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:

Good Diet and Bad Diet have an equal effect on Heart. A bad diet can lead to Heart Disease or high blood pressure. A diet rich in Sugar, Salt, Fats is termed as Bad diet. Improving your diet reduces your risk of heart disease in many ways, including helping lower levels of high cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar and insulin, as well as preventing obesity and improving your heart and blood vessel function.

 There are some foods that you must not eat or eat in limits to keep your heart healthy strong.

1. Refined and processed grains and carbohydrates: Refined or processed foods like white bread, white rice, low-fiber breakfast cereals, sweets, and sugars are not good for cardiac health. They are not good as refinement or processing removes the natural structure of the food. Processing of any food often adds many ingredients that are less healthy, particularly trans fats, sodium, and sugars. Thus, eat refined or processed food occasionally.

2. Drinks: Soda and sugary drinks: Like refined and processed food, soft drinks also have an ill effect on heart health. In addition, to affect heart rate and blood pressure, soft drinks increases the bodyweight too.

3. Red Meat / processed Meat: Bacon, Chicken, sausage, red meat, or pork can raise your low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or bad cholesterol, and increases your chance of a heart attack or stroke. They are full of salt, which bumps up your blood pressure and makes your heart work harder. High amounts of sodium can lead to stroke, heart disease, and heart failure.

4. Foods undergo deep-frying: French fries, fried chicken and fried snacks increased the risk of heart disease. Frying creates trans fats, a type of fat that can raise the bad type of cholesterol and lower the good cholesterol.

5. Cookies, cakes, and muffins that are called baked food should be taken on less quantity.  They’re loaded with added sugar, which leads to weight gain and can also lead to heart disease. White flour is the main ingredient that may spike blood sugar levels and in turn, increase blood pressure.

6. Drinking alcohol can lead to high blood pressure, heart failure, strokes, and weight gain. So if you don’t already drink, don’t start.

These are some of the foods that constitute a bad diet and avoiding this diet can save you from a heart attack and high blood pressure. Eat nutritional diet including whole grains, fruits, vegetables, cut salt and sugar intake for a healthy life. Include 30-minute exercise in your daily routine.

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.

Health factors that increase the risk of Heart Disease

1. Blood Cholesterol: Cholesterol is a waxy, oil-based substance that is both good and bad for the body when present at normal levels. It is produced by your body and you make it through your food also.  Cholesterol helps in many body functions like contributing to the structure of cell walls, making up digestive bile acids in the intestine, allowing the body to produce vitamin D, enabling the body to make certain hormones.

 But above the marked level, it can become a silent killer for the person. High cholesterol is the main reason for Heart attacks. For more information on how to manage the cholesterol level, click http://news.jugaadin.com/manage-your-cholesterol-level-to-prevent-heart-attack/

2. High Blood Pressure: Blood pressure is the act of blood pushing against the walls of arteries. High blood pressure is diagnosed when it remains elevated for extended periods of time. High blood pressure can cause damage to our heart and arteries, which can lead to heart disease, stroke, and other major complications. To know natural methods of lowering the high blood pressure, click http://news.jugaadin.com/worried-of-high-blood-pressure-adopt-natural-ways-to-lower-it/

3. Diabetes: The body needs glucose for energy. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas which helps in converting glucose into energy.  A person suffering from diabetes is unable to process insulin in the body. This causes blood sugar to grow that’s why adults with diabetes are at higher risk of death from heart disease than adults without diabetes.

4. The lack of sufficient physical activity can lead to heart disease. It can also increase the chances of other risk factors such as obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes, having other medical conditions.

5. Drinking Alcohol: Excess of alcohol raises blood pressure levels and increases the risk for heart disease. It increases the level of triglycerides, a fatty substance in the blood that can increase the risk of heart disease.

6. Smoking can damage the heart and blood vessels, which increases the risk of heart conditions such as heart attack and atherosclerosis.

These are some of the factors that are related to lifestyle and by controlling these factors one can prevent occurring of heart disease.

Disclaimer: This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist/ cardiologist or your own doctor for more information. Jugaadin news has no responsibility for any information.

Cold weather creates a problem in blood circulation but a person can stay warm and healthy if he takes some precautions.

How cold weather affects heart health

During winters, cold temperature constricts the blood vessels and makes it difficult to transport the blood to the brain and other major organs. This forces the heart to work harder; as a result, the heart demands more oxygen-rich blood. This mismatch of demand and supply in the blood sets the heart on the Heart attack.

