Aisling Harris
Cardiac & Weight Management Dietitian Croí
For people living with cardiovascular disease, recovery doesn’t end when hospital treatment or cardiac rehabilitation finishes. Secondary prevention provides continued support to reduce future risk.
While ‘primary prevention’ focuses on reducing a person’s risk of developing cardiovascular disease or having a heart attack or stroke, ‘secondary prevention’ focuses on reducing the risk of another event in someone who already has cardiovascular disease.
While many people make an excellent recovery and return to normal life, they continue to live with cardiovascular disease or an increased risk of another event and therefore require ongoing management. This includes treatment to control risk factors such as blood pressure, cholesterol and blood glucose alongside support to stop smoking, eat well, be physically active and care for psychological wellbeing.
Support beyond cardiac rehabilitation
While cardiac rehabilitation is crucial for recovery, maintaining changes after a structured programme can be challenging. Many people find it difficult to balance their new habits and behaviours with a return to their normal life.
Some people report anxiety or may lack confidence about returning to their usual activities. Others may feel overwhelmed by nutrition or lifestyle advice. Ongoing support after cardiac rehabilitation can help people build confidence, understand their own health and make sustainable behaviour changes to improve their health.
Long-term changes are more likely to last when they’re realistic, gradual and built into everyday life. Setting achievable goals, planning for challenges and having ongoing support can also make it easier to maintain healthy habits over time.
Healthy hearts for life
At Croí Heart and Stroke Charity in Galway, the Healthy Hearts Club, a pilot project within JACARDI, a Joint Action of the European Union, is an example of secondary prevention in action.
Long-term changes are more likely to last when they’re realistic,
gradual and built into everyday life
The programme provides six months of ongoing, holistic support following cardiac rehabilitation. Participants receive regular check-ins through nurse phone calls and attend group workshops centred around nutrition, emotional wellbeing and exercise.
By supporting both physical and psychological health in an environment that fosters peer support, the programme aims to help people build confidence and integrate healthy habits into their daily lives, supporting long-term heart health and wellbeing.
For more information about heart health and stroke prevention, please visit www.croi.ie
