Juliet Thomas Christian Articles for Young Women
What are the thumb rules for a layman to take care of his heart?
What are the thumb rules for a layman to take care of his heart?
1. Diet – Less of carbohydrate, more of protein, less oil 2. Exercise – Half an hour’s walk, at least five days a week; avoid lifts and avoid sitting for a long time 3. Quit smoking 4. Control weight 5. Control blood pressure and sugar
It's still a grave shock to hear that some apparently healthy person gets a cardiac arrest. How do we understand it in perspective?
It's still a grave shock to hear that some apparently healthy person gets a cardiac arrest. How do we understand it in perspective?
This is called silent attack; that is why we recommend everyone past the age of 30 to undergo routine health check-ups.
Are heart diseases hereditary?
Are heart diseases hereditary?
Yes
What are the ways in which the heart is stressed? What practices do you suggest to destress?
What are the ways in which the heart is stressed? What practices do you suggest to destress?
Change your attitude towards life. Do not look for perfection in everything in life.
Is walking better than jogging to keep a healthy heart?
Is walking better than jogging to keep a healthy heart?
Walking is better than jogging since jogging leads to early fatigue and injury to joints
Does cholesterol accumulate right from an early age or do you have to worry about it only after you are above 30 years of age?
Does cholesterol accumulate right from an early age or do you have to worry about it only after you are above 30 years of age?
Cholesterol accumulates from childhood.
How do irregular eating habits affect the heart?
How do irregular eating habits affect the heart?
You tend to eat junk food when the habits are irregular and your body’s enzyme release for digestion gets confused.
How can I control cholesterol content without using medicines?
How can I control cholesterol content without using medicines?
Control your diet, walk and eat walnut.
Which is the best and worst food for the heart?
Which is the best and worst food for the heart?
Fruits and vegetables are the best and the worst is oil.
Which oil is better groundnut, sunflower, olive?
Which oil is better groundnut, sunflower, olive?
All oils are bad.
What is the routine check-up one should go through? Is there any specific test?
What is the routine check-up one should go through? Is there any specific test?
Routine blood test to ensure sugar, cholesterol is ok. Check BP, Treadmill test after an echo.
What are the first aid steps to be taken on a heart attack?
What are the first aid steps to be taken on a heart attack?
Help the person into a sleeping position, place an aspirin tablet under the tongue with a sorbitrate tablet if available, and rush him to a coronary care unit since the maximum casualty takes place within the first hour.
What is the main cause of a steep increase in heart problems amongst youngsters? I see people of about 30-40 yrs of age having serious heart problems.
What is the main cause of a steep increase in heart problems amongst youngsters? I see people of about 30-40 yrs of age having serious heart problems.
Increased awareness has increased incidents. Also, sedentary lifestyles, smoking, junk food, lack of exercise in a country where people are genetically three times more vulnerable for heart attacks than Europeans and Americans.
Many of us have an irregular daily routine and many a times we have to stay late nights in office. Does this affect our heart? What precautions would you recommend?
Many of us have an irregular daily routine and many a times we have to stay late nights in office. Does this affect our heart? What precautions would you recommend?
When you are young, nature protects you against all these irregularities. However, as you grow older, respect the biological clock.
Will taking anti-hypertensive drugs cause some other complications (short/long term)?
Will taking anti-hypertensive drugs cause some other complications (short/long term)?
Yes, most drugs have some side effects. However, modern antihypertensive drugs are very safe.
Will consuming more coffee/ tea lead to heart attacks?
Will consuming more coffee/ tea lead to heart attacks?
No.
Are asthma patients more prone to heart disease?
Are asthma patients more prone to heart disease?
No.
Walking is better than jogging since jogging leads to early fatigue and injury to joints
How would you define junk food?
How would you define junk food?
Fried food like Kentucky, McDonalds , samosas, and even masala dosas.
Can a person help himself during a heart?
Can a person help himself during a heart?
Yes. Lie down comfortably and put an aspirin tablet of any description under the tongue and ask someone to take you to the nearest coronary care unit without any delay and do not wait for the ambulance since most of the time, the ambulance does not turn up.
Sometimes, due to the hectic schedule we are not able to exercise. So, does walking while doing daily chores at home or climbing the stairs in the house, work as a substitute for exercise?
Sometimes, due to the hectic schedule we are not able to exercise. So, does walking while doing daily chores at home or climbing the stairs in the house, work as a substitute for exercise?
Certainly. Avoid sitting continuously for more than half an hour and even the act of getting out of the chair and going to another chair and sitting helps a lot.
Is there a relation between heart problems and blood sugar?
Is there a relation between heart problems and blood sugar?
Yes, a strong relationship, since diabetics are more vulnerable to heart attacks than non-diabetics.
What are the things one needs to take care of after a heart operation?
What are the things one needs to take care of after a heart operation?
Diet, exercise, drugs on time, Control cholesterol, BP, weight.
Are people working on night shifts more vulnerable to heart disease when compared to day shift workers?
Are people working on night shifts more vulnerable to heart disease when compared to day shift workers?
No
What are the modern anti hypertensive drugs?
What are the modern anti hypertensive drugs?
My suggestion is to avoid the drugs and go for natural ways of controlling blood pressure by walk, diet to reduce weight and changing attitudes towards lifestyles.
How can one keep the heart in a good condition?
How can one keep the heart in a good condition?
Eat a healthy diet, avoid junk food, exercise daily, do not smoke and, go for health check-ups if you are past the age of 30 (once in six months recommended).
Dr. Devi Shetty, Narayana Hrudayalaya (Heart Specialist) Bangalore
(Excerpted from a chat with Dr. Devi Shetty arranged by WIPRO for its employees)
