Millions of people diagnosed with heart disease enjoy active, satisfying lives. Instead of looking on their diagnoses as sentences to be invalids, they have used them as catalysts to make positive changes in their lives.

The way you respond to a heart attack can make a profound difference in what happens to you in the future.

Living with heart disease means making a lot of changes. You’re likely to have a range of new feelings to deal with. Reach out to the people close to you. Also, support groups can provide helpful advice.

Cardiac rehabilitation (“cardiac rehab”) is a program designed by your health care team that will not only help you recover, but also reduce your risk for future heart problems. Your cardiac rehab program may begin while you’re in the hospital. After you’re discharged, you may go to a special facility for scheduled rehab classes.

An intimate relationship is built on being able to share feelings. The stress and worry of a heart attack or surgery can upset this closeness.

If you recently had a heart attack or heart surgery, you may be concerned about your love life. This is normal during an illness. But know that you can still enjoy sex. Here is information than can help you understand your feelings. It can also help you work with your partner to rebuild intimacy and enjoy sex again.

When choosing a treatment, it's essential to check out all your options, make sure you have enough information to make an informed choice.

It's important to get regular checkups and periodic exams, especially when you have cardiovascular disease.

Aortic insufficiency means your aortic valve has problems closing. Blood leaks back through the valve. Extra blood may cause the ventricle to stretch. A stretched ventricle doesn’t squeeze as well. In time, the heart won’t move blood the way it should.

Mitral valve prolapse is the most common heart valve problem. With this problem, the valve bulges slightly back into the atrium when it closes. This may allow a tiny amount of blood to leak.

Mitral stenosis means the mitral valve stiffens and doesn’t open right. Blood must move through a smaller opening. In severe cases, fluid can build up in the lungs, leading to coughing and breathing problems.

Part of the treatment for chronic conditions involves adopting the same healthy lifestyle habits that are important for everyone.

Over the long term, your quality of life is tied to how severe your heart attack was and how it was treated. Beyond that, any change will depend largely on you.

Most Americans survive a first heart attack. By taking action, however, they can significantly reduce their chances for a second heart attack.

A rehabilitation program often can help heart patients live better with their disease and recover from medical procedures like surgery and angioplasty. But experts say that only 25 percent of those who could benefit from cardiac rehab are getting it.

Working out when you have a serious illness or health problem can be challenging. But for most people who have health issues, exercising can improve their prognosis and well-being. In fact, exercise can play an important role in helping you cope with or recover from a health challenge or accident.

For some people with coronary heart disease, high doses of statins, a commonly prescribed, potent medication to lower cholesterol, can reverse or decrease the buildup of fatty plaque in the arteries. This can reduce the risk for heart attack.

Recent research shows a clear link between heart disease and certain stress-related emotions.

Participating in a disease management program gives you the chance to ask questions about exercise, medication, diet, and other treatment options.