Said The Doctor: Simple And Necessary Things To Do Daily To Protect Your Heart

In this day and age incidents of heart attacks are increasing day by day not just among elder people but also among youngsters who seemingly look fit and have experienced heart attacks during gym or dancing etc. Dr. Sanjana Tiwari, who worked at GTB hospital as MD of Anesthesiology & Critical Care offers some essential advice that people should follow daily to keep themselves and their closed ones healthy and happy.

SYMPTOMS: If anyone has sudden uneasiness, or chest pain that "especially goes to your left hand; it can also go to your back" if there is a spike in heart rate which many people refer to as panicking are some of the most common symptoms.

WHAT SHOULD YOU LOOK OUT FOR AND THE WAY FORWARD:

1. Lifestyle Changes: While including vegetables and pulses in our daily meals is essential, it is also important to keep in mind the preparation of our daily meals. "If you prepare your vegetables or pulses in four tablespoons of ghee and put four tablespoons on top of it, it doesn't mean it's a healthy diet" Cutting down on Oil/Ghee while preparing meals is essential and also it is advisable to not add extra ghee or salt over our food once it's prepared.

2. Include more fiber in your daily diet: Eating more salads and less oils is vital. People are also under a misconception that Ghee is healthier but it essentially is a fat and consumption should be limited.

3. Exercise: "We are all tempted to skip that one day of gym and lie down in our beds but, that isn't a solution" However, it is not necessary to hit the gym every day. Any form of physical activity that gives our body the exercise it needs is important. The point of exercise is not just losing weight but, it is also a great way to destress our bodies.

4. Manage your mental health: Stress is one of the most important factors for heart attacks and heart diseases these days, especially in young people. "Everybody has an immense amount of career stress these days and it's very important to manage your mental health along with your physical health for a complete well-being of the heart"

5. Genetics: Genetics is a rather important factor as people who have close relatives with a history of heart attack or heart disease are required to be "more vigilant". The doctor says such people are required to do regular health check-ups (Blood tests, BP, Sugar, ECG, etc.,) at least twice a year for the young population and once every four months for the elderly.

6. Overweight, Thyroid, hypertension, or other comorbidities: For people who are overweight, have thyroid issues, hypertension, or any comorbidity disease, it is essential to keep their health in check as it can lead to heart disease as well. "It's very important to screen yourself for all these diseases and these small steps make a difference". While diet and exercise are primal things, people with such comorbidities should never ignore their medications

7. Post-COVID health: Talking about the post-COVID increase in cardiac issues, the doctor said that it is a disease that has to be explored more. "Any disease takes years and years of research to conclude". While ongoing research is there, but, yes, it has been seen that post-COVID some people are more susceptible to cardiac issues. So the important thing is not to neglect your symptoms.

In conclusion, it is all about staying vigilant about your body and regulating your diet and physical activity as per your body's requirements.