Many heart attack survivors continue unhealthy habits, a study finds. ABC takes up the story:

A new study says survivors of heart attacks are putting their lives at risk by continuing to live unhealthy lifestyles after the event.

The Baker IDI research institute surveyed more than 500 heart attack survivors and found many were not making lifestyle changes to lessen the risk of a repeat attack.

One in 10 heart attack survivors continued to smoke and a third remained above the recommended target for cholesterol and blood pressure.

It found fewer than half were maintaining a healthy diet or exercising regularly after the event.

Dr Robert Grenfell, director of cardiovascular health at the Heart Foundation, says some heart attack sufferers are not changing their habits after leaving hospital.

“They leave, think they are fixed, they are not fixed,” he told ABC News Breakfast.

“The individual has some blame in this. The study shows a significant number of smokers don’t stop.

“They don’t start exercise, the diets don’t change. Most people have stopped their life-saving medication within two years after their heart attack. The most likely person to have a heart attack in Australia today is the person who has one.”

More: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-07-29/heart-attack-survivor-not-following-doctors-orders-study/4849088

>The most likely person to have a heart attack in Australia today is the person who has one.”

Hmm, I think he meant “has already had one.”

Amusing that one thinks diet and lifestyle activities that have developed over >30 years are going to be changed by a heart attack. IME, the patient will be all keen for it for about 3-6 months, then give up.

poikilotherm said:

Amusing that one thinks diet and lifestyle activities that have developed over >30 years are going to be changed by a heart attack. IME, the patient will be all keen for it for about 3-6 months, then give up.

there is a reason it’s hard to teach an old dog new tricks