(NAPSA)—One wayto reduce yourrisk of a heart attack and stroke maybe to turn on your computer. A free, online, interactive pro- gram has been developed by the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association for individuals at risk for coronary heart disease and stroke. Thesite, MyHeartWatch™, features helpful information and support for patients at risk for or recovering from a heart attack and/or stroke. “The online program is a comprehensive Website created to help patients reducetheir risks for coronary heart disease and stroke while achieving their goals for a healthy lifestyle,” said Richard Pasternak, M.D., director of preventive cardiology and cardiac rehabilitation, Massachusetts General Hospital and chairman of the American Heart Association MyHeartWatch volunteer task force. The site features interactive tools such as Know Your Heart Attack Risk, an online assessment that predicts a person’s actual risk of having a heart attack or dying from coronary heart disease within the next 10 years based on current risk factors. Ask-an-Expert gives participants responses to their questions from an expert panel at the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association. Nutrition Calculator lets participants count calories and monitor other nutritional information at the click of a mouse. After entering what you eat for an entire day, you can see how closely you’ve come to meeting your nutritional goals. A new Website providesinformation to individuals who want to reduce their risk of a heart attack. Chat Roomsoffer participants real-time discussions in “virtual cafes” with other members. Professional moderators guide discussions and communicate expert information from the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association. Discussion Groups are com- prised of individuals who wish to contribute to an ongoing discussion. The Behavioral Modification Program is a health and lifestyle management component that pro- vides individually tailored health and behavioral information to help lower heart attack and stroke risk. Other features include onlinepolls, personal stories, a resource center, and many moretools andtips. “With this interactive technology, we’re helping patients help themselves,” said Pasternak. “MyHeartWatch.org is just what the doctor ordered.”
