, then there are certain aspects that need to be modified to tailor your life to support your heart.
‘A heart healthy diet and exercise regimen are important factors to living successfully with heart disease.’
Identify risk factors and limit them: Every condition or disease
has certain risk factors that magnify the chances of acquiring the disease or making it worse. The
risks associated with heart disease are two fold; they are either controllable or uncontrolled.
Uncontrolled
risk factors include:
- Family history of heart disease
- Age
Controllable
risk factors include:
- Smoking
- Alcohol consumption
- Diabetes
- Obesity
- Insufficient physical activity
- Poor dietary choices
Since the
uncontrollable risk factors cannot be altered or changed, the focus shifts
towards the controllable risk factors. Habits like smoking and alcohol
consumption should be avoided to limit risk.
Coping with
Emotions
A patient diagnosed with cardiac disease goes through a myriad of emotions which can cripple the life they hope to lead. At the beginning, there may be a lot of fear,
anxiety which could even lead to depression, but
the main aspect of coping is to come to terms with the disease and to find ways to prevent progression.
Many people with
cardiac ailments have been known to lead normal lives by incorporating heart-healthy changes to their lifestyle.
Cardiac
Rehabilitation Programs
There are
cardiac rehabilitation programs which are aimed at providing ideal support to cardiac patients who require the necessary knowledge and the support to lead independent lives.
Cardiac
rehabilitation programs have doctors, nurses and physiotherapists present at
the centers to support the needs of the patient.
Heart-Healthy Diet and Eating Habits
A
heart-healthy diet is a crucial factor in living successfully with heart disease. The right diet will help delay narrowing of the arteries or can even reverse symptoms to a small extent. A
poor diet could make the condition worse. Therefore, intelligent food choices are the crux of leading a heart-healthy lifestyle.
A heart-healthy diet should essentially be
- Low in LDL cholesterol
- Aid in weight loss
- Lower blood sugar
- Lower blood pressure
People with
heart disease feel restricted by the foods that they are forced to avoid. This
triggers negative feeling towards their condition and can foster food cravings.
The best way to design a diet is to focus on foods that can be consumed rather
than focusing on what should not be.
Tips for Heart Healthy Diet
- Eat plenty of vegetables and fiber rich food: Vegetables are rich in vitamins and minerals and are also a good source of fiber.
- Drink plenty of water: Hydration is important in any diet as it helps the body regain lost water and also aids in flushing out toxins from the body. Moreover, people who are well hydrated eat less than their counterparts.
- Eat at regular intervals: Meals at regular intervals will aid in maintaining blood sugar levels, cholesterol levels and is also effective at burning fat.
- Limit intake of fat: High intake of fat has been associated with an increase in blood pressure. Limiting the addition of salt in the diet is an important factor in a heart healthy diet. Instead of salt, the inclusion of spices and condiments are ideal alternatives as they provide the right twist to the meal.
- Select the fat that goes into the meal. Look for healthier options, reduce saturated fats from red meat and include lean meat from fish and vegetable fat. Opting for virgin olive oil in cooking is another heart healthy tip.
Heart-Healthy Exercises
Exercise is an
important factor in maintaining a good lifestyle after
being diagnosed with a heart disease. Before starting out on any exercise
regimen, it is important to check with your GP.
Tips to Following a Heart-Healthy Exercise
Routine
- Regular exercise is good for the heart and starting with 15 minutes of brisk walk will allow the body to get used to exercising. The duration of the walk can be increased over a period of time.
- Do not lift weight: Lifting weight is a strict no-no for people with heart disease.
- Do not exercise on elevated platforms: Hilly areas and selecting options in the treadmill for a gradient run could add to the stress on the heart and should be avoided. Moreover, higher altitudes pose an additional burden of lower oxygen levels.
- Yoga is a great form of workout for people with cardiac disease.
- Extremely hot or cold sauna should be avoided.
A heart disease
need not restrict you to the confines of a home, but
can open the doorway to a healthy way of life. Maintaining an ideal weight,
controlling cholesterol levels, controlling blood sugar levels, quitting
smoking and alcohol consumption along with a carefully designed exercise
regimen can provide the right support to a fulfilling life.
References :
- http://www.theheartfoundation.org/heart-disease-facts/heart-disease-statistics/
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3860846/
- http://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/facts.htm
Source: Medindia
