Your Guide to Living Well With Heart Disease

Chances are you’re reading this book (the National Institutes of Health Publication 06-5270) because you or someone close to you has heart disease. Perhaps your doctor has recently told you that you have a heart condition, and you’re looking for information on how to take good care of yourself. Perhaps you’ve known about your condition for some time and are interested in the latest knowledge on treatment and self-care. Perhaps you’ve recently had a heart attack or heart surgery and want some guidance on making the best possible recovery. This book will address all of these concerns. It is a step-by-step guide to helping people with heart disease make decisions that will protect and improve their heart health. It will give you information about lifestyle habits, medicines, and other treatments that can lessen your chances of having a heart attack—either a first attack or a repeat one. If you have already had a heart attack or have undergone a heart procedure, you will find guidance on how to recover well, both physically and emotionally. But this book is not just about preventing and treating problems. It is also about how to live well with heart disease. It will help you to make decisions that allow you to live as fully, healthfully, and enjoyably as possible, even as you cope with the demands of your heart condition. As you read this book, you will find that caring for your heart and caring for yourself are deeply intertwined. To find out why and how, read on.