Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Denton talks about the road to cardiac recovery – LIVING WELL Magazine

The Road to Cardiac Recovery

Courtesy Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Denton, Denton LIVING WELL Magazine

According to the National Institutes of Health, about 1.2 million people every year experience a heart attack in the U.S. Once the cardiac event has passed, a specialized program can help patients get back to a normal life.

At Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Denton, cardiac rehabilitation services help patients learn more about their conditions and take steps toward a healthier life. Cardiac rehabilitation combines education, counseling, exercise and nutritional services to create necessary lifestyle changes for patients recovering from cardiac conditions.

Step by Step

From the beginning of the cardiac rehabilitation program, patients are very involved in their care — from overcoming emotional challenges through counseling to returning to the level of fitness they had before the cardiac event. Patients learn the right way to exercise for maximum heart safety and how to alter their diets to promote better heart health. Throughout the program, specially trained cardiac rehabilitation staff members monitor the patients’ progress and are available for any questions or support. The program lasts 12 weeks, but many patients move on to Texas Health Denton’s maintenance program to stay on the right track.

“Our program helps people get back to doing the things they love,” says LaNell Noggler, R.N., program coordinator of Cardiac Rehabilitation at Texas Health Denton. “Cardiac rehabilitation provides a way for patients to improve their quality of life and take control of their own health.”

Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Denton is certified by The American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation

For more information about cardiac rehabilitation services at Texas Health Denton, visit www.TexasHealth.org.

Weighing Your Risk for Heart Disease

Approximately one-third of Americans and more than 30% of Texans are obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Research suggests obesity — a condition in itself — also contributes to other life-altering health conditions.

Carrying excess weight increases one’s risk of many diseases and health conditions, such as cancer, diabetes and sleep apnea. Obesity is also closely linked to heart disease, the leading cause of death in men and women in the U.S., according to the CDC.

Where Obesity and Heart Disease Meet

Obesity is defined as excess body fat. The condition is most often linked to poor eating habits, excess alcohol intake and lack of physical activity. When fat cells build in the artery walls, blood flow to the heart can be reduced and even stopped, resulting in a heart attack.

Seeking Treatment

For those living with excess body fat, successful weight loss outside of surgical procedures can be difficult. Bariatric surgery, primarily reserved for the severely obese, can yield positive results in reducing health risks associated with obesity. Common weight-loss surgery options include gastric bypass and laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy.

“People need to understand that obesity is a disease for which effective treatments are available,” says David Provost, M.D., bariatric surgeon at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Denton. “We’ve seen improved health, longevity and quality of life with bariatric surgery.”

Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Denton is recognized as a Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence by the American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery. 

Visit TexasHealth.org to learn more about weight-loss surgery options.