For quite some time, heart attack has been considered as the leading cause of death in the US as well as in most parts of the world. While Cancer might be the holder of the said “title” for now, heart attack as well as cardiac arrest is still a major problem for many Americans. Fortunately, there are a number of ways on how to prevent the onset of a heart problem, and one of it entails changing the way you eat.
First thing’s first. Before we go to the topic of how diet can have a great impact on the health of your heart, you have to understand first that there is a big difference between a heart attack as well as a cardiac arrest. Although both could, if left untreated, lead to tissue necrosis and death of the patient, heart attack takes place when blood is unable to reach the heart. This could be due to build up of plaques along the blood vessels. On the other hand, a cardiac arrest takes place when something interrupts the regular beating pattern of the heart. This could be due to extreme blunt force to the chest, or due to congenital problems with the heart. In both caes, however, the proper diet can strengthen the heart muscle as well as prevent the development of plaques.
Now, while most people believe an excess of cholesterol intake is the leading culprit when it comes to heart problems, that is not always the case. In fact, what most people should avoid is the oxidation of the cholesterol that we ingest. One of the ways this can be done is by avoiding food cooked using vegetable oil. It is also a good idea to make sure that the oil you would be using when cooking your food is not rancid. Most medical professionals agree that if it can be helped, stay way from cooking oil.
It is also recommended that once you have set yourself to follow the right diet, you should make sure that you keep to your diet plan. Going on and off actually does not work well for you and could lead to undue stress on your heart. Aside from this, going on and off your diet can lead to a build up of the wrong kind of cholesterol which, in turn, might lead to heart attack. While you’re at it, you also have to make sure that you stay away from junk food. Instead of the said kind of food, go for those that are rich in protein especially during breakfast. That being the case, make sure that you have an egg on your plate each morning. Be sure, however, that you do not overdo this one as too much protein can cause hypertension. To ensure that you do not overeat, make use of smaller plates. It is also a good idea to minimize your caffeine intake.
If you need help in ensuring that you know how to administer CPR should the situation call for it, Citywide CPR can be of help.
