Living well – keeping your heart healthy

Recently a young woman came to my office for consultation. 47 years old, married and 3 children, she had perfected the art of multi-tasking. Taking care of her kids and co-ordiating her husband, managing the household, working a part-time job as well as finding time to keep up her friendships with her girlfriends. She came to see me because she had just been told she has heart disease. With a history of high blood pressure, overweight by 35lbs and a ‘social’ smoker – 5 – 10 cigarettes a few times a week when out with her friends, she new that heart problems were not an impossibility but really never thought that it would present so early in her life. “I have been checking my breasts for lumps and have mammograms when my Doctor says I need to, but we never talked about heart disease”

Truth is, heart disease is the number ONE killer of women, not breast cancer. And that my patient had early menopause and was not on a regular exercise program, she had other risk factors for heart disease that she did not initially tell me about, or realize herself. She did not realize that age of onset of her periods, age of menopause, or lack of dedicated aerobic physical activity increased her risk for heart disease. In fact, she thought she was exercising because “I try and walk everywhere, I am not a couch potato!” Although walking, and any activity for that matter, is good, exercise to help and protect the heart is very specific, and most activities just don’t cut it as heart exercise.

This patients story, sadly, is one of many that I hear every day. Despite all the information that is ‘out there’ on websites and magazines, so many people remain confused about what they should be doing, and are too confident that what they are doing is the right thing for their heart health. Many times people come to see me after a cardiac event, already with a diagnosis of heart disease. Occasionally we are all elated when a patient who is overweight, or smokes, or has just been diagnosed with diabetes (these are all risk factors for heart disease) comes to see me and we work together to try and correct the condition BEFORE heart disease strikes. My task is to unscramble all the information and habits that have become part of the lifestyle of my patients, and rebuild, restructure and reshape health habits to keep my patients, and their hearts healthy.

Living a heart healthy life is not difficult. Getting there is another matter all together. Transitioning from complex lifestyles where people are prone to develop heart disease is not that easy – the statistics show us that!! No doubt, to change your life around to focus on your heart health will take some time and effort on your part. To understand that lives are complex and so many things can complicate our ability to make changes is essential. And to know that this transition does not have to be made on your own is crucial to your success. Over the past 11 years I have cared for literally thousands of people also wanting to make this transition. Some I have met recovering from heart surgery in the ICU at NYU Langone Medical Center in Manhattan, where I work running the cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation and wellness program. Others have heard about the work I do and see me for consultation in my office. But all have the same desire – to live well, to live long and productive, happy lives, and to keep their hearts healthy.

By reading this blog, you are taking your first step to your heart health. As you follow my posts, I will guide you to optimize your heart healthy lifestyle. More than that, I will give you my angle on many health issues, including many common health issues such as stroke, arthritis, osteoporosis, nutrition etc. You can catch me every Monday, 6-8am EST on Sirius Satellite Radio channel 114, XM 119 – Doctor Radio, when I host a live call in show covering many of these health topics. This week I will be discussing the recall of Darvocet – a strong pain medication, interviewing a Special ops soldier injured in Afghanistan about his rehabilitation after losing his legs, and covering the latest breaking news in management of osteoporosis.

Great to have you on-board! And “cheers” to living well!

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The medical information provided is of a general nature and cannot substitute for the advice of a medical professional. Consult with your physician.