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
cloggingof the
arteries.
Heart attack and
angina pectoris are
caused by
atherosclerosis of
the coronary
arteries.
Superior Vena Cave
Right Atrium
Pulmonary
Trunk
Aorta
Left Atrium
Right
Coronary
Artery
Normal Artery
Diseased Artery
Anterior
Interventricular
Artery
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 Exercisewalking3
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)
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,
1990.
Big Book of Healthy Family
Dinners, Better Homes and
Garden, De Moines, 1999.