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Frequently Asked Questions About The Dr. Dean Ornish Program For Reversing Heart Disease The Ornish Program
is a unique and innovative Program that treats coronary artery disease
(CAD), providing an alternative to conventional treatments that use
invasive procedures such as arterial bypasses or angioplasty. The Ornish Program is based on pioneering research by Dean Ornish, M.D., president and director of the Preventive Medicine Research Institute (PMRI) in Sausalito, California. The Program is licensed by West Virginia University Hospitals through Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. West Virginia Sites Pennsylvania Sites The Ornish Program works by addressing the lifestyle factors, or behaviors, that are proven risk factors for developing heart disease. The objectives of the Program are: • Reduction of blockages in coronary arteries; • Improvement of blood flow through the heart; • Reduction in chest pain (angina); • Reduction in serum cholesterol levels; and • Improvement in exercise capacity, sense of well-being, and satisfaction with life. The Program is designed to address one or more key risk factors tied to the onset and development of coronary artery disease. Participants — who are screened and approved following consultation with family primary care physicians and cardiologists — are taught to treat key risk factors of heart disease through nutrition, exercise, stress management, and group/emotional support. The Ornish Program has four components: • Improved physical conditioning through low-impact aerobic exercise and strength training; • Relaxation techniques to help cope with and reduce stress; •
A low-fat, whole foods nutrition plan (less than 10
percent of daily calories from fat); and • Group support to enable participants to deal with the emotional issues that contribute to, or result from, heart disease. Participants learn to use these tools during an intensive 12-week Program. Following the initial three-month period, participants are assigned a Program schedule based on the extent of their risk of significant cardiac events. Following completion of the 12-month Program, ongoing support is available as needed. The Ornish Program is the result of more than two decades of research by Dr. Ornish. The results of his studies have been reported in the Lancet, the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), and other respected, peer-reviewed medical publications. Dr. Ornish is among the best-known researchers of heart disease in the United States and is the author of the best-sellers, Dr. Dean Ornish’s Program for Reversing Heart Disease and Eat More, Weigh Less. And, yes, the
Program produces remarkable results. West Virginia University Hospitals has offered the Ornish Program since May 2002. Dr. Ornish offers the Program through Lifestyle Advantage. Today, the Ornish Program is available at sites across the United States. The Ornish Program is designed to help three primary groups: • Men and women who are contemplating bypass surgery or angioplasty but are seeking an option that may reduce the need for these procedures; • Patients who have previously experienced one or more heart procedures and want to minimize the chances of repeating the process; and • People with significant risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as high serum cholesterol, high blood pressure, a strong family history of heart disease or diabetes. West
Virginia University Hospitals work with a person’s primary care
physician and with specialists such as cardiologists to identify
candidates for the Ornish Program. Candidates are carefully screened to
ensure that the Program is right for them. They continue to be treated
by their physician, who receives regular reports on his/her patient’s
progress. Participants must follow the Ornish Program in its entirety for a full year. More important, they must be willing to commit to a change in lifestyle—a new eating style, regular exercise, and often a change in their outlook — to succeed. The Ornish Program gives participants the knowledge and encouragement to put their commitment into action and adopt a lifestyle that can change their lives for the better. Yes. West Virginia University Hospitals, Dr. Ornish’s, and Highmark’s experience shows that treating the root causes of heart disease instead of just the symptoms can reverse the process for many individuals willing to commit to a healthier lifestyle. Results vary for each participant based on a variety of factors. But many participants have reported improvements within a few weeks of entering the Ornish Program and adopting their new lifestyle — for example, fewer and less severe angina attacks. As the Program progresses, many participants discover new energy, increased strength, success in dealing with stressful situations, and a newfound sense of empowerment as they regain control of their health and their lives. In addition to improving their physical health, participants find they are happier, less hostile, and better able to cope with stress than ever before. The components of the Ornish Program — a low-fat whole foods nutrition plan, exercise, and relaxation to reduce stress — are rooted in common sense. When the Program guidelines are followed, there is no significant health risk to participants. A bypass or angioplasty is not an experience that people willingly undergo if there is a better alternative available. Second, in addition to the risks inherent in any surgical procedure, a bypass or angioplasty does not treat the underlying risk factors associated with heart disease — a diet high in fat, a sedentary lifestyle, or stress. If these root causes are not addressed, there is a significant chance that a bypass or angioplasty may turn out to be only a temporary solution. In fact, studies show that up to 50 percent of bypass recipients must undergo an additional bypass in five to seven years, while 30 to 50 percent of angioplasty recipients must repeat the procedure within six months. For people who are committed to changing their lives for the better and taking an active role in managing their own health, the Ornish Program can be the best decision they will ever make. Q
