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For advertising information visit www.samplerpublications.com or call 859.225.4466 | February 2015
Five
Steps for
Managing
Heart
Disease
By Dr. Tom
Miller, Staff
Writer
Cardiovascular disease includes several
medical problems,
many of which are related to a process
called atherosclerosis. It is important
to understand that atherosclerosis
is a condition that develops when a
substance called plaque builds up in
the walls of the arteries. This buildup
narrows the arteries, restricting the
flow of blood. If a blood clot forms, it
can block or slow the blood flow. The
presence of cardiovascular disease
can involve cardiac arrhythmia, heart
valve complications, a heart attack,
stroke or heart failure.
The Centers for Disease Control
indicate that about 600,000 people
die of heart disease in the United
States every year – that’s one in every
four deaths. The CDC also notes
that heart disease is the leading cause
of death for both men and women.
More than half of all US deaths
annually are due to heart disease.
Coronary heart disease is the most
common type of heart disease, killing nearly 380,000 people annually.
Annually about 720,000 Americans
have a heart attack. Of these, 515,000
are a first heart attack and 205,000
happen in people who have already
had a heart attack.
Clinician-researchers at Mayo
Clinic provides details on cardiovascular disease and important steps in
prevention efforts. Five important
steps to preventing or managing the
conditions of heart disease or atherosclerosis involve the following:
2. Show a psychological readiness to take action and make
significant changes in your life.
Once the risk of cardiovascular
concerns are brought to one’s attention, recognize the reasons why it is
important to make changes in one’s
life, decide to make the changes and
begin to consider how to achieve
those changes. Seek help if necessary
and work toward maintaining the
needed changes in life style.
1. Work with your physician i