There are several great software solutions for keeping a journal, but let’s start you out the old-fashioned way, with some loose-leaf paper in a binder. I recommend using a binder because you can easily store other materials related to your trade (we’ll get to that in a minute).

Here’s what to write down for each trade:

• The date and time you entered the trade
• The name of the stock
• The ticker symbol for that stock
• How many shares you purchased and your reasoning for choosing that amount
• Whether this is a long or short position (if this is new to you, check out this article)
• Why you entered the trade (did you use any particular systems?)
• Where you placed any stops, if applicable
• The date and time you left the position
• Your reason for closing the trade
• The percentage gain or loss that you realized from the trade
• Any feelings that you had about the trade before initiating it and while it was open
• Your thoughts on closing the trade — in particular, what you would have done differently

Those last two items can be the hardest. After all, they sound a bit too touchy-feely for a lot of us. But you need to be completely honest with yourself so that you can properly analyze your trading patterns and control your emotions. What gut feelings did you have that led you to make the trade? What did you hope it would do? What were your worst fears regarding the outcome of the trade?

If you’ve already had a heart attack, there are some things you should know.

1. You are at greater risk of having another one.

Talk with your health care team about what to look for – keep in mind a repeat heart attack may or may not feel the same as your first.

Also, some people have chest pain (angina) that is usually brought on by physical activity. Ask your care team how you can tell the difference between this and pain that might be related to a heart attack.

2. Follow your care plan.

It’s really important to keep up with your treatments – lifestyle changes and medications. There may also be things you should avoid – for example, certain medications, alcohol or foods. Also, know what your ideal weight is, as well as your blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

3. Say ‘yes’ to cardiac rehabilitation.

Cardiac rehab programs, which include health education and supervised exercise, can help you gain strength during your recovery. It’s also been shown to lower the risk of dying or going back to the hospital.

4. Ask for support.

Ask trusted friends and family to help you live a healthier life, come to health visits with you and be there as a source of comfort.

5. Have an emergency plan in place.

Keep a current list of your medications (names, prescriber, dosage and how often you take each), health care professionals with contact information, basic medical history and contact info of a close friend or relative.

If you suspect you are having a heart attack, aside from dialing 911, find out from your care team if there is anything you can take while you wait for emergency services to arrive (for example, chewing an aspirin, nitroglycerin pill or other medication).

There are a number of treatment options. Treatments work best when they are given immediately after symptoms occur – within the first 1-2 hours. Early treatment to open up the blockage can help prevent or limit damage to the heart muscle.

In an emergency, when your health care team thinks a heart attack is likely, you may be started on:

• Oxygen therapy
• Aspirin and other antiplatelet agents to thin your blood and prevent further clotting
• Nitroglycerin to help improve blood flow through the heart’s arteries
• Pain relief medications like morphine to address any chest pain
• Anticoagulants to prevent further clotting
• Beta blockers to reduce workload on the heart by decreasing the heart rate and blood pressure

If your care team confirms you are having a heart attack, treatments usually include procedures, surgery, or medications, and lifestyle changes.

Procedures/Surgery

• Coronary angioplasty, also called a percutaneous coronary intervention, to open blocked arteries. In this procedure, a thin, flexible tube is threaded through a blood vessel, usually in the wrist or upper thigh, to the blocked artery. A stent is placed to open up the artery and restore blood flow. This is the best treatment of heart attacks and has the best outcomes when done within two hours.
• Heart bypass surgery to insert segments of arteries or veins around the obstruction and bypass the blockage and restore blood flow to the heart.
• Implantable device to protect against abnormal heart rhythms that could kill you or to make sure your heart rhythm is normal and stable. This therapy, if needed, is usually offered about one month after a heart attack.

Medications

• Clot-busting medications are usually given within hours of a heart attack to dissolve any blood clots blocking the artery. This is usually given in situations when angioplasty cannot be performed because there are delays getting the patient to a facility with a catheterization lab.
• Beta blockers can slow a rapid heart rate and lower your blood pressure.
• ACE inhibitors relax your blood vessels and reduce strain on your heart. They also lower blood pressure.
• Statins help reduce levels of low density lipoprotein (LDL), also called the “bad” cholesterol, in your blood. Lowering your LDL helps lower your risk of a heart attack.
• Aspirin and other antiplatelet agents may be prescribed.

Cardiac Rehabilitation

Cardiac rehabilitation is a medically supervised program to help people recover from a heart attack and live a heart healthier life.

