In recognition of American Heart Month, the American College of Cardiology (ACC) today released CardioSmart "Survival Guides" for five of the most common heart problems: coronary artery disease, heart failure, arrhythmia, hypertension and heart attack. The Survival Guides are part of the ACC's CardioSmart National Care Initiative, a patient-centered campaign to engage people to play an active role in their own heart health and empower them to make better, healthier lifestyle choices.
Developed by cardiologists for their patients, the Survival Guides are designed to help patients better understand and manage their condition and facilitate productive discussion with their physicians. The Guides provide patients with clear, concise definitions of each condition; tips for living well with each condition; and important questions to ask their health care team.
"Navigating the vast amount of information available on various heart conditions can be overwhelming, confusing, and frustrating," said Ralph G. Brindis, M.D., M.P.H., president of the American College of Cardiology. "These Survival Guides are designed to take some of the guesswork out of taking care of your heart and encourage open discussion with your cardiologist. Something as simple as educating yourself and making small changes every day can have a profound effect on your heart health."
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