American Lung Association website. Available at: http://www.lungusa.org/. Accessed July 15, 2008.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/. Accessed July 15, 2008.
National Cancer Institute website. Available at: http://www.cancer.gov/. Accessed July 15, 2008.
3/25/2008 DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/what.php : Parkes G, Greenhalgh T, Griffin M, Dent R. Effect on smoking quit rate of telling patients their lung age: the Step2quit randomised controlled trial. BMJ. 2008;336:598-600.
7/6/2009 DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/what.php : Myung SK, McDonnell DD, Kazinets G, Seo HG, Moskowitz JM. Effects of Web- and computer-based smoking cessation programs: meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Arch Intern Med. 2009;169:929-937.
A number of different health professionals may have different methods and products that can support you in quitting smoking.
There are a number of ways to quit smoking. For more information and tips, see the Smoking Cessation article.
You don't have to quit alone. In fact, quitting with a friend or loved one can increase both of your chances for success.
Quitting smoking can help prevent and treat some arrhythmias. It can also help prevent heart disease and heart attacks, which are some of the primary reasons why some people develop arrhythmias.
Smoking can contribute to the development of an arrhythmia. Smoking damages your blood vessels, reduces the amount of oxygen in your blood, and forces your heart to work harder. Quitting smoking can improve your health and sense of well-being.
Quitting smoking can help prevent and treat some arrhythmias. It can also help prevent heart disease and heart attacks, which are some of the primary reasons why some people develop arrhythmias.
In addition to consulting with your doctor, consider making an appointment with a certified athletic trainer to help you develop a safe, effective, and enjoyable exercise program. You can find a trainer at a local gym or through a referral from your doctor or a friend. Make sure this person understands your goals and health condition and can help you maintain an exercise program that you will enjoy and stick with.
If you are looking for other forms of movement, consider consulting someone like a yoga therapist, qi gong or tai chi instructor.
American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine website. Available at: http://www.sportsmed.org/tabs/Index.aspx . Accessed September 4, 2008.
Exercise: how to get started. American Academy of Family Physicians website. Available at: http://www.aafp.org/afp/20061215/2095ph.html . Published December 2006. Accessed September 4, 2008.
Health and fitness tips. American Council on Exercise website. Available at: http://www.acefitness.org/healthandfitnesstips/default.aspx . Accessed September 4, 2008.
Mayo Clinic. Stretching: focus on flexibility. Mayo Clinic website. Available at: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/stretching/hq01447. Updated February 21, 2010. Accessed May 18, 2010.
In addition to consulting with your doctor, consider making an appointment with a certified athletic trainer to help you develop a safe, effective, and enjoyable exercise program. You can find a trainer at a local gym or through a referral from your doctor or a friend. Make sure this person understands your goals and health condition and can help you maintain an exercise program that you will enjoy and stick with.
If you are looking for other forms of movement, consider consulting someone like a yoga therapist, qi gong or tai chi instructor.
To offer you the full range of benefits, your exercise program should include the major categories of exercise--aerobic (cardiovascular exercise), strength training (resistance exercises), and flexibility (stretching exercise). Within all of these major categories of exercise, there are a number of different options.
See the Exercise article for more information and tips on starting a regular exercise program.
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How exercise affects your arrhythmia depends on what kind of exercise you're doing and what kind of arrhythmia you have. Talk to your doctor to figure out the right kind of activity for your condition.
The most common cause of dangerous arrhythmias is a heart attack, which results from heart disease. Prevention of arrhythmias is mostly a matter of reducing your risk of heart disease and then preventing subsequent rhythm disturbances if you survive the first one. However, there are a few measures that specifically influence your risk of arrhythmias.
General Guidelines for Reducing Your Risk of Arrhythmias
Manage Stress
Stress may raise your risk of arrhythmias if you have predisposing factors. If you need support or assistance in reducing stress, you may want to try some of the following techniques:
Beware of Medications That May Cause Arrhythmias
Ask your doctor or pharmacist what effect your medications will have on heart rhythm. If you are predisposed to arrhythmias, ask about substitutes for the drugs that can precipitate an abnormal rhythm. Be particularly wary of:
Avoid Illegal Drugs
Avoid illegal drugs, especially cocaine, methedrine, and other amphetamines.
General Guidelines for Reducing Your Risk of Heart Disease
If You Smoke, Quit
Smoking can increase the amount of fatty material that collects in your arteries. Also remember that secondhand smoking is detrimental to your health. Make sure you're not exposed to cigarette smoke. When you quit smoking, your risk of heart disease drops significantly within the first year.
Eat a Heart-healthy Diet
A diet low in saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol, and rich in whole grains, fruits, and vegetables will help lower cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and body weight—three heart attack risk factors. Follow the meal plan recommended by your doctor. Also, there is evidence to suggest that supplementation with omega3 fatty acids may reduce the risk of arrhythmias. Talk to your doctor about this.
