The Ornish Program, offered by WVU Healthcare, combines a low-fat vegetarian diet, moderate aerobic exercise, stress management and social support to reduce chest pain (angina), blockages in coronary arteries and serum cholesterol levels. The program’s components help improve blood flow through the heart muscle, exercise capacity and the sense of well-being and satisfaction with life.
Candidates for the program include:
- People who are contemplating bypass surgery or angioplasty but seeking an alternative that may reduce the need for these procedures.
- People who have previously experienced one or more heart procedures and want to minimize the chances of repeating them.
- People diagnosed with coronary artery disease (angina or past heart attacks).
- People with significant risk factors for heart disease, such as high cholesterol levels and a strong family history.
For more information or to join, call 304-293-2520.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death among men and women in West Virginia and the United States. In fact, it kills nearly 7,000 West Virginians each year; in the United States, that number is closer to a half million.