The Ornish Program is
basically common sense — why can’t a person just do this on
his/her own? True, the Ornish Program relies on advice that physicians will tell their patients — lower your fat intake, exercise, learn how to relax, and avoid stress. However, only the Ornish Program shows people how to make the comprehensive lifestyle changes required to bring this advice to their lives and make it work, day-in and day-out. The Program teaches participants how to adhere to a diet that cuts fat intake, to exercise in ways that build strength and stamina without overtaxing them physically, to relax through specialized techniques, and to recognize and defuse stress. The staff is truly the Heart of the Program as they offer support. Participants and staff experience a bond that proves to be an integral part of their success that cannot be duplicated by doing the Program independently. As with any treatment, the Ornish Program is bound to have its skeptics. Invariably, physicians who recommend patients for the Program come away convinced of its exceptional value and impressed by the results. The Ornish Program offers tremendous benefits to their patients with no risk. The doctor gains the support of an Ornish Program team that includes a registered dietitian, exercise physiologist, stress management instructor, behavioral health clinician, nurse case manager, program director, and medical director. And participants remain under the care of their physician, who will receive regular progress reports throughout the Program. In the current era of rising medical costs, the Ornish Program provides another important benefit — it achieves its remarkable results at a fraction of the cost of invasive procedures. Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, which has offered the Program free to its members since 1997, found that the Program saved an average of more than $17,000 per participant by enabling them to avoid bypasses and angioplasties. The savings estimate does not include the costs of treating heart attacks, medication, or cardiac rehabilitation. If these costs were included, the savings would be even greater. Each participant is screened and approved by a Program medical doctor following consultation with his/her primary care physician and specialist. Participants are admitted based on medical criteria, as well as their willingness to commit to the lifestyle changes required by the Program. Since support is critical to each participant’s success, family members such as spouses also are interviewed to identify any problems that might prevent a person from completing the Program successfully. Individuals interested in finding out more about the Ornish Program or applying for the program, and primary care physicians and cardiologists with qualified candidates, should call West Virginia University Hospitals Ornish Program office at 304-293-2520 or email The Program at ornish@wvuh.com.
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Q Is it possible to overeat on this diet? Yes. After all, there are no limits on the number of grains and vegetables on the Reversal Diet. However, most people don't overeat on this diet because they feel satisfied before they consume excessive calories. To monitor that you are not overeating, follow your body's natural demand for food. Eat when you are hungry. Stop eating when you feel satisfied, not full. Also, weigh yourself once a week. Compare your weight change to the goals your physician or registered dietitian has set for you. Not gaining weight is the objective established for most people who are at an appropriate weight. Steady, gradual weight loss is indicated for most overweight people. |
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Q What
size is a serving?
A "serving" does not refer to the amount you serve yourself, but rather to the amounts of food within a food group which are nutritionally equivalent. For example, a tortilla, a buckwheat pancake, a half-cup of brown rice and a slice of whole grain bread are all one "serving" of grains. This method helps determine the nutrition in foods we eat that are more or less than a typical serving. Using the idea of "servings" helps you to evaluate and plan your diet. |
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Q How
much food preparation time does the Reversal Diet take?
As much or as little as you want to spend. Pop a vegetable burger into the microwave or fuss over a fancy recipe. Slow cook a pot of beans and vegetables, or heat up a can of beans and add in your own herbs and vegetables. The choice is yours. |
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Q
How does the Reversal Diet
taste?
Like all diets, the Reversal Diet can taste fabulous or dreary. Your role is to please your palate with Reversal Diet foods so that it is easier to stick with the diet. That means experimenting with Reversal Diet foods you already know, and enjoy discovering new ones. This process of developing a personalized diet plan of Reversal Diet foods and recipes that bring you pleasure is enhanced by your changing palate. In time, as your taste buds become more sensitive to new and different flavors, you may lose your desire for many high fat foods. Instead, you will begin to appreciate the subtleties of flavors and textures of very low fat vegetarian foods. Eventually, you are likely to notice that your enjoyment of the Reversal Diet foods has deepened.
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