How to Get Rid of Heart Disease

Heart disease is a term that encompasses a host of heart related diseases, including coronary artery disease and congenital heart defects (Reference 1). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease is the leading cause of death among men and women in the United States (Reference 2). Heart disease is, however, treatable.

Instructions

• 1

  Change your diet. Diet is a major part of both preventing and treating heart disease. The National Health Institutes recommends that you incorporate fruits and vegetables, grains, and healthy protein (i.e. non-organ meat, poultry, seafood, dried peas, lentils, nuts, and egg) into your diet. (See http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002436.htm) Moreover, the National Institutes of Health recommend that you limit your total fat intake to 25 to 35 percent of your total daily calories, no more than 10 percent of which should be saturated fats. (See http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002436.htm) One way to ensure that your diet is appropriate is to talk to a registered dietitian. (See http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002436.htm) You can find a registered dietitian by contacting your local American Heart Association, the link for which can be found below.

• 2

  Start an exercise program. According to the American Heart Association, people with certain heart diseases can improve their chances for survival and quality of life with exercise (Reference 3). The American Heart Association notes that even simple physical activity (such as power walking) can be beneficial if done regularly for a total of 30 minutes or longer on most or all days. As always, you should consult your doctor before beginning any exercise program.

• 3

  Consider medications. Sometimes dietary changes and exercise are not enough to control your heart disease. In these cases, there are a number of medications that your doctor may prescribe. Depending on your condition, these can include diuretics, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, beta blockers, fibrates, or even aspirin therapy (Reference 1).

• 4

  Consider surgery. When the above options are not enough, surgery must be considered. The type of surgery necessary to treat your heart disease will vary greatly depending on your specific condition. Some surgeries, such as coronary angioplasty, are minimally invasive. Others, such as coronary artery bypass surgery, are quite invasive. Surgery has risks and can be expensive. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that in 2005, 652,091 people died of heart disease. Consequently, surgery may be the most desirable option.