Be kind to your heart
The holy book says, “Guard your heart jealously,
because out of it comes the good things of life.”
Medical experts agree with this golden advice.
They say these words of wisdom apply literally and figuratively to how we should
protect our heart from danger in our day-to-day activities.
They note that protecting your heart goes beyond
avoiding heartbreak or running away from sin and Satan; and stress that a
healthy lifestyle is the ultimate way to reduce one’s chances of developing
heart-related diseases.
A cardiologist (heart specialist) with the Lagos
University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba, Dr. Jane Ajuluchukwu, says what an
individual does daily would determine whether he/she would develop health
complications like diabetes, stroke or kidney failure in future.
She notes that protecting your heart involves
reducing your risks for cardiovascular diseases that could kill you before your
time.
Doctors on WebMD.com say if you want to
enjoy your pension allowances or be present at the ceremony to mark your 50th
birthday and not die suddenly of a heart attack, cardiac arrest or
cardiovascular diseases, some habits must go. They include the following:
Smoking
A cardiologist and medical director of the New
York University Women’s Heart Programme, Nieca Goldberg, says a major cause of
heart disease is smoking.
Goldberg says smoking raises blood pressure,
causes blood clots, and makes it harder to exercise.
Again, the American Heart Association warns that
smoking is the number one preventable cause of death in the world.
Experts warn that even though it may be one of
the most difficult habits to quit, the rewards of stopping smoking are perhaps
the greatest and most immediate.
“When you toss the smokes, your heart disease
risk goes down within just a few days of quitting. Within a year, your risk is
cut by half. After 10 years of living smoke-free, it’s as if you never smoked at
all,” the scientists assure.
Ignoring that chest pain
Goldberg, who, in her book entitled, Complete
Guide to Women’s Health, warns that when your heart literally aches and you
don’t know why, it’s time to get it checked out.
“If you have chest pains while working, walking,
or exercising, that’s a red flag. But if it happens after a heavy meal, it’s
more likely to be your stomach causing trouble.
“If you feel like an elephant is sitting on your
chest and you start sweating, it is an urgent matter; go to a doctor or, better
still, rush to the hospital. It is a sign of heart attack.
“Heart pain can feel more like a pressure rather
than actual pain. People tend to feel it in the front of their chest, with the
sensation sometimes extending into the shoulders, up into the jaw, or down the
left arm,” Goldberg warns.
Eating with abandon
Ajuluchukwu notes that being obese or being
overweight contributes to heart disease, heart failure, and a shorter lifespan.
She says careless eating, especially in the 21st century where junk foods are
readily available, may be injurious to your heart.
She adds, “Aim for a diet rich in fruits,
vegetables and nuts; low in saturated fat and cholesterol; and with almost no
trans fats. This does not mean you need to avoid fat altogether. Fats found in
fish, olives and olive oil, nuts and avocados are heart-healthy and should be
eaten in moderation.”
Avoiding the hospital
If the sight of injections or drugs is what is
keeping you from the hospital, you may want to have a rethink.
Goldberg says when you don’t get checked out
regularly by a doctor, you might not realise if you have some of the silent
heart risk factors that are hard to detect.
“Some of the most common, symptom-free
cardiovascular issues are also some of the most easily treated, such as high
cholesterol and high blood pressure.
“If the cost of a yearly medical check-up is
holding you back, look for where they are doing free screening or tests in your
community or local government. In fact, you can save a portion of your earnings
for it,” She counsels.
Being a couch potato
Goldberg in her book notes that lack of physical
exercise increases an individual’s risk for heart diseases.
Goldberg says, “Physical activity simply
translates into living longer. Exercise helps lower blood pressure, improves
cholesterol levels, encourages weight loss, benefits blood vessel function, and
cuts stress, among other things.
“Even if you haven’t been active for the last 20
years, it’s never too late to make an impact with exercise. Just be sure to talk
to a doctor before you start a new fitness regimen. Tell your doctor exactly
what you plan to do, or ask his or her advice, if you’re looking for
suggestions.”
Neglecting your expanding waistline
If your belt size is slowly getting bigger,
that’s something to worry about, physicians warn.
They say that excess fat tissue in the midsection
(giving you an apple-shape figure) could mean you are already developing
metabolic syndrome — a group of health problems that can increase your risk of
heart attack, stroke, and diabetes, through the hardening of the arteries,
insulin resistance, and inflammation.
“A hefty waistline is linked to doubling your
risk of heart disease,” Goldberg says. That’s good reason to redouble your
efforts to get in shape through a healthy lifestyle. It’s not just about your
clothes size.
Letting your blood pressure run amok
“A good way to wreck your heart is to leave your
blood pressure elevated and untreated,” Goldberg notes.
She says allowing blood pressure to get out of
hand makes the heart work harder and to enlarge, leading to heart failure; while
it can also cause hardened arteries, thus raising your risks for heart attack,
stroke, and other problems.
Physicians say even though symptoms of high blood
pressure are rare, it’s relatively easy to diagnose. You can even check it
yourself with a home blood pressure monitor. Diet, exercise, and medications (if
needed) can also be used to treat high blood pressure. So, make the decision to
live right.
Culled from Punch
Comments
Post a Comment