Support after a heart attack

Heart attack support: You're not alone in your recovery

A heart attack can be a life-changing experience. Remember that you’re not alone. Support is available. Read on to learn more about the different types of support.

Cardiac rehabilitation

Cardiac rehabilitation (cardiac rehab) programs are a great source of support after a heart attack. Led by healthcare professionals, these programs offer tailored advice, education and supervised exercise.

Attending cardiac rehabilitation can help you recover and get back to your normal activities sooner. You’ll also get to meet other people who are living with a heart condition.

By attending cardiac rehab, you’ll get information about:

• your heart condition and treatment
• returning to your usual activities, like work, driving, physical activity and having sex
• forming heart-healthy habits to reduce your risk of a future heart attack
• managing your medicines
• stopping smoking or vaping (if you smoke or vape)
• knowing the warning signs of a heart attack and what to do in an emergency
• looking after your mental health and wellbeing.

Cardiac rehab programs are available in different formats. You can participate in cardiac rehab:

• over the phone or online
• in person, at a hospital, clinic or community centre
• in a group or by yourself.

Participating in cardiac rehab has many benefits:

• helps you recover more quickly to get back to everyday life  
• assists you to cope with what has happened 
• helps you to better manage your heart health
• reduces your risk of developing further heart problems.

Your healthcare team will refer you to a cardiac rehabilitation program before you are discharged from hospital.

If you don’t have a referral or need more information, ask your doctor, nurse or health worker. You can also find a local cardiac rehabilitation program near you by searching our Cardiac Services Directory.

MyHeart MyLife support program

The MyHeart MyLife support program can help you (and those caring for you) on your recovery journey after a heart attack. By joining, you’ll have access to information and support to help you to live well with heart disease.

Delivered over 12 weeks, you’ll receive:

• access to an online dashboard with bite-sized articles and short videos to help you better manage your condition
• supportive text messages and emails to motivate and inspire
• access to the MyHeart MyLife online support community, where you can connect with others on a similar journey to you.

The free program covers a range of topics, from forming heart-healthy habits and looking after your mental health and wellbeing, to managing your medicines.

Heart Foundation peer support network

Join our peer support network to connect with others who have also been diagnosed with a heart condition or are caring for someone who has. Connecting with other people can ease feelings of isolation, provide reassurance and help you to lead a heart-healthy life.

The Heart Foundation has two online support communities available:

• The MyHeart MyLife online support community is a safe virtual space for adults living with a heart condition in Australia to give and receive support from others on a similar journey. We also welcome caregivers, loved ones, friends and family supporting people living with a heart condition.
• The Supporting Young Hearts online support community is for people aged 18-45 years (and their support people). Members can share their experiences and give and receive support from others on a similar recovery journey.

Other support services

In addition to your GP, cardiologist and the rest of your healthcare team, there are lots of other support services available. We’ve listed some of these below.