A recent survey conducted by the health and welfare organization in India showed that around 23% of the population in this country suffers from heart problems, 5% of which are in the age group of 40 to 55 years. It has also been found that many people are unaware of the symptoms of heart problems, which can lead to a delay in treatment.
The salient symptoms of having heart problems are:
- Pain in the heart, which slowly extends up to the neck shoulders and back. Patients will typically feel a pressure on their heart, which increases when exercising. After taking a rest, the pressure should decrease and allow the patient to feel relief.
- Fasten heartbeat, poor respiration, and suffocated feeling.
- Tired and restless, combined with a significant lack of concentration.
- Less urine to pass during the daytime and comparatively more at night.
- Excessive sweating, even when the patient is sitting or otherwise inactive.
- Swollen feet, enlargement of the kidneys, and change in voice.
Heart problems are increasing, and knowledge of their symptoms can help keep the problem under control. If you have any of the symptoms, go for an ECG and lipid profile test. If the reports come back positive, consult a cardiologist immediately.
In conjunction with taking medicine, try to make the following important lifestyle changes:
- Avoid food with too much oil, ghee, or saturated fats, which can increase the lipid profile. Try using alternatives such as olive oil, soyabean oil, or sunflower oil, all of which contain less saturated fat.
- Avoid alcohol and tobacco. Tobacco increases the chances of having heart problems by 5%, and the chances of death when you suffer from a heart problem by 25 to 50%, so avoid smoking altogether.
- Control cholesterol by avoiding meat, chicken and eggs. Vegetarians have a 24% lower chance of developing heart problems than non-vegetarians. This is because vegetarians have an average cholesterol level of 160ml per DL, whereas non-vegetarians have 202ml per DL. Eat garlic, onions, and grapes, and drink betal leaf juice and carrot juice.
- Stress is one of the main triggers for heart problems. Thus, avoid stress and put aside time for exercise, hobbies, friends, and family.
- High blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity can increase your probability of developing heart problems. So be cautious. Loosing weight up to 11kg can bring cholesterol levels down by 10 to 12%. Regular exercise and morning walks are highly recommended.
