "the blues," you may need treatment.

You might feel too embarrassed to ask for help, or maybe you think that you'll get over depression on your own. But most people need treatment to get better. Talk with your doctor about counseling and medicine for depression. For more information, see the topic Depression.

Support can help

Whether you are recovering from a heart attack or changing your lifestyle so you can avoid one, emotional support from friends and family is important. Think about joining a heart disease support group. Ask your doctor about the types of support that are available where you live. Meeting other people with the same problems can help you know you're not alone.

A cardiac rehabilitation program can also provide support. The rehab team can help you make new, healthy habits, such as eating right and getting more exercise. For more information, see the topic Cardiac Rehabilitation.

One Man's Story: Alan, 73 "It’s so easy for cardiac patients to put weight on. And it’s so hard to get it off. You need to walk every day or the weight comes right back. I couldn't do any of it without my support groups. The camaraderie of being together and working out together makes such a big difference. We take care of each other."—Alan Read more about Alan and how he learned to cope after a heart attack.

More Information: How can I make my lifestyle healthier? How can I help a loved one with coronary artery disease?

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Author:	Robin Parks, MS	Last Updated: January 8, 2008
Medical Review:	Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine Robert A. Kloner, MD, PhD - Cardiology Ruth Schneider, MPH, RD - Diet and Nutrition
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