Leland Minske

At age 47, Leland Minske had never worried about heart disease. He had served in the Navy for 21 years and considered himself in great shape.

But on a rainy workday in July 2001, that all changed.

"The sweat started rolling off me," Minske says. "My arm was going numb, and my coworker said I was as white as a sheet. They rushed me out of there. I remember about half of the ride, but the next thing I knew I was in the hospital."

Minske had experienced his first heart attack. He was taken to Huron Regional Medical Center, where he was resuscitated and cared for. After rehabilitation, Minske returned home to pick up his life where he left off. "I didn't want to give up work," he says. "That's living – a guy's got to have a regimen."

Life Changes
But keeping up with his lifestyle didn't come easy after his heart attack. Minske often had to rely on pain medication to make it through the workday and found himself in the hospital every few months having more stents put in his heart. After three years, the doctors told him he would need bypass surgery. "They told me that if I wanted to see the sun rise much longer, I had to do it," he says. "So I went in for surgery a week before my 50th birthday."

Minske faced a difficult recovery after the bypass surgery and was unable to go back to work. He later had a defibrillator implanted in his chest in case his heart stops beating.

A Positive Future
Unable to tolerate the medications associated with traditional treatments like more stents or another bypass surgery, Minske searched for an alternative to reduce the debilitating effects of his heart disease. In September 2006, Minske began Enhanced External Counterpulsation (EECP) therapy at HRMC. EECP is a noninvasive treatment that creates new blood vessels to improve circulation and reduce pain. Sometimes called "pants therapy," EECP uses a series of large blood pressure-like cuffs on the patient's calves and thighs to push blood through the arteries toward the heart. The treatment is intensive – five days of therapy a week for seven weeks.

Minske was skeptical at first, but now only wishes he had started sooner. He had postponed the therapy last summer until after fishing season, a trip to Florida and his daughter's wedding. "If I had known then what I know now," he says, "I'd have made a point to do it earlier. It makes a major difference."

Minske says his quality of life has dramatically improved since beginning the therapy. "The farthest I was able to walk before was two blocks to the post office," he says, "and I was totally wrung out. Now I can go a full mile."

Minske now plans to visit a friend in Florida for the winter, where he can continue his walking regimen, and spend time with his family. "I feel good! I feel alive again – I only wish I had completed EECP therapy earlier," he says.

Do You Have a Hold on Your Heart?

Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of men and women in America – but many people, like Leland Minske (see related story), think it won't happen to them. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, almost one-fourth of the U.S. population has some form of cardiovascular disease (diseases of the heart and blood vessels). Knowing your risk factors – and how to minimize them – can help you protect yourself and your loved ones. How much do you know about heart health? Take the quiz on the back page to find out. 1. The human heart is an incredible machine. About how much blood does the     average heart pump each day? Two gallons 20 gallons 200 gallons 2,000 gallons 2. Regular, moderate-to-vigorous activity can help reduce the risk of heart disease.     How much physical activity does the American Heart Association recommend     people get most days of the week? 10 minutes 20 minutes 30 to 60 minutes Two hours 3. How much higher is a smoker's risk of heart attack than a nonsmoker's? Half as high as a nonsmoker's Same as a nonsmoker's Twice as high as a nonsmoker's Impossible to determine 4. According to the American Heart Association, 39 percent of U.S. adults report     getting no leisure-time physical activity. Which of the following tips can help you     be more active? Make exercising a social occasion Start slowly and build up gradually Look for opportunities to add activity to your daily routine, such as taking the stairs instead of the elevator or hiding your remote controls All of the above 5. Being overweight forces your heart to work harder and increases your risk of     which of the following? High blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and stroke Attention deficit disorder and hyperactivity Vertigo Chronic halitosis 6. Which of the following conditions are significant risk factors for heart disease, but     can be controlled with lifestyle changes and medication? Diabetes High blood pressure High cholesterol All of the above 7. What else can you do to protect yourself against cardiovascular disease? Get regular checkups Limit your exposure to secondhand smoke and, if you currently smoke, quit Talk to your healthcare provider about your risk factors and lifestyle habits All of the above Scoring: 6-7: You're heart smart! 4-5: You've got the beat, but keep learning more. 1-3: It's time to pump up your knowledge about heart health. Answers: 1.d, 2.c, 3.c, 4.d, 5.a, 6.d, 7.d