William Dorr has been a long-time high risk heart disease patient.

His father died of a stroke when he was 58. His mother died of a stroke when she was 73, but it wasn't just genetics that led to his heart problems.

Despite an active life in the military then as a cabinet maker, years of fried food and little exercise finally caught up with Dorr.

"I had Several symptoms of heart problems. went to see cardiologist and they did a heart cath and eventually 3 stents.

I was doing fine until 2010 about June, July time I started having some more pains, shortness of breath - we went back in...did another heart cath they decided to do a by pass -- a triple by pass," says Dorr.
That was November 15TH.

3-months later Dorr says he's feeling better than he has in years.
He credits lifestyle changes. He's changed his diet by going completely salt free -- His cholesterol is way down from being fat free.
He says he doesn't eat any fried foods at all.

Local Cardiologist Dr. Samir Patel says it usually requires radical changes to prevent heart disease. Dr. Patel says "The best thing you can do is prevention. Stop smoking, get your diabetes under control with your primary doctor, your blood pressure, your cholesterol."

Exercise is major part of any health regimen. Bay Medical heart patients, including Dorr, go through a 36 week rehabilitation program at Health.