Walking a little faster or for a few extra blocks may be good for older adults' hearts, says a new study. Modest physical activity was associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). This was true even among men and women older than age 75. Those who were more active had significantly lower risk of future heart attacks and stroke. Adults who walked at a pace faster than three miles per hour (mph) had a 50 per cent, 53per cent, 50per cent lower risk of coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke and total CVD, compared to those who walked at a slower pace. Those who walked an average of seven blocks per day had a lower risk of CHD, stroke and total CVD, respectively, compared to those who walked less. Those who did activities such as lawn-mowing, raking, gardening, swimming, biking and hiking, also had a lower risk of CHD, stroke and total CVD. The study appears in Circulation. — Agencies
Showing posts with label Heart Care. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Heart Care. Show all posts
Sunday, December 25, 2016
Monday, November 30, 2015
Cut Down On sitting Time -- A Tip for Heart Patients
"Limiting the amount of time we spend sitting may be as important as the amount we exercise," said study lead author Stephanie Prince from University of Ottawa in Canada.
"Sitting, watching TV, working at a computer and driving in a car are all sedentary behaviours and we need to take breaks from them," Prince explained.
If you are suffering from ailments related to the heart, make it a point to get up and move every half an hour as researchers have found that patients with heart disease who sit a lot have worse health even if they exercise.
The current study investigated levels of sedentary behaviour and the effect on health in 278 patients with coronary artery disease.
The study was published in the European Journal of Cardiovascular Prevention.
Patients wore an activity monitor during their waking hours for nine days. The monitors allowed the researchers to measure how long patients spent being sedentary, or doing light, moderate or vigorous levels of physical activity.
The researchers also assessed various markers of health including body mass index (BMI) and cardio-respiratory fitness. Next they looked at whether the amount of time a person spent being sedentary (which was mainly sitting) was related to these markers of health.
The results showed that patients who sat more had a higher BMI. They also had lower cardio-respiratory fitness.
Friday, November 14, 2008
Heart Attacks And Drinking Warm Water
This Study is not only about the warm water after your meal, but about Heart Attacks . The Chinese and Japanese drink hot tea with their meals, not cold water, maybe it is time we adopt their drinking habit while eating..
For those who like to drink cold water, this article is applicable to you. It is nice to have a cup of cold drink after a meal.. However, the cold water will solidify the oily stuff that you have just consumed. It will slow down the digestion. Once this 'sludge' reacts with the acid, it will break down and be absorbed by the intestinefaster than the solid food. It will line the intestine... Very soon, this will turn into fats and lead to cancer. It is best to drink hot soup or warm water after a meal.
Common Symptoms Of Heart Attack...
A serious note about heart attacks
You should know that not every heart attack symptom is going to be the left arm hurting .. Be aware of intense painin the jaw line.
You may never have the first chest pain during the course of a heart attack. Nausea and intense sweating are also common symptoms. 60% of people who have a heart attack while they are asleep do not wake up. Pain in the jaw can wake you from a sound sleep.. Let's be careful and be aware. The more we know the better chance we could survive.
Monday, November 10, 2008
High Cholesterol: Tips to Protect Yourself
High Cholesterol: Heart-Healthy Diet
Learn how to eat a heart-healthy diet and reduce your risk of heart disease.
By paying close attention to what you eat, you can reduce your chance of developing atherosclerosis, the blocked arteries that cause heart disease. If the artery-clogging process has already begun, you can slow the rate at which it progresses. With very careful lifestyle modifications, you can even stop or reverse the narrowing of arteries.
While this is very important for everyone at risk for heart disease, it is even more important if you have had a heart attack and/or procedure to restore blood flow to your heart or other areas of your body, such as angioplasty, bypass surgery or carotid surgery. Following prevention advice can protect against restenosis, or the re-narrowing of your arteries.
Feed Your Heart Well
Feeding your heart well is a powerful way to reduce or even eliminate some risk factors. Adopting a heart-healthy diet can help reduce total and LDL cholesterol (the "bad" cholesterol), lower blood pressure, lower blood sugars, and reduce body weight. While most dietary plans just tell you what you CAN'T eat (usually your favorite foods!), the most powerful nutrition strategy helps you focus on what you CAN eat. In fact, heart disease research has shown that adding heart-saving foods is just as important as cutting back on others.
Here are 5 nutrition strategies to lower your cholesterol and reduce your risk of heart disease:
1.Eat more vegetables, fruits, whole grains and legumes.
