Years of visits to cardiologists and hospital emergency rooms had done little to improve Natalie Cicci’s heart health. Heart disease ran in her family — her father suffered from heart trouble for years, her brother had a heart attack at age 40, and she underwent a cardiac catheterization by the time she reached middle age. Although she was receiving top-notch care, Ms. Cicci, 51, was overweight with fluctuating blood pressure and a cholesterol level that was through the roof. She desperately needed a change but had exhausted her resources.