Lifestyle Changes

Following a better diet, getting routine exercise, quitting smoking, and keeping up with health visits and advice are very important steps you can take to improve your health.

Prevention

You can take steps to help prevent a heart attack or strengthen your heart after having one.

• Eat a heart-healthy, plant-rich diet
• Lose weight if you need to
• Be physically active – talk with your health care team about the best program for you
• Don’t smoke
• Limit alcohol
• Ask about cardiac rehabilitation
• Keep in check other conditions that make a heart attack more likely (high cholesterol, high blood pressure, poorly controlled diabetes)
• Reduce stress levels
• Keep up with health visits and pay attention to your body and how you feel. Talk to your care team about any issues or concerns with your medications.

Chest pain or discomfort is the most common symptom of a heart attack for both men and women. But women are more likely than men to have additional symptoms.

Signs and symptoms may include:

• Chest pain or pressure or discomfort
• Discomfort or tingling in one or both arms, back, shoulder, neck or jaw
• Shortness of breath
• Cold sweat
• Unusual tiredness
• Heartburn-like feeling
• Nausea or vomiting
• Sudden dizziness
• Fainting

Remember, sudden, crushing chest pain or pressure or tightness aren’t the only signs of a heart attack. In one study, 1 in 3 three people who had a heart attack had no chest pain; they were more likely to be older, a female or diabetic.

Exams and Tests

Doctors can usually diagnose a heart attack based on a combination of:

• Your signs and symptoms
• Your medical history
• Electrocardiogram (ECG) that can detect and record the heart’s electrical activity and show signs of heart damage
• Blood tests that check the levels of certain proteins released into the bloodstream as heart muscle cells die; troponin tests tests are commonly used and may be repeated over a period of time.

Your heart muscle needs oxygen and nutrients to work as it should. These are provided by the blood that flows through the blood vessels that go to the heart (coronary arteries). A heart attack (your doctor may call it a myocardial infarction, or MI) usually occurs when blood flow to the heart is suddenly cut off.

When this happens, the heart muscle is starved of oxygen-rich blood. In just a short period of time, part of the heart can be damaged or die. That’s why immediate care is critical — it can spare your heart and save your life. If you think you are having a heart attack, dial 911 immediately.

If you’ve had a heart attack, you know how scary it can be. And you’re not alone: More than 800,000 Americans have a heart attack each year.

Unfortunately, once you’ve had a heart attack, your chance of having another one is higher. But there are steps you can take to protect your heart. Taking prescribed medications, following an exercise program tailored to you, maintaining a healthy weight and being careful about what you eat can all help keep your heart healthy. Controlling your blood pressure and lowering cholesterol are also important steps to help prevent another heart attack.

No two heart attacks are the same. If you’ve already had a heart attack, listen to your body. A repeat attack may feel very different. Both men and women can feel the classic crushing chest pain or tightness (called unstable angina), but women often report additional accompanying symptoms. Some people might know it’s a heart attack, but others might have less clear symptoms.

Overview

When you think of a heart attack, you may have an image in your mind of someone – typically a man – suddenly folded over and clutching their chest. After all, this is how it’s often shown in movies and TV shows. But while this can be the case, you can feel a heart attack in other ways.

Heart attack, also called myocardial infarction, is a leading killer of men and women in the United States. The good news is that treatments can save lives and help people live an active life after a heart attack. But getting care quickly is the key.

What Causes a Heart Attack?

During a heart attack, the heart’s blood supply is suddenly cut off. When this happens, the heart muscle doesn’t get enough oxygen-rich blood. In a short period of time, part of the heart can be damaged or die. That’s why immediate care is so important – it can spare your heart and save your life. If your heart has a lot of damage, it can be very weak.

Most often, heart attacks result from a buildup of plaque inside the coronary artery (atherosclerosis). When the plaque breaks away inside of the artery, a blood clot can form, blocking blood flow through a coronary artery. Less common causes of heart attacks include an intense spasm of the coronary artery that lasts a long time or a tear in the artery wall (called spontaneous coronary artery dissection). Both of these can reduce blood flow to the heart muscle.

Having a heart attack can be scary, and it’s often life-changing. For some people, it’s the scare they need to live a heart healthier life – making a conscious decision to eat better, exercise, manage other risk factors such as high cholesterol or blood pressure, and not smoke. For others, they may have lived for years unaware they were even at risk.

Heart attacks are linked to heart failure and possibly life-threatening problems with how the heart beats (arrhythmias).