Digital News Report – Doctor Oz shared a four-week plan on his TV show today which includes steps people can take to reduce their risk for having a heart attack. He first explained there are 1,300 who will die from a heart attack in one day across the United States. To help prevent heart attacks, Doctor Oz has outlined a 28-day plan.
Doctor Oz said that you could reduce your risk of heart disease by more than 90 percent.
Three women were interviewed who were either struggling with heart attacks within their family, or had a heart attack themselves. Doctor Oz said more women than men have heart disease.
Doctor Oz had two medical professional guests on his TV show to explain more about heart attack risk and the importance of making lifestyle changes for prevention.
Lori Mosca MD is a preventative Cardiologist from New York Presbyterian Columbia Hospital. Mosca explained that blood pressure, cholesterol levels, smoking, age, and gender are five risk factors associated with heart attack risk. With the first three risk factors, people can do a lot improve the situation. She said that in the past 20 years people have cut heart disease numbers in half because of these three factors that are modifiable.
Laura Altman Physician’s Assistant from New York Presbyterian Columbia was also a guest on ‘The Dr. Oz Show’ today. She said that lifestyles choices, such as too much eating, smoking, and inactivity contribute to heart attack risks.
Doctor Mosca added that you want to prevent the buildup of plaque in the arteries. Both excessive cholesterol in the blood and inflammation can lead to a clot, which causes a heart attack. She added that reducing inflammation and cholesterol levels in the blood will help prevent a heart attack.
Altman said that 99 percent of her patients who have heart attacks usually have high blood pressure.
Doctor Mosca explained that stress is a double whammy because the acute effects of stress cause physical damage to the arteries themselves. While ongoing stress leads to unhealthy lifestyle behaviors, such as not getting enough physical activity and depression.
Doctor Oz 28-days to Prevent a Heart Attack
Doctor Oz outlined simple steps people can take to reduce their risk for having a heart attack. His plan is outlined in Four week steps.
Week One: Artery Maintenance
Doctor Oz first said to add two tablespoons of flaxseed oil to your breakfast every day. Doctor Oz said he adds flaxseed oil to his oats.
Next, he said to take 2 baby aspirins with a glass of water before bed every day.
Last, he said to stretch every day. Before leaving the house in the morning, take 10 minutes to stretch your legs and body. If you stretch as an adult, you can benefit from 30 percent less stiffness in the arteries.
Week Two: Challenge your Heart
Doctor Oz said to climb stairs for 7 minute daily. He added increasing physical activity can help prevent your chance of heart attack by one-third.
Week Three: Lower Your Blood Pressure
To lower your blood pressure Doctor Oz said to change what you eat. He said to eat three servings of fruit each day. He said to make the meat the side dish and make green vegetables the main course for dinner every day.
He said that a China study showed a reduction in heart disease with people who had a diet that was rich in fruits and vegetables. Doctor Oz said that eating real foods does not have a lot of salt in them.
Week Four: Reduce Stress
In order to reduce stress, Doctor Oz said to make two social calls every week. Once weekly, have a social engagement in addition to the phone calls. Doctor Oz said that people who are stressed and depressed are three times more likely to suffer from a heart attack. Lastly, Doctor Oz said that people should have sex to reduce stress.
The next segment of the show discussed the how the Mediterranean Diet could lower the risk of heart disease.
By: Robert Williams