A Presentation of the
Department of Cardiology
Mount Pleasant Regional Hospital
by: Barb Dostal
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?
Aorta
• Atherosclerosis:
hardening and clogging
of the arteries.
• Heart attacks and
angina pectoris:
caused by
atherosclerosis of the
coronary arteries
Superior
Vena Cava
Pulmonary
Trunk
Left Atrium
Right
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 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, 1990.
• Big Book of Healthy Family
Dinners, Better Homes and
Garden, De Moines, 1999.