Introduction: Healthier lifestyles in terms of dietary change with reduced saturated f at consumption, appropriate intensity of cardiovascular exercises and smoking cessation, reduce premature death, the need for coronary interventions and improve quality of life for patients with existing coronary heart disease (CHD). The aim of this article was to highlight the lifestyle modifications and related issues of CHD patients managed at public polyclinics in Singapore. Methods: The first segment of the study used focus group discussions to collect qualitative data on lifestyle modifications adopted by patients who had coronary bypass, or angioplasty or were treated conservatively for CHD and are currently managed in primary care. A subsequent questionnaire survey of a larger source population determined the dimensions of the themes derived by the earlier qualitative study. Results: Triangulation of both studies showed that CHD patients had attempted to adopt healthier lifestyles by dietary modifications, exercised more often and had a higher smoking cessation rate. However a segment of the study population faced difficulties in changing their behaviour, being influenced by family and environmental factors, co-morbidities, personal attitudes and a lack of understanding of the benefits of lifestyle change. Up to 61% of CHD patients continued to consume food rich in saturated fat and up to 60% of them continued less healthy dietary habits, 30% did not exercise at all and 7.6% continued smoking. Conclusion: CHD patients were proactive in modifying their lifestyles but they were affected by their physical, psychosocial and environmental factors.