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LIFE AFTER A HEART ATTACK: HOW SHOULD I MODIFY MY DIET? CAN I SMOKE A FEW CIGARETTES?

HOW SHOULD I MODIFY MY DIET?

It is important for people with heart disease to control their diet and weight. Achieving and maintaining ideal weight is essential. If you are overweight, losing weight will help you decrease the cholesterol in your blood, lower your blood pressure and improve your glucose tolerance. Remember that your heart has to pump blood commensurate to your body weight. A lower body weight means lesser work for your heart.

You might also need to change your eating habits. Heavy meals make heavy demands on the heart, and that's something you should avoid. It is better to eat 3 or 4 balanced meals than one heavy meal in a day. Low fat diets and those low in cholesterol are desirable. A simple rule of thumb is that animal derived products should be avoided, and vegetarian foods are good.

CAN I SMOKE A FEW CIGARETTES?

Smoking is a sure way to have another heart attack! Stop smoking now. Smoking affects the heart in many unhealthy ways. Smoking increases the deposition of cholesterol in your coronary arteries. Additionally, it causes coronary arteries to constrict, and if this happens in an artery that is already narrowed it can precipitate a heart attack. Smoking also causes your heart to beat faster and raises your blood pressure, thus increasing the work load of the heart. Additionally, smoking increases the levels of carbon monoxide in your blood, depriving your heart of much needed oxygen. So quit smoking today!

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Cardio & Blood