Ribbon cut at Ornish Reversal Program at Beebe Healthcare

A ribbon-cutting ceremony Nov. 20 at Beebe Heathcare's Route 24 campus officially opened the Ornish Reversal Program at Beebe Healthcare.

The Ornish Program was developed to reduce heart disease through exercise, healthy eating and stress management. Lindsay Schmidt, senior regional representative, said 30 years of research back the program developed by Dr. Dean Ornish.

Studies have shown severe heart disease can be reversed by adopting a healthy diet and lifestyle, which can improve blood flow in the arteries without the need for drugs or surgery. For many patients, adhering to the program for a year reverses heart disease, and even more improvement is achieved after five years, program literature states. The program focuses on four areas: diet, managing stress, support and physical activity.

There are several ways to enroll in the program. Patients may be referred by their physicians, call 877-888-3091 to speak to an Ornish Program specialist or go to www.beebehealthcare.org/ornish.