Before starting a new exercise routine, talk Heart health education your doctor or nurse. Heart health education Educationn DIAGNOSIS Heart failure Edducation diagnosed based upon your medical history, a physical exam, and a series of tests. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. Men should have no more than 2 drinks per day, and women no more than 1 drink per day.

Heart health education -

Community Subcontract Program. The Heart Truth Community Subcontract Program supports organizations in executing projects that will reduce the burden of heart disease and encourage healthy behavior change to improve heart health.

Related Initiatives. Get Involved in American Heart Month. February is American Heart Month. Join us in raising awareness about how Americans can prevent heart disease.

Celebrate Heart Health on National Wear Red Day®. Join NHLBI, The Heart Truth, and organizations around the country on National Wear Red Day®, celebrated each year on the first Friday in February, to bring greater attention to heart disease awareness as the leading cause of death for Americans.

Use the poster, stickers, and social media resources below to promote Wear Red Day in your community. Heart Health and Pregnancy. During pregnancy, your heart is working harder than usual to pump blood to you and your baby. Sometimes, the extra stress exposes risks to your heart health that were there before you got pregnant.

Learn more about your heart health and pregnancy. Check Out DASH Eating Plan Resources. The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension DASH eating plan is flexible and scientifically proven to lower blood pressure as fast as two weeks.

We have new resources to guide you—wherever you are on your health journey. Get started! Before leaving the hospital, it is important for you and your family to understand the discharge plan. Make sure all your questions are answered and get written directions for taking all your medications new and old.

After a heart attack, it is common to start new medications and stop or adjust the doses of old medications. Medications — Most people who have had a heart attack are sent home with prescriptions for several medications. It is important to take each of these drugs exactly as directed.

Some of these medications can help you to live longer while others help to prevent or treat recurrent symptoms, such as chest pain. See "Patient education: Aspirin in the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease and cancer Beyond the Basics ".

These drugs are given with aspirin to prevent platelets from clumping inside arteries and reduce the risk of re-blockage. This is important even if you are seeing a different doctor for something unrelated to your heart condition for example, a surgeon or gastroenterologist.

Sometimes a doctor or nurse will tell you to stop your medications prior to a procedure such as surgery or a colonoscopy ; however, this may be unsafe and you should discuss it with the doctor who takes care of your heart issues before stopping any of your medications.

It can slow your heart rate. It can take weeks for your body to get used to a beta blocker. The dose may need to be changed a few times as your body adjusts. Nitrates should be taken exactly as prescribed by the doctor.

See "Patient education: Medications for angina Beyond the Basics ". ACE inhibitors also lower blood pressure. Because statins help stabilize fatty deposits inside the arteries that can cause heart attacks, they are often given in high doses after a heart attack, even to people whose cholesterol levels are normal or low.

See "Patient education: High cholesterol and lipids Beyond the Basics ". Medications after a heart attack are important. To help you take them correctly, keep a current list of their names and how many times per day you take them.

An example of such a list can be found at www. Learn the color and shape of each of your medicines. If you receive a prescription refill with a new color or shape pill, review with your pharmacist or healthcare provider so you know which one it replaces.

Some people have difficulty taking medications several times per day. If this becomes a problem, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist if there are ways to reduce the number of times per day you take pills.

The cost of medications can also be a problem. There may be ways to lower costs. See "Patient education: Coping with high prescription drug prices in the United States Beyond the Basics ".

For more detailed information about your medications, ask your doctor or nurse for information from Lexicomp, available through UpToDate. The Lexicomp hand-outs explain how to use and store your medications. They also list possible side effects and warn you if your medications should not be taken with certain other medications or foods.

People who have had a heart attack are encouraged to participate in a structured cardiac rehabilitation cardiac rehab program.

The program can improve your heart's ability to function, lower your heart rate, and reduce your risk of dying or developing complications from heart disease.

You are most likely to benefit if you participate in all three parts of rehabilitation. However, if you cannot participate in all, you can still benefit by participating in one or two components. Exercise — Exercise is known to improve cardiovascular health.

Although nearly everyone can exercise safely after a heart attack, the intensity and duration of exercise depends upon the severity of your heart disease. Therefore, the first step in an exercise program is to determine your risk of complications from exercise.

This is usually done by performing an exercise test on a treadmill. During cardiac rehabilitation, a trained clinician will work with you and your main healthcare provider to develop an exercise program that is safe; this program will consider your fitness level, heart health, any physical limitations, the amount, intensity, and duration of exercise needed to improve heart health, and the need for supervision.

See "Cardiac rehabilitation programs". The exercise should use large muscle groups and include aerobic exercise. Walking, jogging, swimming, cycling, rowing, and stair climbing are some examples. You can also build exercise into your daily routine by taking a brisk walk or playing with children or grandchildren.

Over time, most people can gradually increase the intensity of exercise in their workout. The recommended frequency of exercise is three to five times a week. Each session should include the following:.

Eliminating the warm-up or cool-down phase can increase your risk of heart-related complications. Reduce risk factors — A number of factors increase your risk of developing heart disease and having a heart attack. Reducing or eliminating these risk factors can be helpful, even if you already have heart disease or had a heart attack.

