What are the precautions to be taken post a heart surgery or angioplasty?
It is important to maintain a healthy lifestyle post a heart surgery includes: Quit smoking. Eat a healthy diet that is low in saturated fat. Lower your cholesterol levels. Try to maintain a healthy weight. Exercise regularly. Control other conditions, such as diabetes and high blood pressure. Do not skip any medications prescribed by your doctor.
What causes high BP or hypertension?
The cause of high blood pressure is unclear in most people. However, older age, physical inactivity, poor diet, obesity, kidney problems, alcohol use, certain birth control pills, and persistent stress can all contribute to the development of hypertension.
People with high blood pressure usually have no signs when their blood pressure is excessively high, or if they have already had high blood pressure.
How to prevent high blood pressure?
High blood pressure can be prevented and controlled by maintaining a healthy diet.
Reduce your salt intake. Increase the intake of vegetables and fruits. Avoid saturated fats.
Engage yourself in moderate exercises. Aim for a minimum of thirty minutes of aerobic activity, such as brisk walks for five days a week.
Avoid and stop smoking and other tobacco products and avoid alcohol abuse.
Reduce stress levels by engaging with fun activities and meditation.
If advised medications, please take them regularly.
Does erratic sleep over the long run lead to a potential heart attack? Are the professionals working night shifts at a higher risk of a heart attack?
Yes. Every individual needs at least 6-8 hours of undisturbed sleep. Studies have shown that working night shift meddles with the body’s circadian rhythm, putting it under stress and making it more susceptible to heart problems like irregular heartbeats and heart attack.
What is heart failure?
Heart failure is a condition in which your heart is not pumping normally and is unable to deliver oxygen-rich blood throughout the body. It does not mean the heart has stopped working. It means that it is working at lower efficiency. The heart muscle is either too weak and cannot pump blood to the rest of the body with enough force (systolic failure) and/or has trouble relaxing and becomes stiff (diastolic failure). This causes a build-up of fluid (congestion) in the lungs, feet, and other body tissues. This generally develops slowly but can also present very rapidly.
Is there a link between blood sugar and heart attack?
Anything in excess or deficiency is a problem. The same applies to blood sugar. High blood sugar levels can increase the risk of heart diseases like heart attack and heart failure. Low blood sugar (Hypoglycaemia) can precipitate arrhythmias and heart attacks. Long term uncontrolled blood sugar can lead to blocks in the peripheral arteries like in the brain, legs, and abdomen.
