Heart Disease Prevention Clinic

Despite the significant advances of modern medicine, coronary artery disease continues to be our nation's #1 killer. However, acute heart attacks are only a part of the problem. Heart disease is a recurring disease which can cause disability and result in the constant burden of additional health care costs. Heart disease therapy must address the entire disease process and all its underlying causes.

Working under physician supervision, the Heart Disease Prevention Clinic's team of nurses, dietitians, exercise physiologists, and social workers will develop a comprehensive lifestyle modification program tailored to meet your prevention needs. This program will be available to those with established coronary artery disease, and to those working proactively to lower their risk of developing this disease.

Your individual program may include:

• Assessment of cardiac risk factors
• Measurement of blood lipids and blood glucose
• Counseling by a registered dietitian in developing a low fat, low cholesterol diet
• An individualized aerobic exercise program based on treadmill testing and analysis by an exercise physiologist
• Monitored exercise sessions to assess compliance and cardiovascular response to exercise
• Assessment by a cardiologist if treadmill testing is abnormal or if new cardiac symptoms develop
• Monitoring of nutritional and pharmacological treatment of hyperlipidemia in conjunction with your primary physician
• Individualized smoking cessation program
• Participation in a stress management group
• Participation in a heart disease support group
• Follow-up phone calls with your prevention specialist
• Referral to your primary physician or other clinics for other medical problems

Who should be evaluated?
People who have had a heart attack, angioplasty or bypass surgery or those at high risk of developing coronary artery disease due to the presence of two or more of the following risk factors:

• Males 45 years old or older

• Females 55 years old or older

• A family history of premature coronary disease

• Current cigarette smoker

• High blood pressure (or taking medication to treat high blood pressure)

• Elevated cholesterol

• Diabetes

• Body weight 20% more than ideal body weight

• Sedentary lifestyle

How do you participate?
There are several ways to become a participant in the Heart Disease Prevention Clinic:

• Your physician can refer you to the clinic
• As a phase II cardiac rehab patient, you may enter the clinic for follow-up appointments
• You may refer yourself to the Clinic.

All participants must be under the care of a primary physician. Your primary physician will be notified that you are participating in the Clinic.

As a participant in the Heart Disease Prevention Clinic, each visit you make will be recorded in your clinic notes. A written report of findings will be sent to your physician. You will receive a Cardiovascular Health Profile after your initial assessment.

Contact Us
For more information about any of Carle's Heart Disease Prevention Clinic services, please call (217) 383-3484.

This program is funded in part or in full by charitable gifts made to the Carle Development Foundation. You can support this or similar programs by making a charitable gift to Carle through a variety of gift options. Learn more...