About Our Program |
Adult Congenital Heart Disease |
Cardiac Rehabilitation |
Cardiac Surgery |
Cardiovascular Imaging |
Chest Pain |
Conditions and Illnesses |
Finding the Right Cardiologist |
Heart Failure |
Heart Rhythm Management |
Heart Transplantation |
Interventional Cardiology |
Our Physicians |
Our Services |
Patient Education Materials |
Prevention and Nutrition |
Stress Testing |
Support Groups and Resources
Although cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of illness in the U.S., the good news is that UT Southwestern Medical Center’s prevention and nutrition specialists can help patients modify, control, prevent or treat most risk factors that increase their risk for heart disease.
Even if some risk factors cannot be changed, such as age, ethnic or racial background and family or personal medical history, our specialists will help patients focus on changing the vast majority of lifestyle risk factors that can dramatically reduce their risk for heart disease.
Our physicians and cardiac rehabilitation specialists can show patients how to approach decisions about what to eat and how to live. Whether patients remain free of heart disease or want to prevent its progression, we can help them make the right choices on a path to improved cardiovascular health.
Treatment
If patients have already experienced heart disease, our registered dietitians and physical therapists will help them plan meals and prescribe exercise routines specifically suited to their particular condition. In addition, some other important risk-reducing programs are:
- For smokers, a UT Southwestern prevention specialist can recommend a smoking-cessation program.
- For high blood pressure, cholesterol and triglyceride levels, our staff can help patients lower these levels by incorporating healthy eating patterns into their diets.
- For overweight patients, our staff will introduce them to a heart-healthy diet and monitor their progress.
- For patients with diabetes who are at a higher risk of developing heart disease, our specialists will help them control their diet and blood pressure, as well as regularly monitor cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
- When patients are physically able, our staff will recommend a specific exercise program of at least 30 minutes daily; alternatively, we’ll recommend using a pedometer to track the number of steps taken throughout the day to monitor activity.
- For patients experiencing persistent stress, they can begin a therapeutic program that involves learning adaptive techniques to reduce stress, including an appropriate exercise or relaxation programs.
Patient Education
UT Southwestern’s staff cares about their patients’ cardiovascular health. Staff members continually work with patients before, during and after cardiovascular treatments to help them achieve the best possible outcome.
For more information, please visit the Health Library.
