Lifestyle Changes for Heart Attack Prevention - Dr Gokhale

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Dr. Alla Gopala Krishna GokhaleApollo Hospitals,
Jubilee HillsHyderabad,Telangana - 500 033,
India Contact Number(s)91-40-2360 7777 / 5555 /
2000
Lifestyle Changes for Heart Attack Prevention by
Dr. GOKHALE
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If the heart failure has been diagnosed as mild,
lifestyle changes along with medication will be
effective in slowing its progression. A patient
should observe the following dos and donts -
1.Eat a healthy diet - eat foods high in fiber
and limit foods high in fat, cholesterol and
sugar. Reduce total daily intake of calories to
lose weight if necessary. Stop smoking or chewing
tobacco and drinking alcohol. 2.Exercise
regularly - A regular cardiovascular exercise
program, prescribed by the doctor, will help
improve symptoms and strength and makes the
patient feel better. It may also decrease heart
failure progression. Avoid activities like
pushing or pulling heavy objects, which worsen
heart failure.
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3.Keep blood pressure low - in heart failure, the
release of hormones causes the blood vessels to
constrict or tighten. The heart must work hard to
pump blood through constricted vessels. Keep the
blood pressure low so that the heart can pump
effectively without extra stress. Prevent
respiratory flu and pneumonia infections by
undergoing vaccination. 4.Monitor symptoms -
check for changes in the fluid status by weighing
and checking for swelling. 5.Maintain fluid
balance - the more fluid one carries in ones
blood vessels, the harder the heart must work to
pump excess fluid through the body. Limiting
fluid intake to less than 2 liters per day will
help decrease the workload on the heart and
prevent symptoms from recurring.
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6.Limit salt intake - follow a low-sodium diet to
ensure that there is less fluid retention and
less swelling and breathing is easier. Limit
consumption of sodium to less than 2,000
milligrams (2 grams) each day. 7.Take
medications as prescribed - medications improve
the heart's ability to pump blood, decrease
stress on the heart, prevent fluid retention and
the progression of heart failure. The medications
also decrease the release of harmful hormones,
and dilate blood vessels and thereby lower blood
pressure. 8.See the doctor regularly - during
follow-up visits, the doctor will find out
whether heart failure is getting worse.
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9.Bed Rest - It is recommended for those with
severe CHF. To reduce lung congestion the
patients upper body should be elevated. 10.Stres
s Reduction - Various stress reduction techniques
such as meditation relaxation response methods
have a direct effect of reducing stress hormone
levels. Others lifestyle changes that may reduce
the symptoms of heart failure include stopping
smoking or other tobacco use, eliminating or
reducing alcohol consumption, and not using
harmful drugs.
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Contact Us
Dr. Alla Gopala Krishna Gokhale Apollo Hospitals,
Jubilee Hills HyderabadTelangana500
033India Days Available Timings Mon-Fri 10am
- 500pm Emergency Number(s) 9603040506Contact
Number(s) 91-40-2360 7777 / 5555 /
2000 www.drgokhale.com