Diet

Your doctor will probably recommend that you follow a low fat, no added salt diet after discharge. This may reduce your risk of a heart attack in the future and of your risk for requiring angioplasty or surgery again. You should try to have less than 30% of your calories from fat. Try to control your weight and eat less saturated fat and cholesterol. The American Heart Association recommends that saturated fatty acid intake should be 8 to 10 percent of calories. Polyunsaturated fatty acid intake should be up to 10 percent of calories. Monounsaturated fatty acids make up the rest of the total fat intake, about 10 to 15 percent of total calories. Cholesterol intake should be less 300 milligrams per day. Sodium intake should be no more than 2,400 milligrams (2.4 grams) per day. Avoid adding salt in cooking or at the table. Begin making changes to your diet when your appetite returns to normal.

Daily Weight:

• Weigh yourself at the same time each morning after you urinate but before you eat breakfast. Use the same scale every day.
• Keep a record of your daily weight.
• Notify your doctor if you gain two pounds or more overnight.

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