MECHANICSBURG – Studies have shown that stress management and dietary changes can have a significant positive impact on patients with heart disease. The Heart and Vascular Institute at UPMC in Central Pa. will soon launch an innovative evidence-based holistic program for heart health management.
The program combines modern and alternative medicine pathways to create an integrated lifestyle program of nutrition, fitness, stress management and psychosocial support for a patient’s overall cardiovascular health.
As part of a series of these holistic programs, UPMC hosted the “Cooking with a Cardiologist” event where participants learned about various heart-healthy meal preparations. Michael Bosak, MD, and Ashley Zinda, DO, both cardiologists with UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute, and Shanna Shultz, RD, LDN, dietitian from The Giant Company, paired the cooking demonstration with nutrition tips and new ingredients to try in the kitchen. A consistent partner of the program for over ten years, The Giant Company provided the recipes, dietetic guidance and ingredients for the event.
The interactive event with nearly 40 in person and 163 virtual participants, was held at the UPMC Heart and Vascular Outpatient Center in Mechanicsburg, Pa., the largest heart and vascular outpatient facility in central Pennsylvania.
The heart is a vital organ that has interactions with every single organ and structure within the human body. Through holistic therapies – stress management and dietary changes, the heart’s function can be optimized to help to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. In 2020, one in every five deaths in the United States was from heart disease. Chronic disease management care, including for heart disease, is a consistent “significant health need” in central Pennsylvania, according to UPMC’s Community Health Needs Assessments.
