Coping With Heart Disease

If you've had a heart attack, a stroke, or even just been diagnosed with some form of cardiovascular disease, you're probably reeling with shock and filled with questions. How will this change my life? What does this mean for my family? Am I going to die?

First, take a deep breath. The major reason the death rate from heart disease is dropping these days is because of a wide range of new and improved drugs and other treatments, as well as a greater understanding of the kind of lifestyle accommodations you need to make to reduce your risk of death. It may sound strange, but there's no better time in history to have heart disease.

Having said that, let me also say that I hope your doctor or another health professional has had "The Conversation" with you. You know, the one about modifying your diet, physical activity level and stress level.

I say "hope," but I'm not too optimistic. Doctors get so little time with patients these days that it's difficult for us to provide the kind of intensive education you need after a heart attack or heart disease diagnosis. So I urge you to check with your local hospital. Most offer special courses on managing heart disease risk that are focused on nutrition, physical activity and stress management.

Also talk to your health care professional about a prescription for cardiac rehabilitation, a specialized exercise program designed to strengthen your heart and improve your physical fitness. In one survey of women with heart disease, half of those referred to such a program rated it very positive, with several saying they "loved it."

One of the biggest changes you'll likely make will be in your diet. The survey I mentioned above, which included 204 women with heart disease, found that only a few women felt they'd had sufficiently healthy diets before their diagnosis.