Rehabilitating Your Heart A Presentation of the Department of Cardiology of the Mount Pleasant Regional Hospital

If you have heart disease, you’re not alone. Over 1.5 million Americans have heart attacks every year. Americans spend more money are heart disease than any other illness—$80 billion per year. More people die of cardiovascular disease than from all other causes of death combined.

What Is Heart Disease? Atherosclerosis: hardening and clogging of the arteries. Heart attacks and angina pectoris are caused by atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries

What Causes Heart Disease? Genetics and other things we can’t control Smoking Obesity Hypertension (high blood pressure) Inactivity (sedentary lifestyle) Excess stress and tension

How Can You Rehabilitate Your Heart? Diet Exercise Stress Management Substance Management Medications

Dietary Guidelines Eat a low-fat diet (10-30% of calories from fat) Avoid foods with cholesterol Eat 3–5 servings of vegetable group daily Eat 2–4 servings of fruit group daily Eat 6–11 servings of grain group daily Eat more fish and less red meat

Exercise Guidelines Type: Use large muscle groups (legs): walking, hiking, biking, skating, jogging, dancing, kick-boxing, etc. Duration: 20 to 60 minutes Frequency: At least 3 times per week Intensity: Get heart rate up to 60 to 80% of maximum. Max = 220 – Age in years

Stress Management Guidelines Promote informal social activities with family and friends Manage your time wisely Take time to rejuvenate Be kind but assertive Apply relaxation techniques Meditate and/or pray

Substance Management Guidelines Avoid smoking Reduce or omit caffeine Reduce alcohol consumption

Prescription Medications Cholesterol and triglyceride lowering drug, e.g., Lipitor (Atorvastatin) Blood thinning drug, e.g., Plavix (Clopidogrel) Blood pressure lowering drug, e.g., Lotrel

Recommended Over-the-Counter Drugs Baby aspirin (to help thin the blood) Vitamins C and E (antioxidants to prevent arterial wall damage) Multivitamins (to improve overall health)

Bibliography Dr. Dean Ornish’s Program for Reversing Heart Disease, Random House, New York, Big Book of Healthy Family Dinners, Better Homes and Garden, De Moines, 1999.