Diet For Patients With An Heart Attack

Heart attacks are one of the leading causes of death for women and men all around the world. Heart attacks happen when the flow of blood to an area of the heart gets blocked for long enough to cause damage or death to the part of the heart muscle. This is medically known as myocardial infarction.

Following a diet for heart patients is of prime importance. It has been proven by studies that a nutritious and balanced diet can help in preventing heart attacks to a large extent. When creating a menu for heart attack patients, it will help to keep a few tips in mind.

Some of them include eating less fat, less sodium, fewer calories and more fiber. Certain fats increase the chances of causing a heart attack. You can usually find these fats in foods from animals like butter, cheese, milk, and meat. You can also find them in foods from coconut and palm oils. If you are a heart patient, you must be careful to consume only very limited amounts of these foods. Consuming less sodium helps in bringing down the blood pressure in some individuals. This can be helpful in reducing the chances of a heart attack. Although sodium is a necessary part of our diet, some individuals consume an excess of it. Most of the sodium we consume comes from the salt that we put in our food during our meals. Consuming fewer calories is an important part of a heart attack prevention diet. When we consume more calories than necessary we tend to gain weight. An excess weight can cause heart attacks. It is also important that you consume sufficient fiber from grains, vegetables and fruits to reduce the chances of a heart attack.

Diet Plan:

Chalking out a diet plan for heart patients can give a better understanding of foods they need to consume and those that they must strictly avoid for a healthy heart. Along with the diet it is also essential that regular exercise is included. It is recommended that you plan your meals and also the appropriate portion size. It is widely suggested that having 5–6 smaller meals at regular intervals is a much healthier option than having three large meals. There are many tips you could include as part of your diet for heart disease. You could include having at least 4½ cups of fresh vegetables and fruits each day. Make variations to the type and color to make sure you are getting a variety of antioxidants, minerals and vitamins. You could also include servings of 3½ oz of fish for each week. Try to have fish instead of poultry and red meats for variety.

Recovery Diet:

The main aim of a diet for patients after heart attack recovery must be to lower the bad cholesterol. To do this the most effective way would be to include plenty of vegetables and fruits as part of the diet. This will help in reducing the bad cholesterol levels. Some of the heart attack recovery foods include red onions, garlic, nuts, seeds, and fish. Following a proper diet after a heart attack and including the foods for a heart patient help in preventing fatty materials and blood clots from hindering the normal working of the heart.

Foods To Avoid Heart Attack

It is important to make note of the foods to avoid heart attack include foods that contain trans and saturated fats. It is also suggested that you avoid fast foods, baked foods, desserts, and fried foods. Consume limited amounts of poultry along with the skin and other meats that are high in fat. You should also make sure to avoid foods high in sugar and salt and foods that are high in cholesterol.

Vitamins:

To reduce the chances of a heart attack, it is essential that you consume more of vitamins C and E. Vitamin E for heart attack survivors is important because it brings down the amount of toxic free radicals that form on the endothelial lining and it increases the production of nitric oxide. Vitamin C for heart attack patients helps decrease the oxidation in blood vessels. However, when it comes to vitamin D and heart attack, it is important to note that an excess of vitamin D should not be taken as it increases the levels of calcium. When it comes to Vitamin K and heart attacks, it is important that you take sufficient amounts of this vitamin because it plays a major role in preventing heart diseases. It is best to consult your doctor for more information on vitamins and dosages.

Supplements:

When taking supplements for a heart attack, it is important that you first consult your doctor before doing so. When it comes to calcium supplements and heart attack, it is important for you to know that an excess of calcium can bring about clotting abnormalities and can increase the risk for a heart attack.

Nutrition:

When it comes to nutrition for healthy heart, it is important that you follow it up closely. The intake of nutrition after heart attack involves nutrients like magnesium, coenzyme Q10, selenium, and chromium. Speak with your doctor or dietician to chalk out a consumption plan.

Heart Attack - Symptoms, Causes & Treatment

Symptoms:

An uncomfortable pressure or pain in the chests center
Anxiety
Paleness
Irregular or increased heart rate
Chest discomfort
Nausea, with fainting and lightheadedness

Causes :

One of the main heart attack causes is high levels of cholesterol.
Other causes include hypertension, atherosclerosis and old age.
It has also been shown that about 40 percent of the heart attack cases are genetic.

Treatment:

Heart attack treatment in the case of a blocked artery or blood clots involves, giving the patient specific drugs and medications to dissolve the blockage or clot.
Another new treatment is known as cardiocerebral resuscitation which involves putting chest compressions that are uninterrupted for around two minutes and then performing standard CPR or using a defibrillator.
Another immediate treatment is therapeutic hypothermia.

Prevention:

Avoid fatty foods and smoking
Perform regular exercise
Lose weight
Consume sufficient vegetables, fruits and whole grains

Diagnosis:

The emergency team that attends to the patient will determine the symptoms and will then begin to evaluate the problem. Heart attack diagnosis will be based on the blood study results, ECG, and the symptoms shown.

Submitted on February 9, 2012