These wonders of nature may be one of the most powerful strategies in fighting heart disease.
2.Choose fat calories wisely.
Keep these goals in mind: Limit total fat grams; Eat a bare minimum of saturated fats and trans-fatty acids (for example, fats found in butter, salad dressing, sweets and desserts); When you use added fat, use fats high in monounsaturated fats (for example, fats found in olive and peanut oil).
3.Eat a variety -- and just the right amount -- of protein foods.
Commonly eaten protein foods (meat, dairy products) are among the main culprits in increasing heart disease risk. Reduce this nutritional risk factor by balancing animal, fish and vegetable sources of protein.
4.Limit cholesterol consumption.
Dietary cholesterol can raise blood cholesterol levels, especially in high-risk people. Limiting dietary cholesterol has an added bonus: You'll also cut out saturated fat, as cholesterol and saturated fat are usually found in the same foods. Get energy by eating complex carbohydrates (whole wheat pasta, brown or wild rice, whole-grain breads) and limit simple carbohydrates (regular soft drinks, sugar, sweets). If you have high cholesterol, these simple carbohydrates exacerbate the condition and may increase your risk for heart disease.
5.Feed your body regularly.
Skipping meals often leads to overeating. For some, eating five to six mini-meals may help keep cravings in check, help control blood sugars and regulate metabolism. This approach may not be as effective for those who are tempted to overeat every time they are exposed to food. For these individuals, three balanced meals a day may be a better approach.
Other Heart-Healthy Strategies
1.Reduce salt intake.
This will help control your blood pressure.
2.Exercise.
The human body was meant to be active.
Exercise strengthens the heart muscle, improves blood flow, reduces high blood pressure, raises HDL cholesterol ("good" cholesterol), and helps control blood sugars and body weight.
3.Hydrate.
Water is vital to life. Staying hydrated makes you feel energetic and eat less. Drink 32 to 64 ounces (one to two liters) of water daily (unless you are fluid restricted).
4.Enjoy every bite.
Your motto should be dietary enhancement, not deprivation. When you enjoy what you eat, you feel more positive about life, which helps you feel better and less likely to overindulge.
How Much Is a Serving?
When you're trying to follow an eating plan that's good for your heart, it may help to know how much of a certain kind of food is considered a "serving." The following table offers some examples.
SERVING SIZES
Reviewed by the doctors at The Cleveland Clinic Heart Center.
This content is selected and controlled by WebMD's editorial staff and is funded by Pfizer.
Learn how to eat a heart-healthy diet and reduce your risk of heart disease.
By paying close attention to what you eat, you can reduce your chance of developing atherosclerosis, the blocked arteries that cause heart disease. If the artery-clogging process has already begun, you can slow the rate at which it progresses. With very careful lifestyle modifications, you can even stop or reverse the narrowing of arteries.
While this is very important for everyone at risk for heart disease, it is even more important if you have had a heart attack and/or procedure to restore blood flow to your heart or other areas of your body, such as angioplasty, bypass surgery or carotid surgery. Following prevention advice can protect against restenosis, or the re-narrowing of your arteries.
Feed Your Heart Well
Feeding your heart well is a powerful way to reduce or even eliminate some risk factors. Adopting a heart-healthy diet can help reduce total and LDL cholesterol (the "bad" cholesterol), lower blood pressure, lower blood sugars, and reduce body weight. While most dietary plans just tell you what you CAN'T eat (usually your favorite foods!), the most powerful nutrition strategy helps you focus on what you CAN eat. In fact, heart disease research has shown that adding heart-saving foods is just as important as cutting back on others.
Here are 5 nutrition strategies to lower your cholesterol and reduce your risk of heart disease:
1.Eat more vegetables, fruits, whole grains and legumes.
These wonders of nature may be one of the most powerful strategies in fighting heart disease.
2.Choose fat calories wisely.
Keep these goals in mind: Limit total fat grams; Eat a bare minimum of saturated fats and trans-fatty acids (for example, fats found in butter, salad dressing, sweets and desserts); When you use added fat, use fats high in monounsaturated fats (for example, fats found in olive and peanut oil).
3.Eat a variety -- and just the right amount -- of protein foods.
Commonly eaten protein foods (meat, dairy products) are among the main culprits in increasing heart disease risk. Reduce this nutritional risk factor by balancing animal, fish and vegetable sources of protein.
4.Limit cholesterol consumption.
