My Epiphany

After I got my Master's Degree in Exercise Physiology and Cardiac Rehabilitation, I was hired at a Chicago hospital working  in their department of Cardiac Rehab. Our department consisted of two people--- a cardiac nurse and myself. We took care of patients following their heart attacks, angioplasties, bypass surgeries  and an assortment of other cardiac conditions--- beginning when they were hospitalized and continuing on an outpatient basis once they were discharged. In addition to providing exercise therapy, I lectured to the patients, their families and the community on the anatomy and physiology of the heart,  causes of  heart disease and how exercise helps the heart. It always bothered me to have to tell the patients and their loved ones that their cardiac event weren't sudden occurrances but were rather  the culmination of processes that were developing for years, most probably decades. As I gave these talks over and over, day in and day out, week after week, month after month and year after year, I realized that we have things all wrong. While we have wonderful cardiac rehab programs, corporate wellness programs and adult fitness programs, we're starting much too late. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. In order to break this cycle, we have to start raising our kids with healthy habits and lifestyles so they won't become the next generation of cardiac patients.