Rehabilitating Your Heart

1
Rehabilitating Your Heart

• A Presentation of the Department of Cardiology of
  the Mount Pleasant Regional Hospital

2
If You Have Heart Disease, Youre Not Alone.

• Over 1.5 million Americans have heart attacks
  every year.
• Americans spend more money on heart disease than
  any other illness80 billion per year.
• More people die of cardiovascular disease than
  from all other causes of death combined.

3
What Is Heart Disease?

• Atherosclerosis hardening and clogging of the
  arteries.
• Heart attacks and angina pectoris are caused by
  atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries

4
What Causes Heart Disease?

• Genetics and other things we cant control
• Smoking
• Obesity
• Hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Inactivity (sedentary lifestyle)
• Excess stress and tension

5
How Can You Rehabilitate Your Heart?

• Diet
• Exercise
• Stress Management
• Substance Management
• Prescription Medication
• Vitamins and Other Supplements

6
Dietary Guidelines

• Eat a low-fat diet (10-30 of calories from fat)
• Avoid foods with cholesterol
• Eat 35 servings of vegetable group daily
• Eat 24 servings of fruit group daily
• Eat 611 servings of grain group daily
• Eat more fish and less red meat

7
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

8
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

9
Substance Management Guidelines

• Avoid smoking
• Reduce or omit caffeine
• Reduce alcohol consumption

10
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

11
Recommended Over-the-Counter Drugs

• Baby aspirin (to help thin the blood)
• Vitamin C (antioxidant to prevent arterial wall
  damage)
• Multivitamins (to improve overall health)

12
Bibliography

• Dr. Dean Ornishs Program for Reversing Heart
  Disease, Random House, New York, 1990.
• Big Book of Healthy Family Dinners, Better Homes
  and Garden, Des Moines, 1999.