Taking medications is the most powerful thing you can do to take care of your heart. You probably already know that a healthful diet and regular exercise can help improve your overall health. As important as they are, very few people with heart disease can protect themselves with diet and exercise alone.

Chances are your health care provider has recommended medication for your heart condition.

Effects and Side Effects
• Most people with heart disease take one or more medications daily.
• If you experience uncomfortable side effects, contact your health care provider. Sometimes side effects will go away over time, sometimes changing to a different medicine is the best approach.
• There are many types of medications that you may be prescribed by your physician. You can work with your health care provider to find the medicine or combination that works best for you.
• Make sure your health care provider knows about any other prescription or over the counter medicines you are taking.

With your Medicine: Mind Matters!

Did you know . . .
People who take their medicine regularly, even if it is a placebo (sugar pill) do better than those who don't take their medicines regularly.

This may come as a surprise to you. How a person's beliefs about taking medicine affect their health is not entirely understood. However, many studies show that positive expectations, beliefs and images can have a powerful influence on health. The way you think about your medicines can influence how or whether you experience side effects and can play an important role in how well your medicine works for you.

Helpful Thinking
What are the messages you tell yourself about your medicine?
If you're telling yourself your medicine is helping, good for you! If the beliefs, thoughts and expectations you have are not so helpful, consider making a shift. Instead of thinking your medicine is going to make you feel bad or isn't going to work for you, set positive expectations. Remember, the point of taking medicine is to prevent heart attack and stroke. It's almost like taking a vitamin to stay healthy, or brushing your teeth to prevent cavities.

Set Positive Expectations
Here are a few ideas to get you thinking about positive expectations. You might want to try one or more of these options, or invent your own.
• Each time you take your pill, imagine the face of someone you care about. Remind yourself that taking care of your heart health helps keep you healthy so you can enjoy the important people in your life.
• Each time you take your pill, make a positive statement about what you want it to do for you. For example: This pill helps me stay healthy and energized. (you can say it out loud, or silently in your mind).
• Each time you take your pill, imagine what it is doing for your body. For example, imagine your heart beat as slow and steady, working without strain.
• If you talk with others about your medicine, offer positive statements. For example: Taking my medicine means I'm taking charge of my health.

Your thoughts, beliefs, imagination and expectations can be powerful members of your health care team!

Taking Medications
• Expect Success: When you swallow your pills, think about how they are helping you.
• Be sure to order medicine refills when you have about 2 weeks of medicine left
• Check with your health care provider or pharmacist about what to do if you miss a dose