Diet for heart patients

heart disease

Heart disease describes a group of conditions that affect the heart, and this term is often used interchangeably with the term cardiovascular disease, which refers to narrow or blocked blood vessels that can lead to Heart attacks, angina, or strokes, and other heart conditions that are also considered heart diseases are those that affect the heart muscle, its valves, or its pulse. It is worth noting that many of these diseases can be prevented. Or treat it by following a healthy lifestyle.

Diet for heart patients

Following a healthy diet and changing bad eating habits can help prevent or treat heart disease. Among the things that can be followed to achieve this are the following:

• Controlling food portions: The quantity eaten is no less important than the type of food eaten, and the amount of food can be controlled by using a small plate. It is also recommended to eat larger quantities of foods rich in nutrients and low in calories, and avoid processed and ready-made foods that are high in calories, in addition to tracking portions. Food allowed to be consumed according to the appropriate calories; This is to avoid eating more than the daily needs.
• Eat more vegetables and fruits: Vegetables and fruits are good sources of vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber. They are also low in calories, and eating more of them helps reduce the intake of high-calorie foods, but it should be noted that you should avoid eating coconut, and fried or prepared vegetables. With cream sauce, and canned, syrup-packed or frozen fruits that contain added sugar.
• Choose whole grains: Whole grains are considered a good source of fiber and other nutrients that play a role in regulating blood pressure and maintaining heart health. Examples include whole wheat flour, whole wheat bread, high-fiber cereals, brown rice, barley, whole pasta, and oats. It should be noted that eating refined white flour, white bread, cakes, cornbread, biscuits, pancakes, and buttered popcorn should be avoided. .
• Reducing unhealthy fats: You must limit your intake of saturated and trans fats. This is to reduce the risk of coronary artery disease, in addition to lowering cholesterol levels in the blood. Its high levels lead to the accumulation of plaque in the arteries, which can increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes. The American Heart Association has recommended that the amount of saturated fats not exceed 5-6% of the total daily calories, and they can be avoided in the diet. By choosing low-fat meats, avoiding adding butter and margarine, and reading nutritional labels. It is also recommended when consuming fats to choose monounsaturated fats found in olive oil and canola oil, in addition to choosing fats. Polyunsaturated fats found in nuts, seeds, avocados, and vegetable oils.
• Choose low-fat protein sources: Meat, poultry, fish, milk products, and eggs are considered the best sources of protein, but low-fat options should be chosen, as are legumes. Such as beans, peas, and lentils are good sources of protein that contain a smaller amount of fat, which makes them a good alternative to meat.
• Reducing the amount of sodium in food: Eating large amounts of sodium contributes to raising blood pressure. Which is one of the risk factors for cardiovascular disease, as the American Heart Association recommends that the amount of sodium consumed per day not exceed 2300 milligrams, and it is recommended to reduce the amount of salt added to food, and avoid canned or processed foods.

Types of heart disease

Heart disease includes a wide range of cardiovascular problems, including the following:

• Congenital heart defects.
• Arrhythmia.
• Cardiomyopathy.
• Atherosclerosis.
• Coronary artery disease (in English: Coronary artery disease); It occurs due to the accumulation of plaque in the arteries of the heart.
• Heart infections (in English: Heart infections); Which may be caused by bacteria, viruses, or parasites.

Symptoms of heart disease

The symptoms of heart disease depend on the type that afflicts the person. Chest pain, shortness of breath, and heart palpitations can be considered common symptoms. Chest pain - which is a common symptom in many types of heart disease - is known as angina pectoris. Which occurs when part of the heart does not receive a sufficient amount of oxygen, or in cases where the person is making physical effort, and usually lasts for 10 minutes. The symptoms of heart attacks are similar to the symptoms of angina, but they may It occurs during rest, and is more severe than angina, and it is worth noting that the symptoms of a heart attack may sometimes resemble indigestion, and may include heartburn, and a feeling of heaviness in the chest, and its other symptoms include pain that travels through the body, and a feeling of dizziness. , profuse sweating, vomiting, and nausea, while symptoms of congenital heart disease include sweating, extreme fatigue, rapid breathing and heartbeat, chest pain, and bluish skin. It is worth noting that some heart diseases can occur without any symptoms appearing at all, especially In elderly people and people with diabetes.

Causes of heart disease

There are many reasons that can lead to an increased risk of heart disease; Among them are the following:

• Age.
• Having a family history of heart disease.
• Overweight and obesity.
• smoking.
• High blood pressure and cholesterol.
• diabetes.
• Eating fast food (in English: junk food).
• Having a history of preeclampsia during pregnancy.

Ways to prevent heart disease

There are some guidelines that can be followed to prevent some types of heart disease: Among them are the following:

• Eat a balanced diet; This is done by ensuring that you eat low-fat, high-fiber foods, as you should eat approximately five servings of fresh fruits and vegetables daily, increase the amount of whole grains eaten, and reduce the amount of salt and sugar in the diet.
• Exercise regularly; As it contributes to strengthening the heart muscle and circulatory system, it also helps reduce cholesterol levels and control blood pressure.
• Maintaining a healthy body weight.
• stop smoking; It is considered one of the main risk factors that lead to heart disease.
• Controlling conditions that affect heart health; Such as high blood pressure and diabetes.