Doctors Hospital has been recognized by the American Heart Association for complying with the standards set by their Get With the Guidelines™ programs for treatment of coronary artery disease. The program gives guidelines that are designed to help treat the disease. This means that heart patients should be started on risk-reduction therapies and taught to make lifestyle changes before they are discharged from the hospital. These may include:

·        Cholesterol-lowering drugs

 ·        Aspirin

·        ACE inhibitors and beta-blockers, medications that are given to reduce blood pressure and prevent cardiovascular disorders

·        Smoking cessation counseling

·        Weight management counseling

 Before and after discharge, patients may also be referred to cardiac rehabilitation, a preventative measure that has been shown to reduce the likelihood of a recurrence by as much as 25 percent.

The American Heart Association projects that if hospitals all over the country followed these guidelines for treatment of coronary artery disease, 80,000 more lives could be saved each year.  

Visit americanheart.org/getwiththeguidelines. For more information about Cardiac Services at Doctors Hospital of Manteca, call 800.470.7229 or go to www.doctorsmanteca.com.