Patients With Heart Disease
The term coronary heart disease covers a group of clinical
syndromes arising particularly from failure of the coronary arteries to supply sufficient blood
to the heart. They include angina peactoris, coronary thrombosis or heart attack and sudden
death without infarction.There has been a marked increase in the incidence of heart
disease in recent years. Heart attacks have become the number one killer in Western
countries. They rank third in India, after tuberculosis and infections. The disease affects people of
all ages and both sexes, although it is more common in men than in women, especially among those
aged 40-60 years.
The heart, the most vital organ in the body, is a muscle
about the size of a clenched fist. It starts working even before birth inside the womb. Weighing less
than 350 grms, it pumps about 4,300 gallons of blood per day through the body and supplies
oxygen and nourishment to all the organs. It beats 1,00,000 times a day, continuously pumping
the blood through more than 60,000 miles of tiny blood vessels. The heart, in turn,
needs blood for its nourishment which is supplied by coronary arteries Coronary arteries are so
called because they are arranged rather like a crown or carona. In case of strain, etc., the heart
needs more blood and the arteries, under normal conditions, adjust themselves to the increased flow.
In the event of narrowing or hardening of the arteries on
account of their getting plugged with fatty substances, the flow of blood is restricted. The heart
then does not get sufficient oxygen.This condition is known as ischaemia of the heart or angina
pectoris. In this condition , exercise or excitement provokes severe chest pain and so it limits
the patient’s physical activity. It serves as a warning to slow down and prompt preventive measures
will prevent a heart attack.If the narrowed arteries get blocked due to a clot or
thrombus inside them, causing death of that portion of the heart which depends upon the choked arteries,
it is called a heart attack or coronary thrombosis. It may lead to death or heal, leaving a
scar. Patients with healed lesions may be severely disabled or may be able to resume normal
life with restrictions in their physicalactivities.
Symptoms
A common symptom of heart disease is shortness of breath
which is caused by the blood being deprived of the proper amount of oxygen. Another common
symptom is chest pain or pain down either arm. Other symptoms are palpitation, fainting,
emotional instability, cold hands and feet, frequent perspiration and fatigue. All these symptoms may be
caused by many other disorders. Appropriate tests and studies are, therefore, essential to
establish the true nature of these symptoms.
Causes
The basic causes of heart diseases are wrong dietary habits,
faulty style of living and various stresses. The famous Framingham Heart Study of the National
Heart and Lung Institute identified seven major risk factors in coronary heart
disease. These are : (i) elevated blood levels of cholesterol, triglycerides and other fatty substances (
ii) elevated blood pressure (iii) elevated blood uric acid levels (mainly caused by high protein diet),
(iv) certain metabolic disorders, notably diabetes, (v) obesity, (vi) smoking, and (vii) lack
of physical exercise. Each or a combination of these risk factors can contribute to heart
disease. Most of them are of dietary origin. These risk factors can be controlled by changing
one’s life style and readjusting the diet.Constant worry and tension stimulates the adrenal glands to
produce more adrenaline and cartisons. This also contributes to constricted arteries,
high blood pressure and increased work for the heart.
Treatment
The fundamental conditioning factor in all heart diseases is
the diet. A corrective diet designed to alter body chemistry and improve the quality of general
nutritional intake can, in many cases,reverse the degenerative changes which have occurred in the
heart and blood vessels.
The diet should be lacto-vegetarian, low in sodium and
calories. It should consist of high quality, natural organic foods, with emphasis on whole grains, seeds,
fresh fruits and vegetables. Foods
which should be eliminated are all white flour products,
sweets, chocolates, canned foods in
syrup, soft drinks, squashes, all hard fats of animal origin
such as butter, cream and fatty meats.
Salt and sugar should be reduced substantially. The patient
should also avoid tea, coffee,alcohol and tobacco.
