Secondary Prevention of Heart Disease

Summary

This program details ways patients can lessen the impact that heart disease has on their lives through managing their risk factors. Risk factors discussed include: smoking, diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, obesity, physical inactivity, and stress. The video explains that by making small changes in lifestyle choices such as being more active or eating in a more healthy way, patients can reduce their risks of heart disease. Viewers are encouraged to develop an individualized treatment plan with their healthcare team.

Released August 2008. Available for sales and preview in DVD. (VHS format is still available upon request.)

Details

You can reduce your risk of more heart damage by controlling certain risk factors.

Controllable risk factors:

• smoking
• high cholesterol and triglycerides
• high blood pressure
• diabetes
• excess weight
• stress
• inactivity or lack of exercise

A cardiac rehabilitation program can be a good place to start. In addition to supervised exercise, many cardiac rehab programs offer education on how to control risk factors.

Smoking:

• makes your heart pump faster
• constricts your blood vessels raising your blood pressure
• robs your cells of oxygen
• contributes to the build-up of plaque

If you aren't successful on your own, ask your doctor about getting some help like individual counseling or a smoking cessation program. Some people find nicotine replacement methods or medication helpful.

Cholesterol and triglycerides:

• fatty substances that exist normally in your blood
• too much of either can increase your risk of atherosclerosis
• LDLs (low density lipoproteins) form plaque in your arteries
• HDLs (high density lipoproteins) help remove clogging LDLs from your blood
• triglycerides contribute to plaque build up

Cholesterol goals:

• LDL level of less than 100
• HDL level of 45 or more for men, 55 or more for women
• triglyceride level of less than 200

Ways to lower cholesterol:

• change what you eat
• limit alcohol to one drink a day
• regular exercise may also lower your cholesterol level and raise your HDL
• medication

High blood pressure:

• heart is working harder than it should to pump blood
• damages the artery wall, making it easier for plaque to build up
• goal is a reading of 130 over 85 or less

Controlling blood presssure:

• medication
• control your weight through healthy eating and exercise
• reduce sodium (salt) intake
• limit alcohol to one or two drinks a day

Diabetes:

• contributes to the build up of plaque on the artery walls

Controlling diabetes:

• diet
• exercise
• medication

Excess weight:

• makes your heart work harder than it should
• develop a weight loss plan with your doctor
• regular exercise will help you lose weight and keep it off

Stress:

• constricts your blood vessels and raises blood pressure

Exercise:

• can help reduce every risk factor
• cardiac rehabilitation program can be a safe place to start exercising
• aerobic activities like walking, swimming, biking, jogging
• build to 30 to 60 minutes of exercise a day, three to five times a week