Dietary cholesterol can raise blood cholesterol levels, especially in high-risk people. Limiting dietary cholesterol has an added bonus: You'll also cut out saturated fat, as cholesterol and saturated fat are usually found in the same foods. Get energy by eating complex carbohydrates (whole wheat pasta, brown or wild rice, whole-grain breads) and limit simple carbohydrates (regular soft drinks, sugar, sweets). If you have high cholesterol, these simple carbohydrates exacerbate the condition and may increase your risk for heart disease.
5.Feed your body regularly.
Skipping meals often leads to overeating. For some, eating five to six mini-meals may help keep cravings in check, help control blood sugars and regulate metabolism. This approach may not be as effective for those who are tempted to overeat every time they are exposed to food. For these individuals, three balanced meals a day may be a better approach.
Other Heart-Healthy Strategies
1.Reduce salt intake.
This will help control your blood pressure.
2.Exercise.
The human body was meant to be active.
Exercise strengthens the heart muscle, improves blood flow, reduces high blood pressure, raises HDL cholesterol ("good" cholesterol), and helps control blood sugars and body weight.
3.Hydrate.
Water is vital to life. Staying hydrated makes you feel energetic and eat less. Drink 32 to 64 ounces (one to two liters) of water daily (unless you are fluid restricted).
4.Enjoy every bite.
Your motto should be dietary enhancement, not deprivation. When you enjoy what you eat, you feel more positive about life, which helps you feel better and less likely to overindulge.
How Much Is a Serving?
When you're trying to follow an eating plan that's good for your heart, it may help to know how much of a certain kind of food is considered a "serving." The following table offers some examples.
SERVING SIZES
Reviewed by the doctors at The Cleveland Clinic Heart Center.
This content is selected and controlled by WebMD's editorial staff and is funded by Pfizer.
Friday, July 18, 2008
Your Love Life and Coffee
Caffeine and how it can affect Your Love LifeBy Rallie McAllister
Photo By: Ahmed Rabea
If you would rather wake up to Mr. Coffee than to your dearly beloved, you’re probably hooked on caffeine. Scientists have officially proclaimed you an addict if you habitually consume more than 250 milligrams (mg) of caffeine a day, the amount in just two cups of coffee. If you’re an addict, you’re not alone. Caffeine is the most widely consumed drug—that’s right, drug—in North America, rivaled only by nicotine and alcohol. Americans drink more coffee than any other people in the world. The upside to all this caffeine consumption is that coffee gets us moving every morning. Low to moderate doses (30 to 200 mg) boost energy, wakefulness, and even improve some aspects of physical and mental performance.
Coffee: Health Impact
The downside is that caffeine is an addictive drug. Missing a single coffee break can send you into a well-defined withdrawal syndrome with symptoms like lethargy, irritability and a killer headache. Caffeine is a fairly potent stimulant, and drinking it too close to bedtime may cost you a few Zs. A single cup of coffee boosts your metabolic rate and increases blood pressure, heart rate and adrenaline levels. The paradoxical sense of relaxation you get with that first cup each morning results from the undoing of the early symptoms of withdrawal. Coffee seems like a necessity, but there’s no recommended daily requirement for it, and it hasn’t been recognized as an official food group. In fact, coffee interferes with the absorption of important nutrients in your diet.
Caffeine prevents your kidneys from reabsorbing calcium, pulling it away from your bones and rerouting it to your toilet. If you want to replace the calcium wasted by a single cup of coffee, you’ll need to add a half-cup of milk to each serving. Drinking coffee costs you iron, too. Compounds in coffee called polyphenols bind iron in the digestive tract and prevent its absorption. Drinking coffee around mealtime can reduce iron absorption from food by almost 40 percent.
Coffee and the Heart
The caffeine in coffee has been accused of far more serious offenses, including causing cancers of the breast, colon, and pancreas, but these reports appear to be groundless. There is, however, some hard evidence linking coffee to high cholesterol. Hard-core coffee drinkers can lower their cholesterol by as much as 13 percent just by giving up their Java. Coffee is thought to play an important role in cardiovascular disease. Drinking three to four cups of coffee a day may bump your risk of heartattack to twice the average, and drinking more than five cups a day can drive your risk to nearly three times the average.