The essential fatty acids which reduce serum cholesterol
levels and minimise the risk of arteriosclerosis can be obtained from sunflower seed oil,
corn oil or safflower oil. Several studies have indicated that garlic can reduce the cholesterol level
in persons whose body normally cannot regulate the cholesterol fractions. Other important
cholesterol lowering foods are alfalfa and yogurt. Lecithin helps prevent fatty deposits in
arteries. Best food sources are unrefined,raw, crude vegetable oils, seeds and grains.
Fruits and vegetables in general are highly beneficial in
the treatment of heart disease. Seasonal
fruits are quite effective heart tonics. Apples especially
contain heart stimulating properties and
the patients suffering from the weakness of heart should
make liberal use of apples and apple
jams. Fresh grapes, pineapples, oranges,custard apples,
pomegranaes and coconut water also
tone up the heart. Grapes are effective in heart pain and
palpitation of the heart and the disease
can be rapidly controlled if the patient adopts an exclusive
grapes diet for few days. Grape juice,
especially will be valuable when one is actually suffering
from a heart attack.
Indian gooseberry or amla is considered an effective home
remedy for heart disease. It tones up the functions of all the organs of the body and builds up
health by destroying the heterogeneous elements and renewing lost energy.
Another excellent home remedy for heart disease is onions.
They are useful in normalising the percentage of blood cholesterol by oxidising excess
cholesterol. One teaspoon of raw onion juice first thing in the morning will be highly beneficial
in such cases.Honey has marvellous properties to prevent all sorts of
heart disease. It tones up the heart and improves the circulation. It is also effective in cardiac
pain and palpitation of the heart. Onetablespoonful daily after food is sufficient to prevent all
sorts of heart troubles.
Patients with heart disease should increase their intake of
foods rich in vitamin E, as this vitamin promotes the functioning of the heart by improving
oxygeneration of the cells. It also improves the circulation and muscle strength. Many whole meal
products and green vegetables,particularly outer leaves of cabbage are good sources of
vitamin E. The vitamin B group is important for heart and circulatory disorders. The best
sources of vitamin B are whole grains.
Vitamin C is also essential as it protects against
spontaneous breaches in capillary walls which can lead to heart attacks. It also guards against high blood
cholesterol. The stress of anger, fear, disappointment and similar emotions can raise blood fat and
cholesterol levels immediately but this reaction to stress can do little harm if the diet is
adequate in vitamin C and pantothenic acid. The richest sources of vitamin C are citrus fruits.
The following is the suggested diet for persons suffering
from hypertension or some disorder of the heart :
On rising : Warm water with lemon juice and honey or
fresh fruit juice of apple,grapes, orange, pineapple.
Breakfast : Fresh fruit such as apples, grapes,
pears, peaches, pineapple, orange, melons, one or two slices whole meal toast, yogurt, skimmed milk or soya
milk.
Mid-morning : Fresh fruitjuice or coconut water.
Lunch : Combination salad of vegetables such as
lettuce, cabbage, endive, carrots, cucumber, beetroot, tomato, onion and garlic. One or two slices of
whole meal bread or chappatis, curd, fresh grapes and other fruits in season.
Mid-afternoon : One or two wholemeal biscuits and
fruit juice.
Dinner : Fresh fruit or vegetable juice or soup, two
lightly cooked vegetables, one or two whole wheat tappets. The patient should also pay attention to other laws of
nature for health building such as taking moderate exercise, getting proper rest and sleep, adopting
the right mental attitude and getting fresh air and drinking pure water.
Water Treatment
The use of an ice bag on the spinal area between the second
and tenth thoracic vertebrae for 30 minutes three times a week, a hot compress applied to the
left side of the neck for 30 minutes every alternate day and massage of the abdomen and upper
back muscles are water treatments which are beneficial in cases of heart disease.
Hot foot and hand baths are excellent for relieving the pain
of angina pectoris. To this may be added hot packs on the chest over the heart for one minute
and a cold pack applied alternately for five minutes.
