Simple Steps to a Healthy Heart

Today's fast-paced life and workplace pressures escalate stress levels, taking a toll on one's heart. We must realize that the healing power of the body decreases when under stress, leading to many complications like hypertension and obesity. Today, even youngsters are prone to heart ailments. So, it's very important to stay healthy and manage your stress levels by understanding the risk factors — high cholesterol levels, stressful lifestyle, smoking, and lack of exercise — following simple changes in lifestyle.

Avoid smoking

Smoking reduces life expectancy by 15-25 years. If you are a smoker, you are twice more likely to have a heart attack than a non-smoker. The moment you stop smoking, the risk of heart attack begins to reduce.

Cut down on salt

Too much salt can cause high blood pressure, which increases the risk of developing coronary heart disease.

Watch your diet

Try to have a balanced diet. Eat fresh fruits and vegetables avoid starch foods such as wholegrain bread and rice.

Monitor your alcohol

Too much alcohol can damage the heart muscle, increase blood pressure and also lead to weight gain. Avoid intake of alcohol or at least limit it to one to two units a day, gradually decreasing the consumption.

Get active

At least aim for 30 minutes of moderate exercise a day. Keeping yourself fit not only benefits the heart but also improves mental health and well-being.

Monitor your BP, blood sugar and cholesterol levels

Routine medical check-ups will ring an alarm, if you need medical help.

Manage your waist

Cholesterol deposition in blood vessels begins in the first decade of life. Carrying a lot of extra weight as fat can greatly affect your health. Make small but healthy changes in your diet.

Manage your stress level & Control to your Anger

If you find things are getting on top of you, you may fail to eat properly, smoke and drink too much. This may increase your risk of a heart attack. Practice yoga/meditation. Take a vacation. Anger only harms yourself.

Check your family history

If a close relative is at risk of developing coronary heart disease from smoking, high BP, high cholesterol, lack of physical activity, obesity and diabetes, then you could be at risk too.

Laughter is the best therapy

Laughter anytime will work wonders for you. It is an instant way to unleash the pressure and it makes you feel light.

Comments

CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE (CAD)

If you or a member of your family has been diagnosed with coronary artery disease (CAD), you may have questions about the disease and its treatment, especially if your doctor has recommended angioplasty followed by Implantation of a drug eluting coronary stent. In this blog I will answers some of the questions patients with coronary artery Disease often ask. Angioplasty: A balloon procedure to open an obstruction or narrowing of a blood vessel. Also known as precutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). Stent: An expandable, slotted metal tube, inserted into a vessel. A stent acts as a scaffold to provide structural support for a vessel. A drug-eluting stent allows for the active release of that particular drug at the stent implantation site. Atherosclerosis: A disease process in which fatty substances (plaque), such as cholesterol, are deposited on the inner lining of blood vessels. Angina (Pectoris): Chest discomfort, pain, ...

Pacemaker

What Is a Pacemaker A pacemaker is a small device that's placed in the chest to help control abnormal heart rhythms. This device uses electrical pulses to prompt the heart to beat at a normal rate. Pacemakers are used to treat Arrhythmias are problems with the rate or rhythm of the heartbeat. During an arrhythmia, the heart can beat too fast, too slow, or with an irregular rhythm. A heartbeat that's too fast is called tachycardia .A heartbeat that's too slow is called bradycardia. During an arrhythmia, the heart may not be able to pump enough blood to the body. This can cause symptoms such as fatigue (tiredness), shortness of breath, or fainting. Severe arrhythmias can damage the body's vital organs and may even cause loss of consciousness or death. A pacemaker can relieve some arrhythmia symptoms, such as fatigue and fainting. A pacemaker also can help a person who has abnormal heart rhythms resume a more active lifestyle. Understanding the Heart's Elec...

Cholesterol Confusion & Statin Controversy

The headlines are saying cholesterol may not be a "nutrient of concern." To understand what that means, you have to look beyond the headlines. What the 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans Committee meeting minutes actually say is that "cholesterol is not a nutrient of concern for overconsumption." What's changed? Some experts are saying that dietary cholesterol was mistakenly connected to heart disease. There was a rise in coronary artery disease leading up to the 1977 recommendation to reduce cholesterol intake. However, a closer look at the science reveals that there is more evidence to suggest that dietary cholesterol may not play a significant role for most healthy Americans and their risk of heart disease. That perhaps provides more support for the argument that dietary cholesterol intake is not connected to blood (serum) cholesterol levels. But the reality is that heart disease is still a major health concern. Many people take medications to ...

Cardiology in Delhi

Search This Blog