How to Live With Heart Disease

Millions of Americans are able to live healthy and productive lives after being diagnosed with heart disease. What is important is that it is caught early and that you follow your doctor's advice for living with heart disease.

Instructions

Learn to Live With Heart Disease

• 1

  Know that a diagnosis of heart disease is not the end of the world. Heart disease affects millions of people in the United States and with a little knowledge and changes to your lifestyle you can learn to live a longer, healthier life with heart disease for many years to come.

• 2

  Talk to your doctor first. There are many different types of heart disease and it's important to know the specifics of your condition. Your doctor can recommend diet and exercise programs to help combat the disease, prescribe medications for treatment or perform surgeries that might be deemed necessary.

• 3

  Lose weight. Being overweight is a major factor contributing to heart disease. To treat heart disease and to live longer it is absolutely necessary that you shed extra pounds and improve your cardiovascular fitness.

• 4

  Take a walk. Getting enough exercise is crucial if you want to live with heart disease. Your heart muscle needs to be worked out so that it can become stronger and more efficient. Walk, bike, run, swim or hike but do something to get your heart rate up to its target zone for 30 to 60 minutes three to five times per week.

• 5

  Eat right. Certain foods are known to help fight heart disease while others should be avoided. Foods to avoid include white rice, pasta and refined sugars like those in candy. Substitute these foods with whole wheat varieties and avoid sugars, sweets and oils.

• 6

  Reduce the stress in your life. Stress is a key factor in heart disease. You can reduce stress by taking that vacation time you've been saving up all these years, but you also want to incorporate some stress reducing activity into your daily life. Try yoga, Pilates, massage, Tai chi or meditation. Learn more about the therapeutic benefits of Tai Chi from the Mayo Clinic (see Resources below).