Coffee and Sex
As far as your sexuality is concerned, a single cup of coffee or caffeine-containing beverage may give you more energy and stamina for sexual activity, thereby enhancing your performance and overall enjoyment. When athletes drink three or four cups of coffee about an hour before they compete, they can outlast caffeine-free competitors by up to 20 minutes. This affect on athletic performance is real—so real that the International Olympic Committee has classified caffeine as a “restricted drug.” Competitors are allowed to use caffeine, as long as they don’t overdo it.
The rest of us can benefit from a little moderation as well. Consuming too much caffeine on a regular basis leads to chronic over-stimulation of the adrenal glands, flooding the body and brain with hormones normally produced in times of stress. These hormones are known to negatively impact libido and sexual performance.
If you’re like most coffee addicts, you probably have no idea how much caffeine you consume on a daily basis. Cup for cup, brewed coffee is the richest source of caffeine. And remember, a cup means just that—a measuring cup—not that two-gallon plastic monstrosity you got for your last birthday. One cup of brewed coffee has 80 to 180 milligrams (mg) of caffeine, depending on how strong you make it. Instant coffee provides about 60 to 100 mg of caffeine, and tea has 25 to 75 mg per cup. The caffeine content of a 12 ounce soda ranges from 30 to 60 mg, and even decaffeinated coffee isn’t totally caffeine free: most brands have one to five mg of caffeine per cup.
If you need a calculator to determine your caffeine intake, there’s no doubt you’re hooked. As with other drugs, too much caffeine can be dangerous, but you’d have to drink about 75 cups of coffee at your next coffee break to sustain a lethal dose. If you’re getting close, maybe it’s time to think about cutting down.
The views expressed here are the author’s own. All copywright issues for the above excerpt to be addressed to anne@netconnectpublicity.com.
Article Source:http://www.webhealthcentre.com/general/diet_nutrition_caffeine.asp
Photo By: Ahmed Rabea
If you would rather wake up to Mr. Coffee than to your dearly beloved, you’re probably hooked on caffeine. Scientists have officially proclaimed you an addict if you habitually consume more than 250 milligrams (mg) of caffeine a day, the amount in just two cups of coffee. If you’re an addict, you’re not alone. Caffeine is the most widely consumed drug—that’s right, drug—in North America, rivaled only by nicotine and alcohol. Americans drink more coffee than any other people in the world. The upside to all this caffeine consumption is that coffee gets us moving every morning. Low to moderate doses (30 to 200 mg) boost energy, wakefulness, and even improve some aspects of physical and mental performance.
Coffee: Health Impact
The downside is that caffeine is an addictive drug. Missing a single coffee break can send you into a well-defined withdrawal syndrome with symptoms like lethargy, irritability and a killer headache. Caffeine is a fairly potent stimulant, and drinking it too close to bedtime may cost you a few Zs. A single cup of coffee boosts your metabolic rate and increases blood pressure, heart rate and adrenaline levels. The paradoxical sense of relaxation you get with that first cup each morning results from the undoing of the early symptoms of withdrawal. Coffee seems like a necessity, but there’s no recommended daily requirement for it, and it hasn’t been recognized as an official food group. In fact, coffee interferes with the absorption of important nutrients in your diet.
Caffeine prevents your kidneys from reabsorbing calcium, pulling it away from your bones and rerouting it to your toilet. If you want to replace the calcium wasted by a single cup of coffee, you’ll need to add a half-cup of milk to each serving. Drinking coffee costs you iron, too. Compounds in coffee called polyphenols bind iron in the digestive tract and prevent its absorption. Drinking coffee around mealtime can reduce iron absorption from food by almost 40 percent.
Coffee and the Heart
The caffeine in coffee has been accused of far more serious offenses, including causing cancers of the breast, colon, and pancreas, but these reports appear to be groundless. There is, however, some hard evidence linking coffee to high cholesterol. Hard-core coffee drinkers can lower their cholesterol by as much as 13 percent just by giving up their Java. Coffee is thought to play an important role in cardiovascular disease. Drinking three to four cups of coffee a day may bump your risk of heartattack to twice the average, and drinking more than five cups a day can drive your risk to nearly three times the average.
Coffee and Sex
As far as your sexuality is concerned, a single cup of coffee or caffeine-containing beverage may give you more energy and stamina for sexual activity, thereby enhancing your performance and overall enjoyment. When athletes drink three or four cups of coffee about an hour before they compete, they can outlast caffeine-free competitors by up to 20 minutes. This affect on athletic performance is real—so real that the International Olympic Committee has classified caffeine as a “restricted drug.” Competitors are allowed to use caffeine, as long as they don’t overdo it.