Exercise Regularly
Follow your doctor’s recommendations for physical activity. After a heart attack, he or she will likely refer you to a cardiac rehabilitation program, which will help you establish a life-long exercise plan and monitor your initial program. Choose exercises you enjoy and will make a regular part of your day. Strive to maintain an exercise program that keeps you fit and at a healthy weight. For most people, this could include walking briskly or participating in another aerobic activity for at least 30 minutes per day.
Maintain a Healthful Weight
Follow the dietary and exercise plan recommended by your doctor or dietitian. Being overweight or obese is associated with higher risk of heart attack, and losing weight lowers that risk. To lose weight, consume fewer calories than you expend. To maintain a healthy weight , eat an amount of calories equal to the calories you expend. One indicator of a healthy weight is body mass index (BMI). BMI of 25 and above is associated with high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure and increased risk of heart disease.
Drink Alcohol Only in Moderation
Heavy drinking is associated with increased risk of heart attack. Moderate drinking may lower the risk of heart attack. Moderate drinking is one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men. One drink equals 12 ounces of beer or four ounces of wine or one ounce of 100-proof spirits. In addition, be aware that alcohol may interfere with your medications, and chronic intake of alcohol may have deleterious effects on your health.
Take Your Medications as Directed
Your doctor may prescribe medications to reduce your risk of heart disease. These may include medications to lower your blood pressure, manage your cholesterol levels, or manage diabetes (if you have diabetes). If your doctor has prescribed medications, take them exactly as directed and report side effects to your healthcare provider immediately. Do not skip pills or stop taking them without consulting your healthcare provider.
The most common cause of dangerous arrhythmias is a heart attack, which results from heart disease. Prevention of arrhythmias is mostly a matter of reducing your risk of heart disease and then preventing subsequent rhythm disturbances if you survive the first one. However, there are a few measures that specifically influence your risk of arrhythmias.
General Guidelines for Reducing Your Risk of Arrhythmias
Manage Stress
Stress may raise your risk of arrhythmias if you have predisposing factors. If you need support or assistance in reducing stress, you may want to try some of the following techniques:
Beware of Medications That May Cause Arrhythmias
Ask your doctor or pharmacist what effect your medications will have on heart rhythm. If you are predisposed to arrhythmias, ask about substitutes for the drugs that can precipitate an abnormal rhythm. Be particularly wary of:
Avoid Illegal Drugs
Avoid illegal drugs, especially cocaine, methedrine, and other amphetamines.
General Guidelines for Reducing Your Risk of Heart Disease
If You Smoke, Quit
Smoking can increase the amount of fatty material that collects in your arteries. Also remember that secondhand smoking is detrimental to your health. Make sure you're not exposed to cigarette smoke. When you quit smoking, your risk of heart disease drops significantly within the first year.
Eat a Heart-healthy Diet
A diet low in saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol, and rich in whole grains, fruits, and vegetables will help lower cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and body weight—three heart attack risk factors. Follow the meal plan recommended by your doctor. Also, there is evidence to suggest that supplementation with omega3 fatty acids may reduce the risk of arrhythmias. Talk to your doctor about this.
Exercise Regularly
Follow your doctor’s recommendations for physical activity. After a heart attack, he or she will likely refer you to a cardiac rehabilitation program, which will help you establish a life-long exercise plan and monitor your initial program. Choose exercises you enjoy and will make a regular part of your day. Strive to maintain an exercise program that keeps you fit and at a healthy weight. For most people, this could include walking briskly or participating in another aerobic activity for at least 30 minutes per day.
Maintain a Healthful Weight
Follow the dietary and exercise plan recommended by your doctor or dietitian. Being overweight or obese is associated with higher risk of heart attack, and losing weight lowers that risk. To lose weight, consume fewer calories than you expend. To maintain a healthy weight , eat an amount of calories equal to the calories you expend. One indicator of a healthy weight is body mass index (BMI). BMI of 25 and above is associated with high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure and increased risk of heart disease.
Drink Alcohol Only in Moderation
Heavy drinking is associated with increased risk of heart attack. Moderate drinking may lower the risk of heart attack. Moderate drinking is one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men. One drink equals 12 ounces of beer or four ounces of wine or one ounce of 100-proof spirits. In addition, be aware that alcohol may interfere with your medications, and chronic intake of alcohol may have deleterious effects on your health.
Take Your Medications as Directed
Your doctor may prescribe medications to reduce your risk of heart disease. These may include medications to lower your blood pressure, manage your cholesterol levels, or manage diabetes (if you have diabetes). If your doctor has prescribed medications, take them exactly as directed and report side effects to your healthcare provider immediately. Do not skip pills or stop taking them without consulting your healthcare provider.
