Coronary heart disease
Knowledge regarding what we should eat and not eat is of importance as diet has been seen to be related to various lifestyle related diseases like coronary artery disease, diabetes, cancer, and hypertension. Coronary Heart disease is caused by blockages of blood vessels supplying blood to the heart muscle. This results in reduction in supply of oxygen to the heart. When the reduction in blood supply leads to permanent damage of the heart muscle, it causes heart attack or myocardial infarction.
What are the risk factors of heart attacks?
- Most common reason is blockage of blood vessels by fatty deposits or clots inside the blood vessels.
- Unhealthy diet
- Inadequate physical activity
- Tobacco intake
These all factor leads to overweight and obesity, high blood pressure, raised blood glucose levels and high blood cholesterol, these are termed as intermediate risk factors for heart attacks.
Actions needed to prevent the risk factor:
- Optimization of weight
- Less of fat content in the diet
- Increase fibre content
- Rich sources of alpha linolenic acid should be included in the diet like wheat bajra black gram lobia rajma green leafy vegetable methi dana, flax seed, mustard and soybean oil , walnut and fish.
- Avoid fried foods like paranthas, puris, samosa, etc.
- Use of skim milk and milk products
- Use of cottage cheese or dried curd paste.
Follow these and prevent heart disease:
- Watch the diet for cholesterol, salt and total fat
- Eat at least a total of 5 servings of vegetables and fruits
- Watch your weight
- Take regular exercise, if physician permits
- Avoid cigarette smoking
- Don’t worry
- Control blood pressure and diabetes
- Do have regular check-ups.
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