“But I’ve had a heart attack! You don’t expect me to be able to walk on that treadmill, do you?”
Yes, treadmills, weights, arm bikes, stationary bikes, and many more pieces of exercise equipment can be a lifesaver for someone who has experienced a heart attack, as well as cardiac bypass surgery, stents, valve replacements, and even a heart transplant. A cardiac rehab program includes:
• Counseling, so the patient can understand and manage the disease process
• Beginning an exercise program and learning how to exercise safely
• Counseling on a heart-healthy diet
• Helping the patient modify risk factors such as high blood pressure, smoking, high blood cholesterol, physical inactivity, obesity and diabetes
• Providing vocational guidance to enable the patient to return to work
• Supplying information on physical limitations
• Lending emotional support and learning how to reduce stress and depression
• Counseling on appropriate use of prescribed medications
According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), Heart disease is thought to be a man’s disease, but the truth is that heart disease is the number one killer of American women. Worse, is that it is the leading cause of disability among women for the simple reason that women ignore symptoms until their basic heart disease accelerates into complications. Two-thirds of women who have a heart attack never make it to a full recovery; therefore, prevention is the key to surviving heart disease. The older the woman, the greater her chances are to have heart disease, but prevention must begin when she is a young woman by her practice of a healthy lifestyle.
Tips on prevention:
Know your blood pressure and keep it under control. (120/80 is normal)
Develop a regular exercise program
Do not smoke or use any type of tobacco
Be tested for diabetes, and if you are diabetic, keep it under control
Know your cholesterol—both bad (LDL) and good (HDL)—and triglyceride levels (normal total cholesterol is less than 200 mg; normal triglyceride level is less than 150 mg)
Eat a variety of fruits and vegetables
Maintain a healthy weight
It is essential to know the symptoms of heart attack. The most common signs and symptoms are:
Chest discomfort or pain—uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness, or persistent pain in the center of the chest—that lasts more than a few minutes or goes away and returns.
Upper body discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach.
Shortness of breath may occur with or before chest discomfort.
Other signs include nausea, vomiting, lightheadedness or fainting, or breaking out in a cold sweat, and sometime illusive symptoms such as profound tiredness.

What should you do if you think you or someone with you may be having a heart attack?
Call 911 within a few minutes—5 at the most—of the start of symptoms.
If your symptoms stop completely in less than 5 minutes, still call your doctor.
Only take an ambulance to the hospital. Going in a private car can delay treatment.
Take a nitroglycerin pill if your doctor has prescribed this type of medicine.

Appalachian Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation is a collaborative effort of Appalachian State University and Appalachian Regional Healthcare System. Services are offered at the Watauga Medical Center Wellness Center in Boone and at Charles A. Cannon, Jr. Memorial Hospital in Linville. For more information, visit www.apprhs.org/acpr .
(*Reviewed by Jeffery Soukup, Ph.D., ASCM/ES and Kathleen Collin, RN, Appalachian Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation, Watauga Medical Center)


HEART-HEALTHY EATING QUESTIONS:
Are all fats bad for me?
Not all fats are bad. Fat is an important nutrient and an important source of energy for the body. The wrong types of fat, such as saturated fats, trans fats, and cholesterol are unhealthy fats. Good fats in moderation, such as canola and olive oils are good for you.
Does my family need to follow a heart-healthy diet just because I do?
A heart healthy diet is good for anyone. Eating heart healthy will help prevent heart disease in years to come.
When I read a label and it states that “partially hydrogenated vegetable oil” is an ingredient, should I avoid the product?
It is good to always read food labels. Shortening, partially hydrogenated vegetable oils, and some margarines contain unhealthy trans fats. Avoid all foods that contain trans fat.
(**Adapted from Yahoo Health)