Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death in the world but there are a number of ways to avoid heart disease and the complications that come with it. The biggest concern on everyone’s minds these days is heart health or how to improve heart health.

In order to keep your heart healthy, cardiologists recommend a plant-based diet as it is rich in anti-inflammatory Phyto compounds and nutrients that reduce inflammation inside the walls and protect the cells from free radical damage. To prevent heart disease, doctors advise eating 5-7 servings of fruit and vegetables every day, if eating fruits and vegetables doesn’t suit you then juicing can also impact the heart health.

To improve your cardiovascular health, including some drinks with heart-healthy benefits in your diet is beneficial.

1. Beet juice: Beet Juice is made by mixing beet and water and is one of the healthiest drinks for heart patients. Beet is a great source of antioxidant betalains that give deep red color to the vegetable and prevent heart disease risk. It helps in lowering the blood pressure and inflammation of arterial walls.

2. Cranberry juice: Cranberries are a natural source of polyphenols that help reduce the risk of cardiac disease. Cranberry juice is also rich in antioxidants anthocyanins, flavonols, and vitamins C and E which prevent the arteries to constrict and plaque to form on it.

3. Red Grapes Juice: Red Grapes juice contains resveratrol which restricts platelets to stick together. The daily dose of Red Grape juice reduces the risk of developing heart disease.

4. Pomegranate Juice: Pomegranate fruit is a bundle of nutrition. It is rich in Vitamin K that aids in heart health, blood clotting, and nerve impulses. The antioxidants present in pomegranate protects the cardiac system from tissue damage and inflammation.

5.  Orange juice: Oranges are rich in antioxidant Vitamin C that is essential for skin and immune system. Its phenolic compounds, such as cinnamic, ferulic, and chlorogenic acids fight against the free radicals and protect the body from diseases.

6. Garlic Juice: Garlic juice has the potential for cardiovascular protection. It lowers the blood pressure and total cholesterol level and thus prevents atherosclerosis. Garlic is more beneficial when it gets fermented. This fermented garlic is known as Black Garlic. It has more nutritive value than white garlic.

7. Celery Juice: Celery contains phthalides having anti-hypertensive properties that relax tissues of the artery and reduce blood pressure.

8. Apple Juice: the most common type of juice is apple juice. It is rich in antioxidants that fight against free radicals and prevent heart diseases. Apple is also a source of potassium that helps in conducting nerve impulses smoothly.

Other important factors to include in your daily life for a healthy heart are, avoid smoking, drinking, and junk food. Adopt healthy habits, do exercise regularly, and take action as early as you detect the symptom for heart disease.

Disclaimer: This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for a qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. Jugaadin.com does not claim responsibility for this information.

Patients underlying weak immune system, Diabetic and heart diseases are a great concern. So, to advise patients with underlying cardiovascular disease of the potential increased risk and to encourage reasonable precautions, Dr. Dinesh Sehgal, Interventional Cardiologist at Sapra Multispecialty Hospital, Hisar was invited at Talk@Jugaadin News.

He informed  ”According to a study, the Heart patients can get affected by the virus in several ways. Though the primary focus of Coronavirus is the lungs, but this could have an impact on the heart, particularly the diseased heart, because it has to work hard to get oxygenated blood through the body. In this way, the problem for coronary heart patients increases as the heart is already having difficulty in pumping the blood. Also, the person suffering from heart issues might have a weak immune system so when virus attacks, the body’s immune system can’t fight back with foreign particles. Also, immunity decreases with aging that’ why aged persons are also at risk of getting infection easily. These patients with heart diseases can be considered as High-risk Patients.

He also explained the new coronavirus, spreads through droplets in the air when someone coughs or sneezes. He recommends that people should protect themselves by adopting some very useful habits:

Dr. Dinesh Sehgal told “What basically Heart Pain is”? Typical heart pain must be taken seriously and instant attention is needed. Typical heart pain is a central pressure like feeling over the chest, often depicted as an elephant is sitting on the chest. Heart pain can radiate to the arms, back, and jaws. With exertion, it often worsens, association with shortness of breath, and calms down with rest. Nausea and sweating can accompany heart pain. If Heart pain happens at rest and persists for long, then heart pain is unstable and immediate medical attention should be sought.

The symptoms of a typical heart pain include tiredness or just slowing down or being unable to do as much as in the past. Fainting, dizziness, and lightheadedness may occur. Indigestion may be there with some leg swelling and shortness of breath.

 If you have symptoms of heart pain such as those outlined, it is important to visit cardiologist as early as possible. If symptoms occur at rest or more frequently then instant medical attention is needed.

Dr. Dinesh Sehgal ( Interventional cardiologist at Sapra Multispeciality Hospital, Hisar suggests that a person should eat food to prevent Heart stroke are:

1. Fruits: Add servings of fresh fruits in your daily diet. Try to incorporate fruit into or after each small meal that you eat.

2. Vegetables: Vegetables are filled with good nutrients including fiber, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. Because of all these nutrients, add a raw and cooked form of vegetables in your daily diet to prevent heart diseases.

3. Whole Grains: Stop using processed and refined bread and pasta. Start using whole grains which are rich in iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, selenium, B vitamins and dietary fiber.

4. Nuts: These are heart-healthy snack only when used in moderate amount. They help in maintaining cholesterol level as it contains good cholesterol (unsaturated fats). Nuts should be eaten in the limit as they include high calories.

5. Omega 3 Fatty acid-rich food: Include foods that are rich in omega 3 fatty acids as they help in alleviating the high triglycride level. Good source of Omega 3 fatty acids is seafood including salmon and tuna fish, oyster.

Dr. Dinesh Sehgal, (Cardiologist) also suggest what foods should a person must avoid

Sodium intake: It is suggested that an adult should take sodium below 2300 mg/day. It is a dietary addition that has a direct correlation with heart health, increasing blood pressure and putting stress on the arteries in the heart.

