Overview

For over 100 years more Americans have died from cardiovascular disease (CVD) than any other cause. The costs of CVD in the United States are estimated at $240 billion per year. These are staggering statistics, given the fact that the majority of cardiovascular diseases can be prevented.

For too long, medical training has focused on the mechanical and pharmaceutical management of CVD with less emphasis on its prevention. Defining cardiac disease and health by concentrating on several millimeter areas of the heart is not appropriate. The heart has a "mind of its own" through its extensive neural and humoral connections, and multiple modalities can be utilized to heal the heart and to keep it healthy. Integrative medicine offers clinicians a broad array of tools for both patient care and personal health in this regard.

Needs Assessment

This course reviews how apply evidence-based integrative approaches to the prevention and mitigation of CVD. Besides current studies on nutrition and specific diets, this course includes other lifestyle factors, mind-body medicine, botanicals, supplements and Eastern medicine that support CVD health. The best treatments for hypertension, dyslipidemia and metabolic syndrome are covered.

Learning Objectives

Participants will be able to:

• Discuss the prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD), its associated risks, and the social determinants of health that influence those risks.
• Identify common risk factors for CVD and explain evidence-based integrative modalities used in their prevention and treatment.
• Use CVD risk calculators to stratify cardiovascular risk in clinical practice and explain their strengths and weaknesses.
• Explain how nutrition and specific dietary approaches affect heart health.
• Develop an integrative treatment plan for hypertension that incorporates physical activity, mind-body medicine, botanicals, supplements, acupuncture, and pharmacotherapy.
• Discuss integrative treatment of dyslipidemia, using information about advanced lipid testing, as well as the latest evidence-based lifestyle, exercise, and mind-body approaches long with latest guidelines on pharmacotherapy.
• Describe lifestyle, supplement, botanical, and mind-body medicine approaches to the treatment of metabolic syndrome.

Target Audience

This enduring material educational program is intended for physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, and dietitians with interest in the role of integrative medicine in cardiovascular health, as well as other healthcare professionals who have an interest in integrative health and medicine.

Curriculum

• Introduction to Cardiovascular Health
• Nutrition and Cardiovascular Health: An Introduction
• Nutrition for Cardiovascular Health: Macronutrients
• Nutrition for Cardiovascular Health: Specific Diets
• Hypertension
• Dyslipdemia
• Metabolic Syndrome
• Clinical Applications
• Course Exam

Completion Requirements

Complete all the course work, course evaluation, and the final test with a score of 70% or better. Upon successful completion, you will be able to print your certificate of completion.