Heart

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Heart Attack

Heart:

The heart is a muscular organ that pumps blood containing the oxygen and nutrients the body needs. The heart weighs 200 to 425 grams. The main pumping chamber of the heart is the left ventricle. Heart is made up of three layers of tissue.

·                          Epicardium

·                         Myocardium

·                        Endocardium.

Functions of the heart:

·                        It pumps blood throughout the body.

·                       Controls heart rate.

·                       It maintains blood pressure.

·                      Pumping hormones and other vital substances to different parts of the              body.

·                      Receiving deoxygenated blood and carrying metabolic waste products             from the body and pumping it to the lungs for oxygenation.

              When the left ventricle contracts, it sends oxygen-rich blood through a         large artery called the aorta. The small arteries called coronary arteries             are connected to the aorta. Blood flows from the aorta through the                   coronary arteries to deliver oxygen and nutrients to the heart muscle.

Heart attack:

During a heart attack, blood flow through one of the coronary arteries may be severely reduced or completely blocked. Low blood flow may be due to the deposition of a fatty substance called plaque in the coronary arteries.

Signs and symptoms of heart attack:

·                          Pressure, tightness, pain, or a squeezing or aching sensation in the chest           or arms that may spread to the neck, jaw or back.

·                        Nausea, indigestion, heartburn or abdominal pain.

·                        Shortness of breath.

·                       Cold sweat.

·                      Excessive fatigue.

·                      Lightheadedness or sudden dizziness.

·                      Feeling of fullness.

·                      Anxiety

A heart attack, also called a myocardial infarction, happens when a part of the heart muscle does not get enough blood. Heart attacks are most likely to occur in the mornings and within the first few hours of waking. Heart disease can affect anyone, any age. 

Cardiologist may recommend that medications to treat a heart attack might include:

·                        Aspirin

·                     Clot blusters

·                    Other blood-thinning medications

·                     Nitroglycerin

·                     Morphine

·                   Beta blockers.

Best treatment for a heart attack:

 ·                    Clot dissolving drugs.

·                     Balloon angioplasty.

·                    Surgery or a combination of treatments.

To prevent risk of a heart attack:

·                       Stop smoking

·                       High blood cholesterol and high blood pressure under control by modifying the diet, losing weight, taking medication, or doing a combination of these things.

A diet that protects the heart:

The best diet for preventing heart disease is one that is full of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts, fish, and vegetable oils.

Time	food
At 7:00AM	A cup of tea/coffee or green tea, or leftover rice gruel.
By8:30AM	Flaxseeds, almonds, walnuts, 50g each or 3Idlies/ 3crisp savory pancake (dosa)+ mint/ peanut/ celery/ tomato/ onion chutney.
11:00 - 11:30 AM	Red, yellow, and orange vegetable salad or Red, yellow, and orange fruits or boiled sugarbeet-150g, Buttermilk (In summer), Weekly once Strawberry-100grams.
12:00 -2:00PM	Brownrice100grams+1/2cup lentil based, vegetable stew (Sambar)+ 1cup greens Weekly twice Fish100g.
4:00 -6:00PM	Gingertea-1cup+Boiled Peas or rajma or black chickpeas 100g.
7:00 -9:00PM	Unleavened flat bread (Chapati)3+ hodgepodge (Vegetable kootu) or lentil based, vegetable stew, Weekly once Tofu paneer 100grams.

 Foods to avoid after a heart attack:

Fried foods: 

·       Reducing the blood cholesterol after a heart attack is one of the top methods for lowering the risk of a future heart attack or stroke.

·       Saturated and trans fats can lead to high blood cholesterol and build-up of plaque in the arteries, so it’s wise to cut fried foods from the diet.

·       Try frying or stir frying the favourite foods at home, using healthier fats like olive, vegetable and nut oils.

Hot dogs, sausage, and other processed meats:

·       Processed meats, like hot dogs, sausage and lunch meat, are loaded with sodium and nitrates. This can raise the blood pressure and the risk of another heart attack.

·       High blood pressure is particularly dangerous because there usually are not any symptoms.

·       Instead of grabbing a deli sandwich or hotdog for lunch, opt for a chicken breast sandwich or turkey burger.

Salted nuts and snacks:

·       To eat a smart diet for heart disease, you need to take note of where salt slips into the diet unexpectedly.

·       Nuts are rich with good-for-you-fats, but try to switch from salted to unsalted ones. The same goes for crackers and other savoury snacks.

Milk chocolate:

·       Milk chocolate isn’t the worst food to eat, but dark chocolate is much better for you if you are trying to improve the diet after a heart attack.

·       Milk chocolate contains more sugar and fat solids than the darker version.

·       Dark chocolate is packed with antioxidants and flavonoids, which can lower the blood pressure and reduce inflammation.

·       Look for dark chocolate that contains at least 60-70% cocoa.

Sugary baked goods:

·       A heart-healthy diet limits sweet treats because they often contain saturated fats that raise the blood cholesterol and refined sugar that sends the blood sugar levels skyrocketing.

·       If you have a sweet tooth, switch to fresh fruit if you are craving sugar.

·       Processed sweets may also contain sodium that you wouldn’t normally expect in a sugary snack.

Condiments and cream sauces:

·       Sauces are sneaky, adding refined sugar and fat to the diet.

·       Condiments such as salad dressing and ketchup may not seem sweet, but they contain sugar that can raise the blood sugar levels.

·       Cream sauces are also a food to avoid after a heart attack because they usually contain solid fats that could include saturated and trans fats and high-fat dairy products.

Fatty red meat:

·       Many experts don’t consider red meat to be a heart healthy food.

·       The problem is that often red meats are loaded with extra fat that can increase the cholesterol.

Sugary soda:

·       Sodas packed with sugar can raise the blood sugar levels and add stress to the walls of the arteries, increasing the risk for heart problems.

·       If you miss the sweetness, try infusing the water with strawberries or kiwi.

·       Iced coffee or tea are also healthier substitutes when you want a drink with a little extra flavour.

Too much alcohol:

·       Alcohol can put stress on the arteries by raising the blood pressure and blood sugar.

Note:

§  Fish oil tablets can be consumed with doctor’s advice.

§  Eating foods that increase good cholesterol and lower bad cholesterol are good for the heart.

§  Eating any food without frying it in oil, without applying spices, but steaming it is good for the heart.

§  Gingelly oil or groundnut oil or sunflower oil can be used 3 teaspoons daily.