Lifestyle and heart disease

Decades ago, after a heart attack, physicians would prescribe six weeks of bed rest. There was a time when smoking the hazards of smoking were not as well understood as they are today, and even when being overweight was seen a sign of good health and prosperity. Over the years, evidence mounted that heart attacks, caused by coronary artery disease, can in many cases be prevented by paying attention to known risk factors. These risk factors include smoking, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, and a family history of heart disease and a sedentary lifestyle.

Heart attacks can result from narrowing and blockage of the coronary arteries, which supply the heart with nutrients and oxygen. These arteries narrow because of fatty deposits called plaque. Dr. Dean Ornish showed that the narrowing of the arteries could be reversed by changes in lifestyle, such as stress management, diet (think low fat, vegetarian), and exercise. For more information see Dr. Dean Ornish’s lifestyle program and the Unofficial Dean Ornish Support Site.