Vim & Vigor - Fall 2012 - Gwinnett Medical Center - (Page 16)

Q: “I’ve trIed to quIt smokIng but can’t. Is there hope?” Q: One of the top contributors to heart disease is smoking. When people quit, they reduce their risk of heart disease, lung cancer and breast cancer. Yet quitting is the single most difficult challenge for many patients, says Martha Gulati, M.D., co-author of the book Saving Women’s Hearts: How You Can Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease with Natural and Conventional Strategies. “They might quit for a short term and go back to it. It is an addiction and something they should never go through alone or give up on,” she says. “When they are ready to quit, they can do it.” There are many resources for smokers, including medication, hypnosis and smoking cessation counseling. But what really matters is your personal commitment. Studies show that unless a patient is truly motivated to kick the habit, success is rare, adds Thomas C. Gerber, M.D., a spokesman for the American Heart Association. To get started, set a quit date, download the No-Smoking Contract at heart.org, and sign it in front of friends and family who will help you keep your vow. Don’t be shy about talking to your doctor about quitting smoking. He or she wants to help! “When can I have sex after a heart attack?” This is one of the most pressing questions after a heart attack or bypass surgery. Yet, patients don’t always ask it. “Patients don’t feel that they get counseling on this very important topic that affects their quality of life after a heart attack, and affects not just the patient but their partner,” Gulati says. To make matters more confusing, until recently, heart experts had little research on the subject, making it difficult to advise patients. But this year, the American Heart Association released new guidelines about sex after a heart attack, and urged cardiologists to discuss them with every patient. The good news? If you can handle moderate activity like household chores without experiencing chest pain or shortness of breath, then your heart is strong enough for sex. “There is a fear of having sex and how vigorous it should be,” Gulati says, “but the risks are actually quite low.” The guidelines revolve around the metabolic equivalent of task (MET), or the amount of energy we expend during a given activity. For example, we use about four METs to bathe or get dressed, Gulati says. And it takes three to five METs to have sex. Recovery time after a heart attack varies depending on age, physical condition, severity of the heart attack and level of emotional stress, Gerber says. Talk with your doctor about cardiac rehabilitation, which strengthens your heart and restores energy. “We want our patients to have a healthy life,” Gulati says, “and part of that is helping them safely resume sexual activity.” Q: “WIll you knoW If I don’t exercIse?” photography by getty images While blood tests offer a precise look at your eating habits, they reveal far less about your exercise routine. Doctors rely on your word, and common sense. “I can’t look at someone per se and tell they haven’t been exercising,” Gulati says. “I have a hard time if patients tell me, ‘I’m eating right and exercising this much,’ and their weight is exactly the same. It won’t add up.” Dr. Gerber checks blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, height, weight and body mass index. Also, a stress test can reveal a sedentary lifestyle, which is a major factor in heart disease. Ultimately, lying to your doctor = cheating yourself. “There isn’t any reason to lie to your doctor,” Gulati says. “They want to help you achieve optimum health and prevent diseases, so it’s better to be honest with them so they can help you achieve healthy practices.” 16 Vim & Vigor • FALL 2 012 http://www.heart.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Vim & Vigor - Fall 2012 - Gwinnett Medical Center

Vim & Vigor - Fall 2012 - Gwinnett Medical Center
Contents
Phil’s Feature
Good Times for a Good Cause
Warm Fuzzies
30 Days to Better Sleep
I Can’t Ask My Doctor That!
He Said, She Said
Hold On to Your Health
Still A Screening Star
Your Joints: An Owner’s Manual
Weighing Your Options
No Greater Gift
Weather Alert
Virtual Health
PrimeTime Health
From the Heart
Putting Everything in Place
Out of the White Coat
Transforming Healthcare

Vim & Vigor - Fall 2012 - Gwinnett Medical Center

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