The signs of a heart attack:

•             Pain in the chest that can cause discomfort

•             Pain in including the arms, back, neck, or jaw

•             Shortness of breath

•             Feeling lightheaded or nauseous

There are many steps a person suffering from cardiac problems can take to keep him warm are:

1. When there is too much cold outside, try to stay indoors and keep yourself warm with the hot water bottle and electric blanket.

2. Wear a cap, scarf, and gloves while going outside in a chilly climate. When you experience the ill effects of angina, wear a scarf wrapped freely around your mouth and nose, so you take in hotter air. This may restrain your side effects. Wrap up warm in layers. Wearing layers of clothes can help keep you hotter.

3.  Have hot drinks like vegetable soup and hot water to keep the body warm and heart-healthy.

4. Try to keep yourself safe from any infection. In case of fever, headache, cough or cold, consult your general physician or cardiologist for immediate relief.

Keep your heart safe and healthy this winter, and all year long.

Dr. Dinesh Sehgal (Interventional cardiologist, Sapra Multispecialty hospital Hisar) giving an overview of the cardiomegaly in the article. He explains the types, causes, symptoms and early diagnosis techniques for a long life.

Types of Cardiomegaly :

Dilated and Hypertrophic cardiomegaly are the conditions that occur due to damage to the heart muscle. In dilated cardiomegaly, the walls of both ventricles become thin and stretched which enlarges the heart.

Whereas in hypertrophic, the left lower ventricular wall gets thickened and becomes less efficient.

Causes of enlargement of Heart

The conditions that cause Heart enlargement are:

Coronary artery disease

High blood pressure

Heart valve Problem

Irregular Heart rhythm

At the time of Pregnancy (Peripartum cardiomyopathy)

HIV Infection

Symptoms of Cardiomegaly

Though enlargement of Heart causes no serious issue, sometimes it can cause Shortness of breath, palpitations, dizziness, chest pain, tiredness, and swelling.

Whenever anyone feels these symptoms, they should visit a cardiologist or your family doctor for early detection of the condition. A good cardiologist will examine the cardiomegaly condition and prevent it from getting worse. If you have a family history of having an enlarged heart, then you should tell the doctor about this.

By eating a healthy diet and not using alcohol and drugs, one can help reduce the chances of developing heart failure. With proper diet, exercise and medication, it can also prevent many people who have an enlarged heart from developing heart failure by controlling high blood pressure.

Atrial Fibrillation occurs when the coordination between the upper chambers of Heart (Atrium) not work in synchronization with the Lower chambers of Heart (ventricles). In Afib, the electrical signals are fast, irregular and disorganized, and the heart may not pump as efficiently.

Afib increases the risk of Stroke and Heart Attack. In Atrial Fibrillation, the atria do not adequately pump blood, blood pools and get stuck in the heart grooves. They may cause blood clots which can restrict the blood flow to the brain. In Afib, the irregular and fast Heart Beats can cause an insufficient supply of blood to the heart which can cause Heart Failure or Heart Attack.

If your atrial fibrillation is undetected or left untreated, serious and even life-threatening complications can arise. Dr. Dinesh Sehgal (Interventional Cardiologist, Sapra Multispecialty Hospital) explains the type of Atrial Fibrillation, their causes and symptoms so to prevent a worse condition to appear from.

Types of Atrial fibrillation

Paroxysmal: These are the temporary abnormal Heart rhythms that start suddenly and then the heart returns to a normal beat on its own, usually within 24 hours.

Persistent: These are the abnormal Heart rhythms that last more than a week. In this medical treatment is needed to return the heart to a normal rhythm.

Permanent: These are the irregular heart rhythm that lasts for more than a year despite medications and other treatments. Some people with permanent Atrial fibrillation do not feel any symptoms or require medications.

Causes of Atrial Fibrillation

High blood pressure, Coronary artery disease which has led to a heart attack, Coronary artery bypass surgery, Diabetes, Myocarditis or pericarditis – infection or inflammation of the heart, Hyperthyroidism – overactive thyroid, Heavy alcohol use, Unhealthy weight, and Age.

Symptoms an AFib person suffering from can experience are

Palpitations, Short Breathing, Restlessness, Dizziness, Discomfort in the upper portion of the chest, and anxiety.

The treatment for Atrial fibrillation is based on the risks, medical profile, and symptoms that a person is suffering from.

Tachycardia is of three types:

Supraventricular

Ventricular

Sinus Tachycardia

Causes of High heart rate:

1. Irregular Blood Pressure (High Blood pressure/Hypertension)

2. Excessive exercise, sudden stress

3. Prolonged use of certain medications and their side effects

4. Drinking Alcohol and Caffeine included beverages

5. Heart failure, Heart Attack and reduced amount of blood supply to the heart (Atherosclerosis)

6. Thyroid

Dr. Dinesh Sehgal explains the symptoms of Tachycardia which include:

1. Shortness of breath

2. Dizziness

3. Sudden weakness

4. Fluttering in the chest

5. Lightheadedness

6. Fainting

7. Heart Palpitations

To prevent Tachycardia, the following tips can be followed:

Exercise, maintain a healthy weight, keep blood pressure and cholesterol levels under control, healthy diet, stop drinking alcohol and smoking, stay stress-free.

