4 Tips for Managing Heart Disease

Heart disease is a difficult diagnosis to hear, but it doesn’t mean you’re at a dead end. There are steps you can take to protect your health and prevent your heart disease from taking over your life.
If you want to join the many individuals who are living fulfilling lives despite their heart condition, Dr. James Kim and our team have some tips to help you regain control.

Explaining Heart Disease

Heart disease is a medical condition that has various ailments. These include:

• coronary artery disease (CAD)
• heart failure
• arrhythmia such as atrial fibrillation
• heart attack
• stroke

Among these, CAD is the most common, impacting over 20 million adults in the United States. It is important to note that heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the country. However, this does not mean that there are no preventative measures you can take to reduce this risk.

Thriving While Managing Heart Disease

Living a healthy and fulfilling life despite having heart disease is crucial. When you receive your diagnosis, it should serve as a wake-up call to take immediate and decisive action. Although your heart condition may have developed gradually over time, the actions you take from now on to manage or slow its progression are incredibly valuable.

To help you get started on your journey, we provide you with four essential tips for living well with heart disease:

1. Building the Right Support Team

   The initial suggestion may come across as self-serving, but it holds significant importance. When dealing with heart disease, it is crucial to have a skilled cardiovascular expert like Dr. Kim on your side. Dr. Kim has the expertise to prescribe medications for managing your heart disease and perform necessary procedures, such as cardiac catheterization. Equally important, he closely monitors your heart health, enabling us to identify and address potential issues.

2. Rehabilitation for Heart Health

   We refer to programs designed for individuals who have experienced a heart attack as cardiac rehabilitation. Increasingly, we recognize this service as a preventive measure as well. Think of it as physical therapy for your heart after an injury. In this case, we provide you with a prescription and connect you with a physiologist who specializes in improving your heart health.

3. Managing Stress

   It’s no secret that stress is quite prevalent in today’s society. The impact of persistent stress on your physical well-being, particularly your cardiovascular health, can be significant. Stress has the potential to elevate your heart rate and blood pressure, while also inducing an inflammatory state that adversely affects your cardiovascular system. Therefore, it is crucial to find ways to reduce stress not only for the sake of your heart but also for your overall well-being. There are numerous techniques available for stress reduction, ranging from meditation to engaging in regular exercise. We encourage you to explore and discover the method that works best for you.

4. Nourishing Your Body

   Improving your diet is crucial in tackling heart disease, as it is likely that your previous eating habits played a role in its development. It’s time to shift your focus to heart-healthy foods by replacing fatty and processed options with fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins. This approach to eating, known as the Mediterranean diet, offers numerous benefits for your heart. If you’d like to learn more about this healthy way of eating, we are here to provide additional information.

To book an appointment, contact us at our Chula Vista or National City, California offices. We can provide you with a personalized strategy to effectively handle your heart condition.