“I am creating a community for people living with heart disease,” she says. “A virtual place to find and share information about lifestyle changes. And a place for people to access and order the resources they need ? no matter where they are. It can feel impossible if you live out in the country, or if you have difficulty getting out.” 

One such woman wrote  “There is a long history of heart disease in my family… I find your website inspirational and I appreciate that I have found it just at the time when I am needing it.”

“I know what it’s like,” Thornton says. She was an energetic 51 year-old when she was unexpectedly admitted to a critical care bed in the cardiac care unit of her local hospital three years ago. The next day she had an angioplasty to clear a 90% blockage of her left anterior descending artery. The location of the blockage, left untreated, would have resulted in a massive heart attack.  “I also learned I had a problem with my aortic valve (aortic stenosis),” she notes.
 
She experienced a rocky recovery - five stays in hospital, four angiograms, two angioplasties (she re-blocked), and six months off work.

Thornton is back on track with her life now, but she says, “It’s so important for people to have support to make the changes they need to make. A great medical team, the support of loved ones, the awareness of risk factors and how to reduce them, and access to the resources you need.”   

And speaking of risk factors, there are only three risk factors for heart disease that you can’t control - your gender, your age, and your family genes. Everything else is up to you. Whether you are living with heart disease or you want to prevent it, here’s what you CAN do:   

• Quit smoking - NOW! 
• Get more active, start an exercise program, and lose excess weight 
• Eat a heart-healthy diet - more fruit, vegetables, fiber - less fat, salt, sugar and processed foods
• Manage your stress and make wise lifestyle choices 
• Know and manage your blood pressure and cholesterol levels 
• Get regular checkups   

Smart Heart Living provides information and resources to help people achieve and maintain a heart healthy lifestyle… especially those living with heart disease.

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Sidebar:
What are the signs of heart disease?
Chest discomfort, heaviness, pressure, aching, burning, fullness, squeezing or a painful feeling in your chest. It can be mistaken for indigestion or heartburn. While discomfort is usually felt in the chest, it may be felt in the shoulders, arms, neck, throat, jaw or back. Other symptoms include:

• Shortness of breath
• Irregular heart beats, palpitations, or skipped beats
• A rapid heartbeat
• Weakness
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Sweating

If you experience these symptoms, depending on the severity , call 911 or see your doctor.
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About the author

Tags: angioplasties, angioplasty, aortic valve, cardiac care unit, critical care bed, family genes, heart attack, heart disease, heart event, history of heart disease, left anterior descending artery, lifestyle changes, living with heart disease, local hospital, massive heart attack, medical team, risk factors for heart disease, six months, stenosis, virtual place

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