William Smith - Exercises for Heart Health: The Complete Guide for Heart Attack, Heart Surgery, and Cardiovascular Disease Patients

EXERCISES FOR HEART HEALTH

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Smith, William, 1976
Exercises for heart health: the complete plan for heart attack, heart surgery, and cardiovascular disease recovery and prevention / William Smith; foreword by Fred Aueron.
p. cm.

eISBN: 978-1-57826-392-9 1. Heart--Diseases--Exercise therapy. I. Title.
RC684.E9S65 2009
616.120642--dc22
2009018303

Cover Design by Heather Daugherty
Photography by Catarina Astrom

v3.1

DISCLAIMER

Consult your physician before beginning any exercise program. The author and publisher of this book and workout disclaim any liability, personal or professional, resulting from the misapplication of any of the training procedures described in this publication.

To Dr. Fred Aueron, for his professional and personal guidance. Dr. Auerons dedication to the field of cardiology and patient care has provided me with countless examples on how to deliver the best in preventative health services and, more importantly, how to do so with the human touch.

To Dr. Gil Hedley, my mentor for countless inner body explorations who taught me to think outside the standard model of the human form and view the body as one interconnected unit of continuity and function. From Dr. Hedleys teachings, and our work in the lab, the systems of the bodyparticularly the hearthas taken on an entirely new presentation. I consider our work together to be truly life altering as it has provided me with an all-encompassing approach to my clients bodies, allowing me to help them improve their inner bodies while also working on their outer body through exercise.

To my clients. Wow! I dont even know where to start. Youve taught me patience, dedication, commitment, and perseverance. Our time together has been a learning experience that I will carry throughout the rest of my life.

To Angela, the love of my life. You are truly an angel on earth that has been sent to watch over me as my life partner. My heart is yours, every resting heart beat.

Heart disease is a growing, ever-present illness in western civilization. In the United State alone, over 80 million Americans suffer from cardiovascular diseases, including heart attack, stroke, hypertension, and vascular disease. In 2004, coronary artery disease caused 1 of every 5 deaths in the United States. Nearly 2,400 Americans die of cardiovascular disease each dayan average of 1 death every 37 seconds. Nearly one third of these deaths occur in people who are 65 years old or younger.

As a practicing Interventional Cardiologist, I have spent the past 35 years recognizing the prevalence of heart disease, and reacting to its long-term effects. While much improvement has been made in treatments such as coronary bypass surgery, balloon angioplasty and coronary stents, we must still wonder why it is that the United States is still has the highest incidence of heart disease.

Although modern medicine has made significant inroads in conquering risk factors, most studies suggest that an active lifestyle is necessary in lowering overall risk. The combination of diet, proper nutrition, physical exercise and aerobic training contribute to a healthier body, longevity, and a more functional lifestyle.

In 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson, recognizing the value of exercise and diet to the American population, started the Presidents Council on Physical Fitness. Reconstituted in the 1980s by Ronald Reagan, this visionary council certified the role of physical activity and diet as a national mandate for health and longevity. In 2007, the American Heart Association published Guidelines for Physical Activity and Public Health in Older Adults: Recommendation by the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Heart Association (Circulation, 116:1094-1105, 2007). As a guideline, this document advocates a combination of aerobic activity, muscle-strengthening activity, flexibility activity, and balance exercises in the elderly population. A plan must be established that addresses each type of activity, and care should be taken to identify how, when, and where each activity should be performed.

The great value of this book, authored by my colleague, and good friend, Will Smith, is to structure the value of your exercise program as you grow into the golden years. Exercise is not an option. It is a requirement for continued health, mobility, and function. The exercises provided in this book reflect the value of flexibility, aerobic capacity, and functional movement. They are critical to maintaining function, and are easy to do without costly equipment. You will gain a great deal of insight from reading the suggestions in these pages. This invaluable information will allow you to be more functional as you seek your fountain of youth.

Fred M. Aueron, MD, FACC, FSCAI

Can Exercise Really Help Heart Disease?

Let me open our Heart Healthy discussion with some practical advice from a gentleman who remains my role model to this day, my grandfather Bill. He offered me simple words of advice that he has used over the course of his lifetime, and wisdom which I apply to my own lifestyle as follows:

These wise words have contributed to a long and fulfilling life for my grandfather. I would also note he has 27 grandkids and 8 children at the time of publication! This keeps him engaged in the day-to-day lives of his family, giving him an extremely effective motivation to keep his heart healthy.

Exercises for Heart Health