Transcript Rehabilitating Your Heart

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 on 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
Prescription Medication
Vitamins and Other Supplements
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-theCounter Drugs
Baby aspirin (to help thin the blood)
Vitamin C (antioxidant to prevent arterial
wall damage)
Multivitamins (to improve overall health)
Bibliography
Dr. Dean Ornish’s Program for Reversing
Heart Disease, Random House, New York,
1990.
Big Book of Healthy Family Dinners, Better
Homes and Garden, Des Moines, 1999.