ardiovascular disease and resultant heart attacks are high serum cholesteroal levels, high blood pressure, obesity, stress, smoking and a sedentary lifestyle (Friedman & Rosenman, 1974, pp. 108-137; Gasner & McCleary, 1982, p. 30; Goldberg, 1993, pp. 711-714; Gordon & Gibbons, 1990, p. 41; McGoon, 1993, p. 116; Moore & Webb, 1986, p. 17; Ornish, 1990, p. 82; Sinatra, 1996, p. 60; Smith & Lenhard, 1996, p. 69; Zugibe, 1986, p. 3). Europeans who underwent severe food shortages during WWII had much lower incidences of plaque formation and had reduced cholesterol deposits in the cardiovascular system (Whitaker, 1985, p. 45).
All these factors can be controlled by the individual without expensive and risky medical procedures or the use of drugs. The only exceptions are those people with genetically determined high cholesterol levels who need cholesterol-lowering medications. This makes the problem of cardiac rehabilitation unique in that the patient is really in control of his/her disease. The patient can make a significant difference to his/her well-being
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