The rest of us can benefit from a little moderation as well. Consuming too much caffeine on a regular basis leads to chronic over-stimulation of the adrenal glands, flooding the body and brain with hormones normally produced in times of stress. These hormones are known to negatively impact libido and sexual performance.
If you’re like most coffee addicts, you probably have no idea how much caffeine you consume on a daily basis. Cup for cup, brewed coffee is the richest source of caffeine. And remember, a cup means just that—a measuring cup—not that two-gallon plastic monstrosity you got for your last birthday. One cup of brewed coffee has 80 to 180 milligrams (mg) of caffeine, depending on how strong you make it. Instant coffee provides about 60 to 100 mg of caffeine, and tea has 25 to 75 mg per cup. The caffeine content of a 12 ounce soda ranges from 30 to 60 mg, and even decaffeinated coffee isn’t totally caffeine free: most brands have one to five mg of caffeine per cup.
If you need a calculator to determine your caffeine intake, there’s no doubt you’re hooked. As with other drugs, too much caffeine can be dangerous, but you’d have to drink about 75 cups of coffee at your next coffee break to sustain a lethal dose. If you’re getting close, maybe it’s time to think about cutting down.
The views expressed here are the author’s own. All copywright issues for the above excerpt to be addressed to anne@netconnectpublicity.com.
Article Source:http://www.webhealthcentre.com/general/diet_nutrition_caffeine.asp
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Heart Care Tips for Healthy Heart
By Dr. Devi Prasad Shetty
A leading heart surgeon in India
A leading heart surgeon in India
Q What are the five thumb rules for a layman to take care of his heart
A. 1. Diet – Less of carbohydrate, more of protein, less oil.
2. Exercise – half an hour’s walk, at least five days a week. Avoid lifts and avoid sitting for a long time.
3. Quit smoking
4. Control weight
5. Control blood pressure and sugar.
A. 1. Diet – Less of carbohydrate, more of protein, less oil.
2. Exercise – half an hour’s walk, at least five days a week. Avoid lifts and avoid sitting for a long time.
3. Quit smoking
4. Control weight
5. Control blood pressure and sugar.
Q Is eating non-veg food (fish) good for the heart?
A. No
A. No
Q. It’s still a grave shock to hear that some apparently healthy person get a cardiac arrest. How do we understand it in perspective?
A. This is called silent attack. That is why, we recommend everyone past the age of 30 to undergo routine health check-ups.
A. This is called silent attack. That is why, we recommend everyone past the age of 30 to undergo routine health check-ups.
Q Are heart diseases hereditary?
A. Yes
A. Yes
Q What are the ways in which the heart is stressed? What practices do you suggest to de-stress?
A. Change your attitude towards life. Do not look for perfection in everything in life.
A. Change your attitude towards life. Do not look for perfection in everything in life.
Q Is walking better than jogging or is more intensive exercise required to keep a healthy heart?
A. Walking is better than jogging since jogging leads to early fatigue and injury to joints.
A. Walking is better than jogging since jogging leads to early fatigue and injury to joints.
Q You have done so much for the poor and needy. What has inspired you to do so?
A. Mother Theresa, who was my patient.
A. Mother Theresa, who was my patient.
Q Can people with low blood pressure suffer heart diseases?
A. Extremely rare.
A. Extremely rare.
Q Does cholesterol accumulate right from an early age (I’m currently only 22) or do you have to worry about it only after you are above 30 years of age?
A. Cholesterol accumulates from childhood.
A. Cholesterol accumulates from childhood.
Q How do irregular eating habits affect the heart?
A. You tend to eat junk food when the habits are irregular and your body’s enzyme releases for digestion gets confused.
A. You tend to eat junk food when the habits are irregular and your body’s enzyme releases for digestion gets confused.
Q Can a healthy person without a medical history have a heart attack due to stress?
A. Extremely rare
A. Extremely rare
Q How can I control cholesterol content without using medicines?
A. Control diet, walk and eat walnut.
A. Control diet, walk and eat walnut.
Q Can yoga prevent heart ailments?
A. Yoga helps.
A. Yoga helps.
Q, which is the best and worst food for the heart?
A. Best food is fruits, worst are oils.
A. Best food is fruits, worst are oils.
Q If a person has undergone angioplasty, what are the chances of the stent getting displaced?
A. Stent doesn’t get displaced. It can get blocked. You could prevent it by controlling sugar, cholesterol and taking medication to prevent clots.
