4 Weeks to a Stronger Heart

Strong-Heart Strategies

What can you do in four weeks that will improve how you feel, give you energy, even help you live longer? Give your heart a health makeover! With just a few painless changes you can significantly lower your cholesterol and blood pressure, prevent your arteries from narrowing, and strengthen your blood vessels.

"When you change your diet, exercise regularly, and manage your stress, your heart gets more blood flow," explains Dean Ornish, MD, founder and president of the nonprofit Preventive Medicine Research Institute, in Sausalito, California. "You'll quickly show health improvements -- and to a much greater degree than we once thought. Even people with heart disease get powerful benefits within a month."

If you don't know your heart numbers, start by seeing your doctor for a blood test to learn where you stand. Measure yourself against the target numbers on the next page, then use our plan to improve your scores. If you're diligent, you can make amazing progress in as little as four weeks.