Stop smoking — Cigarette smoking markedly increases your risk of coronary heart disease and heart attack, and stopping smoking can rapidly reduce these risks.

One year after stopping smoking, the risk of dying from coronary heart disease is reduced by about one-half, and the risk continues to decline with time. In some studies, the risk of heart attack was reduced to the rate of nonsmokers within two years of quitting smoking.

Cardiac rehabilitation programs can recommend a treatment to help stop smoking, such as group programs, nicotine patches, gum, or nasal spray, or a prescription medication such as bupropion brand names: Zyban, Wellbutrin. See "Patient education: Quitting smoking Beyond the Basics ".

You and your health care team can work together to prevent or treat the medical conditions that lead to heart disease. Discuss your treatment plan regularly, and bring a list of questions to your appointments.

Talk with your health care team about how heart disease and mental health disorders are related. Your treatment plan may include medicines or surgery and lifestyle changes to reduce your risk.

Skip directly to site content Skip directly to search. Español Other Languages. Prevent Heart Disease. Minus Related Pages. Share Fact Sheets About Heart Disease Patient Education Handouts. Choose Healthy Foods and Drinks Choose healthy meals and snacks to help prevent heart disease and its complications.

Eating lots of foods high in saturated fat and trans fat may contribute to heart disease. Eating foods high in fiber and low in saturated fats, trans fat, and cholesterol can help prevent high cholesterol.

Limiting salt sodium in your diet can also lower your blood pressure. Limiting sugar in your diet can lower your blood sugar level to prevent or help control diabetes. Do not drink too much alcohol, which can raise your blood pressure.

Men should have no more than 2 drinks per day, and women no more than 1 drink per day. Keep a Healthy Weight People with overweight or obesity have a higher risk for heart disease. Get Regular Physical Activity Physical activity can help you maintain a healthy weight and lower your blood pressure, blood cholesterol, and blood sugar levels.

Take Charge of Your Medical Conditions If you have high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or diabetes, you can take steps to lower your risk for heart disease. Check Your Cholesterol Your health care team should test your blood levels of cholesterol at least once every 4 to 6 years. Control Your Blood Pressure High blood pressure usually has no symptoms, so have it checked on a regular basis.

Heart health education Clinic offers appointments in Arizona, Florida and Minnesota and at Heart health education Clinic Health Heqlth locations. You can educatino prevent Hearf disease by following a heart-healthy lifestyle. Here are strategies to help you protect your heart. Heart disease is a leading cause of death. You can't change some risk factors for it, such as family history, sex at birth or age.

Heart health education -

Most people who have COPD have both emphysema and chronic bronchitis. It is a leading cause of death in the United States.

Join us on the COPDjourney and help raise awareness about COPD and its symptoms. COPD National Action Plan. The COPD National Action Plan is the first-ever blueprint for a multi-faceted, unified fight against the disease.

Developed at the request of Congress with input from the broad COPD community, it provides a comprehensive framework for action by those affected by the disease and those who care about reducing its burden.

Blood Diseases and Disorders Education Program. A national health education program that brings greater visibility to blood diseases, disorders, donation, and safety. Sickle Cell Disease: Research, Programs, and Progress. Sickle cell disease affects about , Americans, many of whom are African American.

The NHLBI continues its legacy of commitment to use science to extend and improve the lives of people who have sickle cell disease. We also develop resources and support engagement activities for patients, their families, researchers, health professionals, and other partners.

Sleep Health. About 50 to 70 million Americans have sleep disorders, and 1 in 3 adults do not regularly get the recommended amount of uninterrupted sleep they need to protect their health.

Aim for a Healthy Weight. Aim for a Healthy Weight provides science-based weight control information for patients, the public, and health professionals. Resources include healthy eating plans, menu planners, recipes, a BMI body mass index calculator, and physical activity tips.

We Can! The program focuses on three important behaviors: improving food choices, increasing physical activity, and reducing screen time. Education and Awareness. Sometimes a doctor or nurse will tell you to stop your medications prior to a procedure such as surgery or a colonoscopy ; however, this may be unsafe and you should discuss it with the doctor who takes care of your heart issues before stopping any of your medications.

It can slow your heart rate. It can take weeks for your body to get used to a beta blocker. The dose may need to be changed a few times as your body adjusts. Nitrates should be taken exactly as prescribed by the doctor.

See "Patient education: Medications for angina Beyond the Basics ". ACE inhibitors also lower blood pressure. Because statins help stabilize fatty deposits inside the arteries that can cause heart attacks, they are often given in high doses after a heart attack, even to people whose cholesterol levels are normal or low.

See "Patient education: High cholesterol and lipids Beyond the Basics ". Medications after a heart attack are important. To help you take them correctly, keep a current list of their names and how many times per day you take them. An example of such a list can be found at www. Learn the color and shape of each of your medicines.

If you receive a prescription refill with a new color or shape pill, review with your pharmacist or healthcare provider so you know which one it replaces. Some people have difficulty taking medications several times per day. If this becomes a problem, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist if there are ways to reduce the number of times per day you take pills.

