Cardiovascular Health Promotion for Families
An intervention model for families with high cardiovascular risk It is well known that heritability and familial traits exist for cardiovascular diseases. Concepts of understanding the Genetic-Environmental Interactions are important. Cardiovascular Health Promotion for Families is a unique process of lifestyle education aimed at improving the C V health of all members of a family. Families share life styles and genetics and family training can provide support for each other. A combination of families can be trained together since other families have similar C V risks. Adults with known coronary artery disease, or adults and children with elevated C V risk factors, are recruited as a family into an 8 to 12 week program for a group of families. Here, adult cardiologists and C V surgeons can refer patients to enroll their patients and patient’s family into a lifestyle training program. The program focus is: • C V risk factor profile on each family member
• strongly behavioral
• increases knowledge of heart-healthy behavior
• improves eating and exercise habits
• motivates to quit or prevent smoking, and use moderate alcohol intake
• how to manage stress effectively AND IT WORKS! Implementation is conducted by a multi-disciplinary team of a cardiologist, a psychologist or counselor, nutritionist, an exercise specialist, and a nurse specialist to help organize the program. Recognizing that lifestyle behaviors can impact C V health, the Family Health Promotion Manuals are developed with the materials that were shown to be effective in reducing blood pressure, increasing risk factor knowledge, and improving eating and physical activities - a start to prevention of coronary heart disease, hypertension, and diabetes. Risk factor profiles are conducted on all members of the family, the cardiac or high risk patient, the spouse and children. FAMILIES LEARN BY DOING 
The main objective is skills development to promote self-confidence--- LEARN IT - THEN DO IT Reinforcement | | Self-efficacy | | Supportive Relationships |
are addressed in session topics. Activities at group sessions get people moving, and family at-home activities keep them moving. 
Counseling and behavioral contracting provide opportunities
for changes that are more personally relevant, and specifically
address motivation, support and satisfaction. Family Health Promotion
NUTRITION EDUCATION MODULES (As part of education of all family members) • No assumptions are made that families already know the ABC's of healthy eating. The obesity epidemic and impact of central obesity and fat deposition has to be understood. Simple comparisons of variations in everyday-type menus and recipes are made. • Children receive approximately 1/3 of their calories from snacks! Many adults substitute snacking for meals. The "Snacking Mouse" bypasses the saturated fatty, salty and simple sugars for fresh wholesome foods. • Fast-food restaurants have become part of Americana. But they're not healthy! "Dining Out" shows that - yes, they can be. • The "Wise Shopper" makes substitutions in the meat, poultry and fish departments that begin the healthier home meal. • "Reading Labels" helps the shopper to make wiser choices. • All family members learn food preparation - from better ways of preparing microwave popcorn to draining fat from meat and soups. • Creative methods of modifying favorite family recipes give the message: You can still eat it, but you can change it, and it will still taste good. COST Implementation Manual and Nutrition Education Modules These books serve as step-by-step guides for physicians, nurses, psychologists, and other clinicians or educators who work with individuals who have elevated C V risk factors. I. Implementation Manual This manual provides comprehensive instructions for program implementation, including: • recruitment strategies
• session topics with presentations
• physical activities
• relaxation strategies
• behavioral contracting procedures
• incentives II. Nutrition Education Modules This manual complements the Implementation Manual and provides nutrition education material. Lesson plans on Menu Planning, Eating Out, Snacking, etc. This two-volume set of manuals is available for $150. Add $20 for shipping each set. Make checks payable to: The Tulane Center for Cardiovascular Health. Send requests to:
Gerald S. Berenson, M.D.
The Tulane Center for Cardiovascular Health
1440 Canal Street, Suite 1829
New Orleans, LA 70112
or E-mail berenson@tulane.edu | 
