Heart Care Tips : by Dr. Devi Prasad Shetty

Q What are the five thumb rules for a layman to take care of his heart?

1. Diet – Less of carbohydrate, more of A. There are institutions, which are as good or even better than the A. 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.

    

   Q Do, in any way, low white-blood-cells and low hemoglobin-count lead to heart problems?

   A. No. But it is ideal to have normal hemoglobin level to increase your exercise capacity .

   Q 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?

   A. 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.

   Q Is there a relation between heart problems and blood sugar?

   A. Yes. A strong relationship is there since diabetics are more vulnerable to heart attacks than non-diabetics.

   Q Do bypass surgeries reduce the risk of future heart attacks ?

   A. It significantly reduces the risk of heart attack.

   Q What are the things one needs to take care of after a heart operation?

   A. Diet, exercise, drugs on time. Control Cholesterol, BP and weight.

   Q Are people working on night shifts more vulnerable to heart disease when compared to day shift workers?

   A. No.

   Q Can you brief us about angina attack? How major it is?

   A. Angina is the pain, which comes on exertion and goes away with rest and medication. One has to be investigated in detail to plan treatment.

   Q What are the modern anti-hypertensive drugs?

   A. There are hundreds of drugs and your doctor will chose the right combination for your problem. But 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 lifestyle.

   Q Does dispirin or similar headache pills increase the risk of heart attacks?

   A. No

   Q If there is about 85 percent blockage in the arteries, can the person be treated without surgery? If not, what other remedies and the power of your heart muscles

   A. It depends on collateral or natural bypass, the quality of other arteries and the power of your heart muscles. It’s impossible to give an opinion without seeing the angiography film.

   Q There is a feeling that bypass is unnecessarily being performed in some cases. When is bypass really needed?

   A. When you have blockages affecting major arteries, bypass is the best option. I am sure, conscientious doctors will not perform an operation when it is not required.

   Q Is it true that mechanical valves can fail any moment?

   A. No. If you take medication to prevent clot formation and maintain the INR at accepted levels, the valve cannot get blocked. However, like any mechanical gadget, it can fail and fortunately, such incidences are extremely low.

   Q Can you brief me on pulmonary stenosys problems? What are the complications involved and what care needs to be taken?

   A. In this condition, the pulmonary valve is narrower at birth and putting a balloon across the valve and dilating it can easily correct it.

   Q Why is it the rate of heart attacks more in men than in women?

   A Nature protects women till the age of 45.

   Q How can one keep the heart in a good condition?

   A Eat a healthy diet, avoid junk food, exercise every day, do not smoke and, go for a health checkup if you are past the age of 30 for at least once in two years. And WORK VERY HARD.