Patient Education
Did you know that cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death for American women? Cancer gets a lot of press, but many more women die from heart disease each year than from all forms of cancer combined.
Surveys show fewer than one in 10 women perceive heart disease as their greatest health threat. But it's the nation's number one killer, and women are its prime target.
The most common form of heart disease is atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries. Cholesterol joins with calcium and scar tissue and builds up in the arteries. When cholesterol levels are too high, the circulatory system becomes choked—and the result is a dam of plaque that narrows the channels the blood flows through.
Cardiac rehabilitation (“cardiac rehab”) is a program designed by your health care team that will not only help you recover, but also reduce your risk for future heart problems. Your cardiac rehab program may begin while you’re in the hospital. After you’re discharged, you may go to a special facility for scheduled rehab classes.
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