Cola Drinks: Sodas and juices aren’t good for us. The link between increased sugar in our diets and heart disease, diabetes and stroke is strong.

Red meat and processed foods: This kind of foods contain saturated fats that can increase cholesterol and risk for heart disease and stroke.

There is a strong connection between heart health and diet. Heart illness, stroke, and diabetes fatalities were attributed to diet. Modifying our diets will make it easier for us to have a healthy heart.

Dr. Dinesh Sehgal, Interventional cardiologist, Sapra multispeciality Hospital explain some signs and reasons that give you an alarm why you should visit the heart physician for maintaining a healthy heart:

1. High Cholesterol level: When the total value of Cholesterol (HDL and LDL) becomes high, your risk for heart disease increases. Always keep a check on cholesterol level with the guidance of your doctor.

2. High Blood Pressure: If you are suffering from high blood pressure and it constantly remains high, then you are at high risk of having heart disease.

3. If you are or were a smoker, you have an increased rate of heart disease. Cigarette smoking is injurious not only for lungs but it also damages the lining of arteries wall and causes blockages.

4. Genetics play an important role in determining the rate of Heart disease. If your parents or forefathers were having heart issues, then it is likely that you also can face Heart diseases.

5. Diabetic patients whose blood sugar level remains high are more susceptible to suffer from High BP, High Cholesterol and Obesity.

6. Preeclampsia: Preeclampsia is a condition in which an expectant mother develops high blood pressure. The condition has been linked to a fourfold increase in the risk of heart failure, making pregnancy the most dangerous time for a woman’s heart outside of the post-menopausal years.

7. Tooth and Gum Disease: Patients with swollen gums often have heart disease.

8. Last but not least, when your family doctor or Physician recommends you to see a cardiologist, you must pay attention to their words and visit the specialized physician as soon as possible.

Signs and Symptoms of a Heart attack in women:

1. Uncomfortable and feeling of heaviness, pressure in the center of the chest for some time.
2. Pain in arms (one or both), back, neck, and jaws, stomach
3. Nausea with a feeling of vomiting or may not be
4. Heavenly sweating
5. Exertion, tiredness, shortness of breath, fatigue

Factors that increase the risk of a Heart attack in women are Diabetes, mental stress, fatigue, depression, smoking, no physical activity, fast food, and menopause.

Precautions one should take to reduce the risk of heart or cardiac attack in women are:

• 1. Eat a healthy diet that includes whole grains, a variety of fruits and vegetables, fat-free dairy products, etc.
• Avoid saturated fat, added sugars, and high amounts of salt
• Maintain the bodyweight
• Regular exercise is must to do on the list
• Quit Smoking
• Stay happy, stay calm

Above all, always be in touch with your physicians regarding cardiac problems.

Cholesterol being waxy in nature doesn’t dissolve in the blood. So to be transported in the bloodstream, it is divided into two forms known as LDL (low-density lipids) and HDL (High- Density lipids). LDL is known as Bad cholesterol and HDL as good cholesterol.

As cholesterol is produced by our own body, thus we do not require it from an outside source. The outside source like trans fat, saturated fats, a diet rich in cholesterol only increases the cholesterol level and trigger the body to produce more which is very much harmful to the Heart or coronary arteries.

Foods that are low in saturated fat and free of cholesterol can help in lowering blood cholesterol level. And these include plants that are rich in soluble fiber, which helps lower cholesterol by lowering the absorption of cholesterol and reduces the amount of cholesterol the liver produces. Oatmeal, barley, beans, nuts, and some fruits and vegetables are all good sources of soluble fiber.

There are many studies through which it is found that vegetarian diet holders as compared to non-vegetarian are less prone to heart diseases. It is recommended to adopt a low-fat, plant-based diet, get daily exercise, avoid tobacco, and manage stress to reverse the chance of heart disease.

This article is intended to promote understanding of and knowledge about general heart health topics. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your cardiologist or another qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment.

Here are some ways in which obesity contributes to heart disease – and what you can do to take control of your health and combat not only obesity but heart disease too!

It can cause a rise in your blood pressure level. The individuals who are obese require more blood to supply oxygen and nutrients to their bodies which causes an increase in blood pressure. Increase in blood pressure is a common cause of heart attack.

Obesity can change your cholesterol levels. It lowers good high-density lipoproteins (HDL) cholesterol.  HDL cholesterol is important for removing bad cholesterol and working to reduce the risk of heart disease.

It can also lead to Diabetes. According to the American Heart Association, at least 68 percent of people aged 65 or older with diabetes also have heart disease. Thus Diabetes is also one of the major factors of Heart-related problems.

To reduce the risk of Heart disease, a person should be fit and fine with no extra fats in the body. A person can follow some steps to lower the weight can be:

Exercise daily to reduce body fat. This is the main and foremost step that an obese person should follow to stay healthy.

Have a nutritious and healthy diet plan. Obese people should restrict eating fast food and oily substances. Few foods that may help you achieve your weight loss goals are Oats, Green Leafy Vegetables, Grilled Chicken, Cottage Cheese, Eggs, Tofu, Peas, Flaxseeds, Chia Seeds.

Include at least 6-7 servings of fresh fruits and vegetables in a day’s diet and a serving of green leafy vegetable daily

Decrease salt and sugar intake.

Stress can have also many effects on the body and mind. Stress leads to change in eating patterns and person started craving for High- calorie foods. Eating too many high-calorie foods can contribute to the risk of Heart Diseases. Hence always keep the stress away from you.

Disclaimer: This article is intended to promote understanding of and knowledge about general heart health topics. It is not supposed to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your cardiologist, family Doctor or another qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment