Inside or outside the hospital, in examinations related to the subject or in … pediatric examinations, during duty or socializing, one of the most frequently asked questions that a doctor hears, in various variations, but almost always with the same anxiety: “How do I prevent heart problems”? The answer is relatively simple and involves a number of steps.
“In order to prevent heart problems, one should do regular preventive examinations, stop smoking permanently, leave the sedentary life behind and start exercising, control one’s body weight and blood pressure and, of course, pay attention to the diet. of “, says Dr. Ioannis Palios, MD, PhD, Cardiologist, Doctor of the University of Athens, Director of Cardiac MRI at the Metropolitan Hospital.
Regular cardiac examinations
Prophylactic examinations in addition to the classic blood tests include cardiac examination. He always starts with the clinical examination by the cardiologist and the detailed history of both ours and our family. The electrocardiogram gives us the first information about the heart, gives us information about the heart rate, frequency, the presence of arrhythmia or the presence of ischemia at rest. However, this is often not enough and requires an echocardiogram of the heart, the so-called heart triplex that gives us information about its dimensions, wall thickness, systolic function, heart valves, the possible presence of fluid and information about the thoracic aorta.
Often people who have risk factors such as smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, family history and some discomfort require a roller coaster fatigue test, known as the fatigue test. In case someone can not perform the fatigue test and at the discretion of the cardiologist a test is required to check the perfusion of the heart, special tests are performed such as axial coronary angiography, myocardial scintigraphy, the echocardiogram with fatigue, known as stress echo, and cardiac MRI with fatigue, known as stress MRI.
The cardiologist can often request additional tests based on the other findings, such as a 24-hour ECG recording, known as a holter rhythm, in case of arrhythmias, a 24-hour blood pressure recording in cases of blood pressure fluctuations, and other more specialized examinations if necessary. .
Permanent smoking cessation
Smoking leads to serious cardiovascular diseases, mainly myocardial infarction and stroke. It also causes diseases of the respiratory system such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and has been shown to increase the risk of cancer. Passive smoking has similar dramatic effects on our health.
The need to quit smoking is therefore important both for us and for the people around us. Quitting smoking is a difficult process, as there are many reasons to smoke such as nicotine addiction, stress and, very often, habit. However, when one decides to quit smoking one can emerge victorious and get rid of this destructive habit.
Gymnastics
Exercise benefits the body in many ways:
1. Strengthens the heart
2. Lowers cholesterol
3. Reduces blood pressure
4. Improves blood sugar levels
5. Reduces body weight
6. Strengthens muscles, bones and joints
7. Improves endurance
8. Reduces stress
9. Improves sleep
10. Boosts self-confidence.
Therefore it is very important to put exercise in daily habits. Mild aerobic exercise lasting at least 30 minutes and at least 4 times a week is recommended, such as swimming, cycling, brisk walking, etc.
Pay attention to diet
“Proper nutrition and weight loss can help lower your cholesterol, sugar and blood pressure. Losing only 10% of your weight will significantly reduce your blood pressure and the risk of a future heart attack.
“Avoid foods rich in saturated fats such as visibly fat meats, skinned poultry, sausages, cold cuts, butter, fried foods such as potatoes, high-fat dairy creams and margarines of all kinds.” physician.
Delicacies such as puff pastry, croissants, pastries, stuffed cookies and chips should be eaten sparingly. Also avoid eating salt and salty foods such as salted, smoked, canned, salted nuts as it is known that increased salt intake raises blood pressure.
Try to eat foods rich in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids such as salmon, tuna, sardines, nuts and flaxseed. Prefer foods rich in monounsaturated fats such as olive oil and almonds as well as foods rich in fiber such as vegetables, fruits, legumes and whole grains.
“Yes, in regular preventive examinations, in the permanent cessation of smoking, in exercise, in the control of body weight, in the control of pressure, in the careful diet.
Not in meat with visible fat, poultry with skin, sausages, cold cuts, butter, fried foods such as french fries, high-fat sour creams, margarines of all kinds, puff pastry, croissants, sweets, stuffed cookies, chips and chips, chips salted, smoked, canned, salted nuts “, concludes Mr. Palios.
Writes:
Dr. Ioannis Palios, MD, PhD, Cardiologist,
Doctor of the University of Athens, Director of the Department of Magnetic Resonance Imaging at the Metropolitan Hospital
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