Friends and Family Life-extenders for Heart Disease Victims NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center AgeVenture News, www.demko.com, 06-01-05 Heart disease is the number one killer of adults in the United States, accounting for one million adult deaths annually. Lifestyle factors, however, can reduce the risk to heart disease. Those factors include a heart-healthy diet, physical activity, and not smoking. "Building a network of support from friends and family is key," says Dr. Carla Boutin-Foster, physician and professor at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center. "Social supports are the day-to-day interactions between you, your friends, and family that provide love, important information, and assistance with daily tasks or chores." Based on earlier studies at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell, Dr. Boutin-Foster offers suggestions on how you can approach friends and family to ask their help in leading a healthier lifestyle. Make a list of people who can provide social support. Enlist the help of family and friends to improve your health. Talk to your doctor about ways you can improve your social support. Join a peer-counseling group for people with heart disease. Tell your support network what is helpful and what is not. Ask a friend or family member to accompany you to the doctor. Dr. Boutin-Foster also offers some practical advice on how you can help your friends and family: Ask those with heart disease how you can be helpful. Provide gentle reminders and encouragements. Share recipes for healthy meals. Volunteer to be a companion on a walk in the park. Encourage smokers to quit. Volunteer to pick up medications from the pharmacy. Social support has also proved beneficial to those who suffer from diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease. "It has also been shown to improve immune response," says Dr. Boutin-Foster. Dr. Carla Boutin-Foster's research received funding from the Robert Wood Johnson's Harold Amos Medical Faculty Development Program. See related articles in AgeVenture archives. AgeVenture Lifestyle Features AgeVenture Headline News