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So how do we treat heart disease? You know, that's a really good question, but it really
depends on the exact type of heart disease. If we take ischemic heart disease, which is
one of the most common, that's a build up of cholesterol plaque in the arteries of the
heart. The way to treat it can involve some basic lifestyle changes. You can improve the
way you eat and make healthier choices with your diet, stop smoking, increase exercise,
and allow more time for relaxation and to de-stress. You also have to see your doctor
regularly and take the medicines he or she prescribes. Some of the medicines your doctor
may prescribe would be ones that lower your blood pressure or your cholesterol.
Other things you can do would be to increase the amount of cardiovascular exercise you
get. In general, we recommend 30 to 60 minutes a day of cardiovascular exercise where you
get your heart rate elevated and get a good sweat going. The good news is that with a
lot of these lifestyle changes we make, we can see the beneficial effects on your heart
and your overall health in a relatively short period of time. In terms of other types of
heart disease, the same sorts of advice would apply. You see your doctor regularly, take
the medicines that are prescribed and sometimes a procedure or a surgery would also be required
to help treat heart disease.