How Better Access To Medications And Lifestyle Changes Can Improve Your Odds Against Cardiovascular Disease (NAPSA)—Heart disease, also known as cardiovascular disease (CVD), can pose a serious threat to your health, but there are many steps you can take to improve your odds of beating it. Even if you know the basics, you can benefit from learning more. For example, if yow’re being treated for high blood pressure or cholesterol, you know that the medication you take can reduce your risk of coronary heart disease, congestive heart failure and stroke. But you may not realize how important it is to stay on your medication and take it as often, and for as long as, your doc- tor recommends. “Unfortunately, some patients who don’t have prescription drug coverage stop filling their prescrip- gram, the Together Rx Access Talk to your doctor about the eating plan that’s best for you. He medicines they need. The program less salt and sodium, and follow- than 275 brand-nameprescription (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) plan or the Ameri- Card, that makes it easier for uninsured Americans to get the offers most Cardholders savings of about 25 to 40 percent on more products, including several cardio- vascular medications. Approximately 36 million uninsured people are eligible for the Together Rx Access Card, which is free to get and free to use. To qualify, applicants must be legal U.S. residents, not eligible for Medicare, without public or private prescrip- tion drug coverage, and with incomes of up to $30,000 for a sin- gle person or $60,000 for a family of four (income eligibility is adjusted for family size). To apply or get more information, call 1-800444-4106 or visit www.TogetherRx tions, skip doses or even cut their pills in half,” says Robert Rosenson, M.D., Director of Preventive Cardi- Access.com. their condition harder to manage.” CVD, by helping to keep your weight, blood pressure and cholesterol at healthy levels. But you ology, Northwestern University Medical Center. “That can make the treatment less effective and A Way to Save on Medicines You Need Fortunately, there’s a new pro- @ Make Better Eating Choices You know that eating right is another wayto reduce yourrisk of may not be sure what kind ofdiet will help the most. or she may recommend consuming ing a diet such as the DASH can Heart Association Eating Plan for Healthy Americans. These heart-healthy regimens emphasize fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy foods, as well as whole grains, fish and poultry. Get More Physically Active Even if you know that exercise can lower your risk of CVD, you may not realize how easy it is to do. You don’t need to join a gym— the American Heart Association recommends getting more active in simple ways, such as gardening, standing while talking on the phone, and walking to the store instead of driving. “Seemingly small changes in your daily routine can make a big difference in your cardiovascular condition,” says Dr. Rosenson, “especially when combined with today's highly effective medications for high blood pressure and high cholesterol.”
