T.J. Samson | Destination Health | August 2019

things to know about cardiac rehab If you have a heart problem, cardiac rehab may be what’s best for your ticker right now. Here’s what you need to know about this program that may help you live better and longer. It’s an outpatient program. Cardiac rehab is a medically supervised program for people with heart problems. A typical program lasts about 12 weeks and is run by a team of doc- tors, nurses and other experts. During the classes, participants exercise to get stronger, and they receive heart-healthy education, counseling and support. Rehab could help keep you active and out of the hospital. It can help you re- sume favorite activities—like golfing or ballroom dancing—after a heart attack. And it may reduce your need for chest pain medicines, as well as cut your risk for future heart attacks, hospital stays and even early death. Many people qualify. You may be a can- didate if, for instance, you have or have had a heart attack, heart failure, coronary artery bypass surgery, heart-valve surgery, angioplasty, angina or coronary heart disease. The exercise classes are safe. In rehab, the exercise is tailored to your needs. And it’s monitored for your safety. For instance, you might exercise on a treadmill or a rowing machine to help improve your fitness level. You’ll learn to care for your ticker. Rehab participants learn healthy changes, such as eating right, quitting smoking and reducing stress. You can ask for it. To find out if cardiac rehab is right for you, ask your doctor. It’s often covered by insurance. Medi- care and many private insurance plans cover cardiac rehab. Sources: American Heart Association; National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute While they may be less famous than their cholesterol cousins, triglycerides also de- serve your attention for their role in heart health. Here are some key things to know. WHAT ARE TRIGLYCERIDES? They’re the most common type of fat in the body.They can come directly from the foods you eat, or your body can make them from extra calories, especially carbo- hydrates. Your body stores and uses them for between-meal energy. Triglycerides also circulate in the bloodstream, just like cholesterol. WHY DO THEY MATTER TO YOUR HEALTH? A high triglyceride level may raise your risk of heart disease. People with high triglyc- erides tend to have other heart-health risk factors as well, such as unhealthy cholesterol levels, diabetes or obesity. To schedule a cholesterol test, call 270-651-1111. HOW WILL I KNOW IF MY TRIGLYCERIDE LEVELS ARE HIGH? Your doctor can check your levels when you have a routine cholesterol test called a lipid profile. This test also measures your HDL (good) choles- terol, LDL (bad) cholesterol and total cholesterol levels. Your doctor can tell you what a healthy level is for you based on your overall risk for heart disease. WHAT CAN YOU DO TO LOWER UNHEALTHY LEVELS? Your doctor may prescribe medicines—or recom- mend lifestyle changes. You might need to: ●  ● Choose healthier carbohydrates, such as whole grains, fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy. Triglycerides: Coming out of cholesterol’s shadow ●  ● Cut back on foods with added sugars and refined grains (like white bread and white rice). ●  ● Limit or avoid alcohol. ●  ● Reach or maintain a healthy weight. ●  ● Exercise regularly. ●  ● If you smoke, quit. Sources: American Heart Association; Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Cardiovascular Disease August 2019 7