If you have heart disease, you can consult a cardiologist to lower your risk of developing tachycardia.

Disclaimer: The material contained on this site is for informational purposes only and DOES NOT CONSTITUTE THE PROVIDING OF MEDICAL ADVICE, and is not intended to be a substitute for independent professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.  Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your health.

There are three approaches when dealing with heart diseases: invasive, non-invasive, and interventional cardiology.

The difference between these three approaches explained by Dr. Dinesh Sehgal, Director Cardiology Department at Sapra Multispecialty Hospital.

Non-invasive: The non-invasive procedure usually involves external tests rather than the insertion of body fluids, needles, or other such devices to diagnose heart disorders, cardiovascular diseases, or other heart conditions. This feature usually prevents further complications of the heart. Overall, this does not include the breakdown of the skin or any part of the body. These procedures are as simple as listening to the heartbeat, being non-invasive to perform such tasks, as well as taking a pulse and blood pressure. This evaluation is also useful in cases where patients are suspected to have valve disease, chest pain or another history of heart diseases. Further conditions treated in this way are nuclear cardiology, echocardiography (to identify the pumping of blood, infection, or any structural abnormalities), cardiac electrophysiology (electric currents to produce and evaluate the heartbeat). , Treadmill stress test (how to perform one under stress). Holter – Heart monitor, echocardiogram, trans-esophageal echocardiogram, myocardial perfusion scan and CT scan (for diseases of the heart and atherosclerosis). In most of these procedures, imaging using ultrasound waves, tape recorders, or electric currents are used to monitor cardiac activity.

Invasive: It is a minimally invasive procedure to identify heart abnormalities. Such procedures are usually minor surgeries that need to be broken into the patient’s skin. These include perforation, catheterization, incision, etc. Such procedures are used in situations such as angioplasty (arteries blocked by a balloon are opened to increase blood flow) and Stenting (a stent – a thin metal needle inserted to open a vein). In addition, invasive procedures are conducted for coronary angiography, coronary artery bypass grafting, valve replacement surgery, electrophysiology, right heart catheterization, permanent pacemaker digestion, automated transplant cardiac defibrillator (ACID), for acute chest pain. The equipment used is usually laparoscopic and remote controlled for these procedures.

Interventional: The interventional cardiologists perform treatment / traditional treatments for severe cardiovascular diseases to ensure that blood is delivered to the heart later and to other parts of the body. This approach uses a small catheter used to repair arteries or vessels or other parts of the heart surrounding areas i.e. treatment of structural heart diseases. Occasionally, angioplasty and stenting may be referred to as traditional procedures because they are catheter-based and require the opening of blocked arteries. Other conditions treated by this method are coronary artery disease (narrowing of the arteries), heart valve disease (not working well in relation to blood flow), peripheral vascular disease (clogged or hardened arteries and veins), Pericardiensis, transesophageal echocardiograms, and plaques. Invasive and interventional cardiology is closely related to where cardiologists work on similar techniques to overcome a patient’s disease.

Coronary Angiography is an X-ray of the arteries in the heart. It helps in viewing how blood flows in the arteries.

How Coronary Angiography is done?

Coronary Angiography is done using a thin flexible tube called Catheter. Through the catheter, a liquid dye is injected into the desired artery. The point from where the catheter is drawn can be arm or groin. This point is cleaned and numbed with local anesthesia.  Then the hollow tube called catheter is induced into the artery and the dye injected to show the flow of blood on the X-ray. Wherever there is a blockage or narrowing blood vessel, it shows on the X-ray. The whole process took nearly 30 to 60 minutes.

In Coronary angiography, the patient is discharged from the hospital after several hours or the next day.

Precautions and Risks after Angiography:

There are some precautions that every heart patient undergone Angiography should follow.

They must take ample liquid diet to prevent dehydration and for flushing of excess dye injected during the procedure.

Do not lift heavy objects for a week if the catheter is injected through the groin.

Puncture site may be slightly bruised and have a small bump for some days.

Call the cardiologist or visit the hospital if symptoms like bleeding, new bruising or swelling, discomfort at the catheter site.

Infection, such as redness or fever, change in color of the leg or arm that was used for the procedure and Weakness or numbness in the leg or arm where the catheter was inserted.