A. Stent doesn’t get displaced. It can get blocked. You could prevent it by controlling sugar, cholesterol and taking medication to prevent clots.
Q Do negative emotions like depression or anger always cause heart disease?
A. Not always. On the other hand, positive emotions help recovery of the heart.
A. Not always. On the other hand, positive emotions help recovery of the heart.
Q I have read about music therapy for the heart and the mind. What is your opinion on this?
A. Guess, it helps.
A. Guess, it helps.
Q Which oil is better – gingili, groundnut, sunflower, saffola, olive?
A. All oils are bad. The so-called best oil company has the largest marketing budget.
A. All oils are bad. The so-called best oil company has the largest marketing budget.
Q What is the routine check-up one should go through? Is there any specific test?
A. Routine blood test to ensure sugar, cholesterol is ok. Check BP, Treadmill test after an echo.
A. Routine blood test to ensure sugar, cholesterol is ok. Check BP, Treadmill test after an echo.
Q How different was it in treating Noor Fatima, the little kid from Pakistan?
A. It was extremely difficult because of the media attention. As far as the medical treatment is concerned, she was like any other child with a complex heart problem.
A. It was extremely difficult because of the media attention. As far as the medical treatment is concerned, she was like any other child with a complex heart problem.
Q What are the first aid steps to be taken on a heart attack ?
A. Help the person into a sleeping position, put an Aspirin tablet under the tongue with a Sorbitrate tablet if available, and rush him to coronary care unit since the maximum casualty takes place within the first hour.
A. Help the person into a sleeping position, put an Aspirin tablet under the tongue with a Sorbitrate tablet if available, and rush him to coronary care unit since the maximum casualty takes place within the first hour.
Q How do you differentiate between pain caused by a heart attack and that cause due to gastric trouble ?
A. Extremely difficult without ECG.
A. Extremely difficult without ECG.
Q Can drinking less water lead to heart problems ?
A. No. However, drinking plenty of water in normal people helps preserve good health.
A. No. However, drinking plenty of water in normal people helps preserve good health.
Q Is it true that diabetic women seem to have 3 to 7 times greater risk of developing heart diseases than non-diabetic women? Is it the same with high BP patients as well ?
A. Women are protected by the hormones till the age of 45. After that, their risk increases like men and in general, the result of treatment on heart patients who are women is slightly poorer than men.
A. Women are protected by the hormones till the age of 45. After that, their risk increases like men and in general, the result of treatment on heart patients who are women is slightly poorer than men.
Q What are some of the precautions during pregnancy to avoid heart problems in the new born ?
A. German measles, which causes congenital abnormalities in the babies. No smoking.
A. German measles, which causes congenital abnormalities in the babies. No smoking.
Q What is the main cause of a steep increase in heart problems amongst youngsters? I see people of about 30-40 years of age having heart attacks and serious heart problems.
A. Increased awareness has increased incidents. Also, sedentary lifestyles, smoking, junk food, lack of exercise in a country where people are genetically three times more vulnerable for heart attacks than Europeans and Americans.
A. Increased awareness has increased incidents. Also, sedentary lifestyles, smoking, junk food, lack of exercise in a country where people are genetically three times more vulnerable for heart attacks than Europeans and Americans.
Q What is the right time to check the BP in any person?
A. Past the age of 30 and earlier, if you have symptoms.
A. Past the age of 30 and earlier, if you have symptoms.
Q Is it possible for a person for a person to have BP outside the normal range of 120/80 and yet to be perfectly healthy ?
A. Yes
A. Yes
Q Are there any symptoms for heart problems, which we need to be aware of ?
A. Shortness of breath on exertion, and chest pain.
A. Shortness of breath on exertion, and chest pain.
Q If a person has had a heart attack, how frequently is regular heart check-up recommend?
A. Once in 6 months.
A. Once in 6 months.
Q Marriages within close relatives can lead to heart problems for the child. Is it true?
A. Yes, co-sanguinity leads to congenital abnormalities and you may not have a software engineer as a child.
A. Yes, co-sanguinity leads to congenital abnormalities and you may not have a software engineer as a child.
Q Many of us have an irregular daily routine and many a time we have to stay in office till late nights. Does this affect our heart? What precautions would you recommend?
A. When you are young, nature protects you against all these irregularities. However, as you grow older, respect the biological clock.
A. When you are young, nature protects you against all these irregularities. However, as you grow older, respect the biological clock.
Q How can we find out about blockage of arteries, beforehand?
A. Routine cardiac evaluation by blood test, ECGs, TMTs, Stress Thallium Scan, Cardiac CT Scan for Calcium score.
A. Routine cardiac evaluation by blood test, ECGs, TMTs, Stress Thallium Scan, Cardiac CT Scan for Calcium score.
Q Does a recurring pain in the left arm signify any heart related ailment?
A. Usually, you get chest discomfort or shortness of breath, months or years before the heart attack. So, when in doubt, go for a heart check-up, which should not take more than a couple of hours.
A. Usually, you get chest discomfort or shortness of breath, months or years before the heart attack. So, when in doubt, go for a heart check-up, which should not take more than a couple of hours.
Q Will taking anti-hypertensive drugs cause some other complications (short/long term) ?
A. Yes, most drugs have some side effects. However, modern anti-hypertensive drugs are extremely safe.
A. Yes, most drugs have some side effects. However, modern anti-hypertensive drugs are extremely safe.
Q Will consuming more coffee/tea lead to heart attacks?
A. No
A. No
Q What are the chances of lean people developing heart complications? Are they at less risk?
A. Obese people are at a higher risk. Lean people also develop heart attacks, but primarily because of genetic predisposition.
A. Obese people are at a higher risk. Lean people also develop heart attacks, but primarily because of genetic predisposition.
Q Is it true that after open-heart surgery, patients lose memory-recall to some extent?
A. No. Especially after bypass grafting on a beating heart, incidence of neurological problems have come down significantly.
A. No. Especially after bypass grafting on a beating heart, incidence of neurological problems have come down significantly.
Q Are Asthma patients more prone to heart disease?
A. No
A. No
Q How would you define junk food?
A. Fried food like Kentucky, McDonalds, Samosas, and even Masala Dosas.
A. Fried food like Kentucky, McDonalds, Samosas, and even Masala Dosas.
Q You mentioned that Indians are three times more vulnerable. What is the reason for this, as Europeans and Americans also eat a lot of junk food ?
A. Every race is vulnerable to some disease and unfortunately Indians are vulnerable for the most expensive disease.
A. Every race is vulnerable to some disease and unfortunately Indians are vulnerable for the most expensive disease.
Q Does consuming bananas help reduce hypertension?
A. No
A. No
Q Is there any cure for chronic palpitations?
A. The patient should be investigated and if there is a cause for palpitation like an electrical abnormality of the heart, this can be rectified by a procedure called radio-frequency-ablation.
A. The patient should be investigated and if there is a cause for palpitation like an electrical abnormality of the heart, this can be rectified by a procedure called radio-frequency-ablation.
Q How would you rate the health facilities currently available in India?
A. There are institutions, which are as good or even better than the one in the US and Europe. However, they are exceptions. In general, the qualities of health-care available to the masses are poor.
A. There are institutions, which are as good or even better than the one in the US and Europe. However, they are exceptions. In general, the qualities of health-care available to the masses are poor.
Q If there is a small hole in the heart, what are the possible ways of curing it? Is operation the only solution?
A. Small holes in children less than 6 months of age usually closes. But the decision not to operate should be taken by the specialists who are experts in treating children with heart problems.
A. Small holes in children less than 6 months of age usually closes. But the decision not to operate should be taken by the specialists who are experts in treating children with heart problems.
Q Are emotions really controlled by heart?
A. No. The heart is just a slave of the brain and it is the brain, which controls the emotions.
A. No. The heart is just a slave of the brain and it is the brain, which controls the emotions.
Q If a person does not do any physical exercise, he is bound to have shortness of breath on exertion; say climbing stairs. Is this an indication of heart disease?
A. No. But if one has difficulty in breathing on mild exertion, it is better to go for a heart check-up.
A. No. But if one has difficulty in breathing on mild exertion, it is better to go for a heart check-up.
Q Can a person help himself during a heart attack?
A. Yes. Lie down comfortably and put an aspirin tablet of any description under the tongue and ask someone to take you to the nearest coronary-care-unit without any delay and do not wait for the ambulance since most of the time, the ambulance does not turn up.
A. Yes. Lie down comfortably and put an aspirin tablet of any description under the tongue and ask someone to take you to the nearest coronary-care-unit without any delay and do not wait for the ambulance since most of the time, the ambulance does not turn up.
Q Do, in any way, low white-blood-cells and low hemoglobin-count lead to heart problems?
