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Major changes in lifestyle a must after heart attack

DUBAI — Surviving a heart attack is a traumatic experience, one that can change a person’s life forever.

For the rest of their lives, survivors are told that they should make significant changes in their lifestyle — including diet, exercise, stress reduction and medication.

The Cardiology Department of Welcare Hospital under Head of the Department Dr Rajeev Lochan recently arranged an interactive dialogue among heart attack survivors.

It was an unconventional meeting between doctors and their patients.

The patients discussed their apprehensions regarding their heart condition, risk factors involved and methods to stop its reoccurrence.

Dr Raipancholi, a cardiologist, explained that the pattern of food consumption, lack of exercise, obesity, smoking and hereditary factors are responsible for heart diseases. During the discussion, doctors urged patients to adopt a comprehensive approach to lifestyle and medical management to minimise risk of heart attack and stroke. The participants were also educated on how to plan their diet, exercise, stress-reduction, meditation and other lifestyle techniques.

Vegetables and fruits should be the first choice for the heart patients.

They have to limit consumption of salt, fats/oils, white sugar and rich starchy foods, said the doctors.

Dr Raipancholi said continued stress can lead to hypertension and heart diseases.

Since diet is very important in maintaining a low cholesterol level, Dr Anjali Dange V, dietician at the Welcare Hospital, stressed the need to modify the diet for cardiac patients.

The hospital had prepared a variety of fibre-rich healthy snacks for the patients so that they could also enjoy tasty and heart-friendly platter.

‘Passport for life,’ a handbook of guidelines for the patients with artery intervention with a CD and a pedometer to keep record of their time and distance of walk, were given away to patients.

As depression is common among heart attack survivors, participants were advised to learn meditation and yoga to speed up recovery and control depression.

Lose weight for a healthier heart

EXCESS weight or obesity can significantly increase risk of heart disease. Each boosts the odds of developing risk factors for a heart attack, such as high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, and diabetes.

It is important to have a healthy weight and there are no gimmicks to achieving this goal. The amount of calories you take in through the diet should not exceed the amount you expend through body metabolism and physical activities. If you eat more calories than you use up, you’ll gain weight, but even a small decrease in calories eaten can help keep you from gaining weight.

If you are overweight, losing just 10 per cent of your current weight helps to lower your risk of heart disease. If you can’t lose extra weight just yet, then try not to gain more.

Try these tips to help keep your weight in check:

• Watch out for portion size. It’s not just what you eat, but how much.
• Choose fewer high-fat foods. These often have more calories than the same amount of other foods.
• Be careful of ‘low-fat’ foods. They aren’t always low in calories. Sometimes, extra sugars are added to low-fat items, such as desserts. They can be just as high in calories as regular versions.
• Be physically active - if you are, you’ve got a good chance of keeping your calorie equation in balance.