$Unique_ID{BRK01993} $Pretitle{} $Title{Preventing Another Heart Attack} $Subject{prevent Preventing prevention Heart Attack attacks advise advice fat fats fatty diet diets exercise exercises medicine medicines medications medications risk risks danger dangers hazards factor factors Male males man men history disease diseases illness illnesses cigarette cigarettes smoke smoking hypertension cholesterol triglyceride level levels diabetes stroke obese obesity overweight artery arteries blood vessel vessels oxygen muscle muscles cell cells pressure deposit deposits plaque plaques HDL high-density lipoprotein low-density lipoproteins LDL calorie calories consume consuming weight cardiac reserve reserves rehabilitate rehabilitation program programs } $Volume{} $Log{ Anatomy of Blood Pressure*0009501.scf Atherosclerosis of Arteries*0009301.scf Causative Factors of Hypertension*0009601.scf Complications of Atherosclerosis*0009401.scf Exercise has Overall Benefits*0003209.scf Exercise Improves Circulation*0003207.scf Exercise Increases Metabolism*0003205.scf Exercise Lowers Triglycerides and Raises HDL*0003203.scf Exercise Stengthens the Heart*0003202.scf HDL Transports Cholesterol Back to the Liver*0002702.scf How Cholesterol Levels Affect the Arteries*0002701.scf Risk Factors of Atherosclerosis*0009302.scf} Copyright (c) 1993 Tribune Media Services, Inc. Preventing Another Heart Attack ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ QUESTION: I have recovered quite well from my first heart attack, and am now putting my life back in order. It is not an experience I would care to repeat. I guess I am willing to do most anything, but all I am getting from my doctor is advice to change my ways, cut the fats from my diet and start walking (an exercise program, that is). That's all? Surely there are more powerful medications available? I hope you will provide me with answers I can't get from my own doctor, for which I thank you. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ANSWERS: I have seen many patients facing the situation you now face. Many of them exhibit the same disbelief that you express, and look for a magic bullet to eradicate all the chances of another heart attack. There are more than 1 million such attacks each year and about 500,000 individuals survive their attacks for at least 1 month, a time sufficient to begin to put together a plan to prevent a recurrence. If you take a close look at the risk factors involved, you will be better able to evaluate the importance of your own doctor's recommendations. They are: Male sex, a family history of premature heart disease (before 55 years of age) in a parent or a sibling, cigarette smoking, hypertension, high cholesterol and triglyceride levels, diabetes, history of a stroke, and severe obesity (more than 30 percent overweight). Now it is clear you can't do anything about your sex, your age, or any past history, so we will concentrate on changing those elements in your life that are subject to change. So smoking is the first thing that must go. The action of smoke on the arteries is to constrict them, reducing the blood flow through the vessels and decreasing the amount of vital oxygen flow to the muscles cells of your heart. High blood pressure places a strain on the heart, as it must pump blood at higher than normal pressures, so it is next in line for remedial action. In many cases, hypertension results from fatty deposits that line the inner surface of the arteries that nourish the heart, and that in turn results from elevated levels of cholesterol and triglycerides. Cutting back on fats in your diet, when done long enough and well enough, will not only reduce the blood levels of these fatty substances, but can also lead to diminishing the size of those deposits on the inside of your arteries (plaques). You can also change the composition and relationships of these fatty substances, increasing your good cholesterol (HDL) and lowering the bad ones (LDL), by the starting a simple exercise program, a walking program for example. Add the exercise to the diet, burning more calories and consuming less, and you are on the way to lowering your weight, taking care of yet another risk factor. In fact exercise can increase your tolerance to activity in general, provide for increased flexibility, and make daily living just that much more fun. And exercise also has been found to lower blood pressure, increase blood flow to the muscles that form your heart, increase cardiac reserves, and improve your mood and attitudes. Many hospitals offer cardiac rehabilitation programs, where all these activities are supervised and tailored to meet your specific needs. I am sorry there is no easy, speedy way to grant you your wish. If I could produce such results, I am sure the world would beat a path to my door. Yet these simple measures can help you prevent another frightening attack. And you did say you would be willing to do most anything, didn't you? ---------------- The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace the counsel and advice of your personal physician. Promptly consulting your doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical problem.