Activity Guidelines

These are general guidelines,for Patients with a Myocardial Infarction (Heart Attack). Please consider your first week at home a time to recuperate and readjust, use your common sense. Do not push yourself!

Around the House
Weeks after Discharge
Comments

Lifting

< 10-15 Lb. * 4-6 weeks.

or until cleared by Card.

Walk inside the house

As soon as discharged

5 min. 2-3 times/day

Climb 1 flight of stairs

As soon as discharged

Slowly, 1 step at a time

Sit in the yard

As soon as discharged

In comfortable weather

Friend in to visit

1 -2 weeks

As you feel capable

Out of town guests

3-4 weeks

As you feel capable

Take out the trash time

1 -2 weeks

Bag at a time + wt. restriction.

Laundry

2-4 weeks

As you feel

Vacuum

3-4 weeks

Listen to your body.

Help make a bed

2-3 weeks

Slowly, 1 side at a time

Help make a bed

2-3 weeks

Slowly, 1 side at a time

Watering the Lawn

1-2 weeks

As you feel capable

Mow the lawn/Riding

3-4 weeks

In comfortable weather

Mow the lawn/Pushing

3-6 weeks

Consult your doctor

Gardening

2-3 weeks

Light work /ground: broken

Tilling the garden

4-6 weeks

Consult your doctor

Sexual Relations

Not until you are seen by your Cardiologist

Consult your doctor

Shoveling snow

-----------

Never

Outside the House
Weeks after Discharge
Comments

✋Drivingstrenuous activity

Not until seen by Card.

Examples of strenuous A.

✋Attend a religious S.

1-2 weeks

As you feel capable

✋Attend a movie.

1-2 weeks

As you feel capable

✋Visit nearby f.

1-2 weeks

As you feel capable

✋Shopping, no carry.

1 week

Short walking distances

✋Grocery shopping

1 -2 weeks

Within lifting restrictions

✋Restaurant dinner

1 week

Watch what you eat - diet

✋Restaurant dinner

1 week

Watch what you eat - diet

✋Out of town >1 hour

4-6 weeks

Consult your Cardiologist

✋Commercial Air travel

4-6 weeks

Consult your Cardiologist

✋Changing a car tire

Never

✋Attend a sporting E.

3-4 weeks

In comfortable weather

✋Swimming

4-6 weeks

Go in slowly

✋Golf, with riding cart

4 weeks

Start with putting, chipping, then advance to 9 holes

✋Golf, with pull cart

6 weeks

Listen to your body, this may be tiring the first time.