February is American Heart Health Month. And to help you be heart smart, we recently spoke with Marc Gillinov, MD., about how patients can live well and prosper following heart surgery. Drs. Gillinov and Nissen are authors of the book
Heart 411: The Only Guide to Heart Health You'll Ever Need (Three Rivers Press, 2012).
Q: Dr. Gillinov, when you are working with heart surgery patients, what lifestyle modifications do you most strongly stress?
A: No matter what operation we perform, I want patients to think of their heart surgery as a new beginning. At the same time, I emphasize that the surgery does not confer permanent cardiac protection. Patients’ choices and actions can make a huge difference in their future heart health.
I stress three things:
•
Diet: Follow a
Mediterranean-style diet with an appropriate number of calories. We have a great deal of evidence supporting this olive-oil-rich, balanced diet plan as the best when it comes to heart health.
• Exercise: Daily exercise is key. At a minimum, walk at least 30 minutes per day. This should be brisk walking, not a “window shopping” sort of pace. If you want to progress to jogging, bicycling, swimming or another aerobic activity, that is great. Twice weekly resistance training adds to the benefit. Using light weights two days a week increases strength and mobility and preserves lean body mass.
• Know your numbers: Stay on top of your cardiac numbers. This means knowing your cholesterol levels, blood pressure and body mass index (a measure of body weight). Most heart patients should check these numbers annually.
Q: If you’ve already got heart disease, can these really help? Isn’t the horse out of the barn at this point?
A: We don’t have a magic pill or strategy that reverses coronary heart disease. But we do have strategies to halt disease progression, prevent heart attacks and extend life. Whether you already have heart disease or your goal is to prevent its development, your choices and habits matter. Embrace the three strategies I just mentioned: A heart healthy diet, daily exercise and an annual check of your cardiac numbers.