Heart & Lung Rehabilitation

Mercy's Cardiopulmonary Department wants you to know about . .

Here are some interesting truths:

• Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of both men and women in the United States.
• Stroke, which is closely related to the health of your heart and circulatory system, is the third-leading killer in the U.S.
• Last year more than one-fourth of all Douglas County hospital admissions were to treat heart, circulatory and pulmonary illnesses.
• Even though genetics do play a role in determining your risk of developing heart disease, stroke and pulmonary disease, each of these diseases is greatly preventable.

How are they preventable? You know . .

"Exercise, don't smoke, eat right. Reduce your risk factors and you'll live longer and enjoy life more."

You can't do much about these risk factors. .

1. Heredity
2. Gender
3. Increasing age . . .

But you can sure do something to reduce your exposure to these. . .

1. Smoking: The single most important thing you can do to protect your heart, lungs and life is actually to not do something. . . Don't Smoke! Cigarette smoking is the biggest risk factor for sudden cardiac death: smokers have two to four times the risk of nonsmokers. Need help stopping? Call Mercy Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation at 677-4826 to find out when the next smoking cessation program begins.
2. Blood Cholesterol: Monitor and control your blood cholesterol levels - The risk of coronary heart disease rises as blood cholesterol levels increase. Any time your cholesterol reading is above 200 you need to pay more attention to what you're eating. If you don't know what it is, call 677-4826 for a cholesterol test. Cost is $15; benefits could be huge.
3. High Blood Pressure: increases the heart's workload, causing the heart to enlarge and weaken over time. It also increases the risk of stroke, heart attack, kidney failure and congestive heart failure. You can keep an eye on your blood pressure at weekly free blood pressure clinics offered by the Mercy Auxiliary - 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday at the Roseburg Valley Mall, or Noon to 3 p.m. each Wednesday at the Mercy Medical Center main lobby.
4. Inactivity: Lack of physical activity is a risk factor for coronary heart disease. Regular aerobic exercise can significantly help prevent heart and blood vessel disease. Even modest levels of low-intensity physical activity are beneficial if done regularly and long term. Exercise can help control blood cholesterol, diabetes and obesity as well as help to lower blood pressure.

Other contributing risk factors

1. Diabetes seriously increases the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. More than 80 percent of people with diabetes die of some form of heart or blood vessel disease.
2. Obesity - People who have an excessive accumulation of body fat are more likely to develop heart disease and stroke even if they have no other risk factors. Obesity is unhealthy because excess weight increases the strain on the heart. It is linked with coronary heart disease mainly because it influences blood pressure and blood cholesterol and can lead to diabetes.
3. Stress can contribute to high blood pressure and unhealthy lifestyle choices, but you don't have to let it rule your life. The Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Center hosts a Stress Support Group the first and third Monday of each month from 1:00 to 2:30 pm. Call 677-4826 or stop by the Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Center at 2460 Stewart Parkway to learn more.

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