The cost of medications can also be a problem. There may be ways to lower costs. See "Patient education: Coping with high prescription drug prices in the United States Beyond the Basics ". For more detailed information about your medications, ask your doctor or nurse for information from Lexicomp, available through UpToDate.

The Lexicomp hand-outs explain how to use and store your medications. They also list possible side effects and warn you if your medications should not be taken with certain other medications or foods. People who have had a heart attack are encouraged to participate in a structured cardiac rehabilitation cardiac rehab program.

The program can improve your heart's ability to function, lower your heart rate, and reduce your risk of dying or developing complications from heart disease. You are most likely to benefit if you participate in all three parts of rehabilitation. However, if you cannot participate in all, you can still benefit by participating in one or two components.

Exercise — Exercise is known to improve cardiovascular health. Although nearly everyone can exercise safely after a heart attack, the intensity and duration of exercise depends upon the severity of your heart disease. Therefore, the first step in an exercise program is to determine your risk of complications from exercise.

This is usually done by performing an exercise test on a treadmill. During cardiac rehabilitation, a trained clinician will work with you and your main healthcare provider to develop an exercise program that is safe; this program will consider your fitness level, heart health, any physical limitations, the amount, intensity, and duration of exercise needed to improve heart health, and the need for supervision.

See "Cardiac rehabilitation programs". The exercise should use large muscle groups and include aerobic exercise. Walking, jogging, swimming, cycling, rowing, and stair climbing are some examples.

You can also build exercise into your daily routine by taking a brisk walk or playing with children or grandchildren. Over time, most people can gradually increase the intensity of exercise in their workout.

The recommended frequency of exercise is three to five times a week. Each session should include the following:.

Eliminating the warm-up or cool-down phase can increase your risk of heart-related complications. Reduce risk factors — A number of factors increase your risk of developing heart disease and having a heart attack.

Reducing or eliminating these risk factors can be helpful, even if you already have heart disease or had a heart attack. Stop smoking — Cigarette smoking markedly increases your risk of coronary heart disease and heart attack, and stopping smoking can rapidly reduce these risks.

One year after stopping smoking, the risk of dying from coronary heart disease is reduced by about one-half, and the risk continues to decline with time.

In some studies, the risk of heart attack was reduced to the rate of nonsmokers within two years of quitting smoking. Cardiac rehabilitation programs can recommend a treatment to help stop smoking, such as group programs, nicotine patches, gum, or nasal spray, or a prescription medication such as bupropion brand names: Zyban, Wellbutrin.

See "Patient education: Quitting smoking Beyond the Basics ". Treat high blood pressure — Medications to control high blood pressure are often recommended after a heart attack.

It is important to take these medications exactly as prescribed. See "Patient education: High blood pressure treatment in adults Beyond the Basics ". Treat high cholesterol — Medication to lower blood cholesterol levels is also recommended after a heart attack. See 'Medications' above and "Patient education: High cholesterol and lipids Beyond the Basics ".

Manage diabetes — People with diabetes are at an increased risk of developing complications after a heart attack. Tight blood sugar control can help reduce the risk of these and other types of complications. Tight control can be achieved by losing weight, managing your diet, exercising, monitoring blood sugar levels regularly, and taking oral medications for people with type 2 diabetes or insulin for people with type 1 and sometimes type 2 diabetes.

See "Patient education: Preventing complications from diabetes Beyond the Basics ". Some heart problems can be improved by surgery or a procedure. Others can be managed by taking medicine and changing your lifestyle.

Your heart is important to you. It's important to us, too. Here are some of the ways Allina Health can help you care for your heart: Heart Safe Communities Heart Safe Communities works with communities to help them become safer places to live, work and play by reducing death and disability from sudden cardiac arrest.

Heart of New Ulm Project The Heart of New Ulm Project is a year initiative designed to reduce, and eventually eliminate, heart attacks in New Ulm, Minnesota. Health care expertise Allina Health heart care services are provided by: Metropolitan Heart and Vascular Institute Allina Health Minneapolis Heart Institute Just for women Beat heart disease before it beats you Four out of five Minnesota women are at risk for heart disease.

Source: Allina Health's Patient Education Department.

Although cardiovascular disease Heslth the number one uealth of death and disability in the United Eduction, there are a number edhcation things educahion can do to Distorting facts about nutrition your heart healthy and reduce your Heart health education of heart disease. Healthy food habits can help you reduce three of the major risk factors for heart attack: high cholesterol, high blood pressure and excess body weight. The best way to help lower your blood cholesterol level is to eat less saturated fatavoid cholesterol and control your weight. Here are some other nutrition tips:. Physical activity is good for your entire body, especially your heart. Sign heakth or sign up now. Edufation heart is a remarkable, powerful organ. Educztion more you know about how your Heart health education hsalth and what you can do to help it work better, the healthier and more in control of your life you'll feel. The heart care teams of Allina Health want you to know that you are not alone on this journey. There are many ways we can help you help your heart.