A. No. But it is ideal to have normal hemoglobin level to increase your exercise capacity.
A. No. But it is ideal to have normal hemoglobin level to increase your exercise capacity.
Q Sometimes, due to the hectic schedule, we are not able to exercise. So, does walking while doing daily chores at home or climbing the stairs in the house, work as a substitute for exercise?
A. Certainly. Avoid sitting continuously for more than half an hour and even the act of getting out of the chair and going to another chair and sitting helps a lot.
A. Certainly. Avoid sitting continuously for more than half an hour and even the act of getting out of the chair and going to another chair and sitting helps a lot.
Q Is there a relation between heart problems and blood sugar?
A. Yes. A strong relationship is there since diabetics are more vulnerable to heart attacks than non-diabetics.
A. Yes. A strong relationship is there since diabetics are more vulnerable to heart attacks than non-diabetics.
Q Do bypass surgeries reduce the risk of future heart attacks ?
A. It significantly reduces the risk of heart attack.
A. It significantly reduces the risk of heart attack.
Q What are the things one needs to take care of after a heart oeration?
A. Diet, exercise, drugs on time. Control Cholesterol, BP and weight.
A. Diet, exercise, drugs on time. Control Cholesterol, BP and weight.
Q Are people working on night shifts more vulnerable to heart disease when compared to day shift workers?
A. No.
A. No.
Q Can you brief us about angina attack? How major it is?
A. Angina is the pain, which comes on exertion and goes away with rest and medication. One has to be investigated in detail to plan treatment.
A. Angina is the pain, which comes on exertion and goes away with rest and medication. One has to be investigated in detail to plan treatment.
Q What are the modern anti-hypertensive drugs?
A. There are hundreds of drugs and your doctor will chose the right combination for your problem. But my suggestion is to avoid the drugs and go for natural ways of controlling blood pressure by walk, diet to reduce weight and changing attitudes towards lifestyle.
A. There are hundreds of drugs and your doctor will chose the right combination for your problem. But my suggestion is to avoid the drugs and go for natural ways of controlling blood pressure by walk, diet to reduce weight and changing attitudes towards lifestyle.
Q Does dispirin or similar headache pills increase the risk of heart attacks?
A. No
A. No
Q If there is about 85 percent blockage in the arteries, can the person be treated without surgery? If not, what other remedies and the power of your heart muscles
A. It depends on collateral or natural bypass, the quality of other arteries and the power of your heart muscles. It’s impossible to give an opinion without seeing the angiography film.
A. It depends on collateral or natural bypass, the quality of other arteries and the power of your heart muscles. It’s impossible to give an opinion without seeing the angiography film.
Q There is a feeling that bypass is unnecessarily being performed in some cases. When is bypass really needed?
A. When you have blockages affecting major arteries, bypass is the best option. I am sure, conscientious doctors will not perform an operation when it is not required.
A. When you have blockages affecting major arteries, bypass is the best option. I am sure, conscientious doctors will not perform an operation when it is not required.
Q Is it true that mechanical valves can fail any moment?
A. No. If you take medication to prevent clot formation and maintain the INR at accepted levels, the valve cannot get blocked. However, like any mechanical gadget, it can fail and fortunately, such incidences are extremely low.
A. No. If you take medication to prevent clot formation and maintain the INR at accepted levels, the valve cannot get blocked. However, like any mechanical gadget, it can fail and fortunately, such incidences are extremely low.
Q Can you brief me on pulmonary stenosys problems? What are the complications involved and what care needs to be taken?
A. In this condition, the pulmonary valve is narrower at birth and putting a balloon across the valve and dilating it can easily correct it.
A. In this condition, the pulmonary valve is narrower at birth and putting a balloon across the valve and dilating it can easily correct it.
Q Why is it the rate of heart attacks more in men than in women?
A Nature protects women till the age of 45.
A Nature protects women till the age of 45.
Q How can one keep the heart in a good condition?
A Eat a healthy diet, avoid junk food, exercise every day, do not smoke and, go for a health checkup if you are past the age of 30 for at least once in two years. And WORK VERY HARD.
***Courtesy : PERSONNEL TODAY, a journal of National Institute of Personnel Management
***************
A Eat a healthy diet, avoid junk food, exercise every day, do not smoke and, go for a health checkup if you are past the age of 30 for at least once in two years. And WORK VERY HARD.
***Courtesy : PERSONNEL TODAY, a journal of National Institute of Personnel Management
***************
Posts
