BE A SURVIVOR WITH THIS

GET-HEART-HEALTHY CHECKLIST.

HeAfaterrA t

BY VICTORIA DOLBY TOEWS, M.P.H.

Ekept him under constant stress and he never found enough time to exercise, Ian Wilson was stunned to ven though his work as a movie studio executive

realize that he was having a heart attack at the age of 49. Fortunately, he immediately recognized what he was feeling and within an hour was receiving treatment for a blocked artery. Viewing Ian’s heart attack as a wakeup call to live a healthier life, his wife, Denise, spearheaded a new lifestyle for the couple, which has resulted in four years (and counting) of a healthy heart. As Ian puts it, “My wife’s assistance and support after my heart attack was essential because, well, I’m not that strong alone!”

If you or someone you love had a heart attack, the worst is already past. Now is the time to focus on a healthy recovery and learn how to be a survivor by taking control of risk factors and making heart-healthy lifestyle changes. Expert advice in this eight-step checklist can help make sure the “worst” never happens again.