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Star Jones

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Many of the lessons learned she still uses, including exercising four to five days per week, at least 30 minutes each time.

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Jones places half of each meal she is served on a smaller plate and tells herself she can eat some of the rest of the food if she desires. “But nine times out of ten, I never go back for any more,” she said.

Breakfast is usually her biggest meal to give her energy for the day. She doesn’t eat carbohydrates after 6 p.m., and for dinner almost always has lean protein and green vegetables.

Like many others who have had heart surgery or experienced a serious heart problem, Jones said her doctor did not initially bring up cardiac rehab. In fact, only about half of the people eligible for cardiac rehab are referred for it by their doctors.

Use of cardiac rehab remains low, especially for women and older patients. One recent study in JAMA: Internal Medicine found that only about a quarter of heart attack survivors referred to a cardiac rehab program actually went to all 36 sessions.

Some patients do not have a program in their community or do not have insurance coverage to pay for it, while others may not be referred by their doctor or may not enroll in the program even if they are referred, according to an American Heart Association presidential advisory published in 2011.

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“I say, ask,” Jones said. For those not sure how to bring it up with their doctor, she suggests saying, “I have been reading about cardiac rehabilitation. Let’s talk about that.”

One obstacle for Medicare patients is a requirement that the program be under the direct supervision of a physician. The AHA, American College and Cardiology and the Heart Failure Society of America are among the groups supporting legislation in Congress that would allow physician assistants, nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists to supervise on a day-to-day basis.

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As an AHA volunteer, Jones said she’s proud the organization works to make cardiac rehab more accessible. She credits her rehab with helping her to thrive.

“There are times that I literally forget that I had open-heart surgery,” she said. “I saved my own life by being conscious of my health, and cardiac rehabilitation really and truly gave me that life back.”

 

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Star Jones: “I Saved My Own Life”  was originally published on blackdoctor.org

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