Recent research suggests that surgery may not be the way to prevent a cardiac event or worse, sudden death. If that’s the case what is the next step? The old familiar lifestyle modifications still hold true, not smoking (huge), controlling cholesterol, maintaining a optimal blood pressure, exercising and staying at a healthy weight. Some newer suggestions may surprise you! Diet abd exercise are both more enjoyable a less ridged. You no longer need to eat card board and exercise to the point of exhaustion to reap the benefits.
The time tested risk factors remain the same, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, diabeties, smoking, abdominal obesity, and lack of exercise. What’s different, C- reactive protein? CRP is a blood born marker for inflammation; it is now recognized as the driving force behind blood clots that prevent blood flow to the heart. Despite these finding patients are rarely tested even if preexisting heart disease is present. People who have normal cholesterol levels can still have high CRP levels that predispose them to a cardiac event.
Revisit your diet. A new dietary approach is actually based on advice long before the low-fat craze. The Mediterranean dietary approach, whole foods like fruit, vegetables, beans and fish are dietary mainstays. The Mediterranean diet is not low in fat but replaces saturated fat with healthier unsaturated fat found in olive oil, oily fish, nuts, seeds, and certain vegetables.
Reduce sources of chronic inflammation. Good dental hygiene with periodic check up can protect your heart as well as your teeth.
Reduce chronic stress. Recent studies have found that stress more than doubles the risk of a heart attack. Relaxation exercise such as deep breathing can help cool the hottest blood. Other techniques, prayer, yoga, laughter, take a nap (my favorite), get a dog (my other favorite), and exercise regularly.
