Disease Care

When a person has coronary artery disease, taking care of the heart becomes crucial.

The approach for managing any degree of coronary artery disease involves lifestyle changes. Depending upon severity and individual conditions, the person may need one or more medications, surgery, or both.

A healthy diet, regular exercise and quitting smoking may prevent heart disease. There are a number of things that can be done to reduce the risk of coronary artery disease and heart failure.

Managing cholesterol and blood pressure

Keeping cholesterol levels healthy can help prevent coronary artery disease. For most people, the targets are:

• LDL, or "bad" cholesterol -- below 100
• HDL, or "good" cholesterol -- above 40 in men and above 50 in women
• Triglycerides, another fat in the blood -- below 150

High blood pressure causes the heart to get larger and work harder, which can then lead to heart failure. Aim for a blood pressure level of 130/80 or below. Talk to a doctor about ways to lower blood pressure.

Diet

Here are a few basics of a heart healthy diet:

• Fruits and vegetables. Eating at least five portions of fruits and vegetables each day could reduce the risk of death from heart disease, stroke, and cancer by up to 20%.
• Starchy carbohydrates. Eating whole grains is thought to reduce the risk of developing heart disease and can also help to lower blood cholesterol levels. Around one third of meals should be based on carbohydrate, with roughly one half of these grains being whole. Opt for wholegrain bread, whole wheat pasta, and wholegrain rice wherever possible.
• Oily fish. Regular intake of omega-3 fatty acids has been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease, and to improve the chances of survival following a heart attack. The omega-3 fatty acids found in oily fish are thought to help the heart beat more regularly, reduce triglyceride levels, and prevent blood clots from forming in the coronary arteries. Examples of oily fish include trout, salmon, herring, mackerel, or fresh tuna.
• Salt. For anyone who has high blood pressure, it is very wise to reduce salt intake. Recommendations suggest aiming for a salt intake of no more than 6g per day, (2400 mg). This is about one level teaspoon of salt. That includes both the salt added into cooking and at the table, and also the sodium already present in foods.

Exercise

For health benefits to the heart, lungs and circulation, perform any moderate-to-vigorous-intensity aerobic activity for at least 30 minutes on most days of the week at 50 to 85 percent of maximum heart rate. 30-minutes of exercise can be broken down into 10 or 15 minute sessions. What's important is to include physical activity as part of a regular routine.

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