The most common cause of dangerous arrhythmias is a heart attack, which results from heart disease. Prevention of arrhythmias is mostly a matter of reducing your risk of heart disease and then preventing subsequent rhythm disturbances if you survive the first one. However, there are a few measures that specifically influence your risk of arrhythmias.
General Guidelines for Reducing Your Risk of Arrhythmias
Manage Stress
Stress may raise your risk of arrhythmias if you have predisposing factors. If you need support or assistance in reducing stress, you may want to try some of the following techniques:
Beware of Medications That May Cause Arrhythmias
Ask your doctor or pharmacist what effect your medications will have on heart rhythm. If you are predisposed to arrhythmias, ask about substitutes for the drugs that can precipitate an abnormal rhythm. Be particularly wary of:
Avoid Illegal Drugs
Avoid illegal drugs, especially cocaine, methedrine, and other amphetamines.
General Guidelines for Reducing Your Risk of Heart Disease
If You Smoke, Quit
Smoking can increase the amount of fatty material that collects in your arteries. Also remember that secondhand smoking is detrimental to your health. Make sure you're not exposed to cigarette smoke. When you quit smoking, your risk of heart disease drops significantly within the first year.
Eat a Heart-healthy Diet
A diet low in saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol, and rich in whole grains, fruits, and vegetables will help lower cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and body weight—three heart attack risk factors. Follow the meal plan recommended by your doctor. Also, there is evidence to suggest that supplementation with omega3 fatty acids may reduce the risk of arrhythmias. Talk to your doctor about this.
Exercise Regularly
Follow your doctor’s recommendations for physical activity. After a heart attack, he or she will likely refer you to a cardiac rehabilitation program, which will help you establish a life-long exercise plan and monitor your initial program. Choose exercises you enjoy and will make a regular part of your day. Strive to maintain an exercise program that keeps you fit and at a healthy weight. For most people, this could include walking briskly or participating in another aerobic activity for at least 30 minutes per day.
Maintain a Healthful Weight
Follow the dietary and exercise plan recommended by your doctor or dietitian. Being overweight or obese is associated with higher risk of heart attack, and losing weight lowers that risk. To lose weight, consume fewer calories than you expend. To maintain a healthy weight , eat an amount of calories equal to the calories you expend. One indicator of a healthy weight is body mass index (BMI). BMI of 25 and above is associated with high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure and increased risk of heart disease.
Drink Alcohol Only in Moderation
Heavy drinking is associated with increased risk of heart attack. Moderate drinking may lower the risk of heart attack. Moderate drinking is one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men. One drink equals 12 ounces of beer or four ounces of wine or one ounce of 100-proof spirits. In addition, be aware that alcohol may interfere with your medications, and chronic intake of alcohol may have deleterious effects on your health.
Take Your Medications as Directed
Your doctor may prescribe medications to reduce your risk of heart disease. These may include medications to lower your blood pressure, manage your cholesterol levels, or manage diabetes (if you have diabetes). If your doctor has prescribed medications, take them exactly as directed and report side effects to your healthcare provider immediately. Do not skip pills or stop taking them without consulting your healthcare provider.
Having an arrhythmia may mean that you tire easily. However, physical activity still offers many potential benefits. You may have to limit and/or change your physical activities. Talk to your doctor about how much physical activity is appropriate for you.
If you are being treated for congestive heart failure, which often causes fatigue, an arrhythmia can worsen the condition, and correcting the arrhythmia may improve your symptoms.
How exercise affects your arrhythmia depends on what kind of exercise you're doing and what kind of arrhythmia you have. Talk to your doctor to figure out the right kind of activity for your condition.
What is typically called a "heart-healthy diet" involves limiting sodium, certain types of fat, and cholesterol, while emphasizing more healthful foods, such as fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and lean meats.
Because of the link between diabetes and heart disease, some experts consider a low-glycemic diet or low-carbohydrate diet to be the most heart-healthy option. To find what works best for you, talk with your doctor, investigate your options, and experiment.
Consider the following lifestyle modifications, which are recommended for people with heart-related conditions such as arrhythmias:
For more lifestyle modifications recommended to prevent and treat arrhythmias, click here.
American Dietetic Association. Nutrition Care Manual. American Dietetic Association website. Available at: http://nutritioncaremanual.org . Accessed December 8, 2009.
American Heart Association website. Available at: http://www.americanheart.org . Accessed January 12, 2006.
Shield J, Mullen MC. Patient education materials. Supplement to the Manual of Clinical Dietetics . 3rd ed. Chicago, IL: American Dietetic Association; 2001.
It can be challenging to alter your diet, especially if you are trying to make big changes. Consider working with a nutritionist or dietitian to create a customized eating plan that is most likely to fit you and your life. Your doctor or naturopath may also have resources on heart-healthy eating.
