Posts Tagged ‘healthy lifestyle choices’

Heart Disease Symptoms and Prevention (video, part 3 of 3)

Friday, January 29th, 2010

Leading Grand Rapids Cardiologist Dr. Manohar of the Heart and Wellness Institute Tells What Symptoms of Heart Disease are and How You Can Prevent Heart Disease.

To begin, every person should know the classic signs of a heart attack.  These symptoms include:

  • Chest pressure ( pressure located in the mid sternum or left side)
  • Heavy pain that radiates on the left side of a person’s arm, neck, or shoulder
  • Shortness of Breath
  • Breaking out in a sweat

Attention should also be paid to the less typical symptoms such as:

  • Nausea
  • Light headedness
  • Indigestion
  • Dizziness
  • Sweats
  • Passing out

If you have symptoms that are unexplained, you should be evaluated for coronary disease.  Coronary disease is the most common disease in the U. S.

 

 

Evidence has proven that free radicals can cause damage to a person’s arteries and vascular system.  Dr. Manohar explains that a nutritious, balanced diet has all the benefits of receiving the antioxidants needed for fighting free radicals. 

Stress and anxiety are also large risk factors.  Anxiety should be addressed through your primary care provider.  According to Dr. Manohar, it is vital that we manage our stress.  We can accomplish this in a number of ways; through social interaction, meditation, or simply by going for a walk, to name a few.

Aspirin has proven to help reduce a person’s chance of myocardial infarction (heart attack).  Aspirin is beneficial because it prevents blood clots and doesn’t allow the platelets to stick together as well.  It is important to check with your primary care provider if you are over the age of 80 as elderly are at risk for bleeding while taking aspirin.

A stent can be an alternative treatment if a person experiences narrowing of an artery.  A stent is a small coil that is placed in the artery to keep it propped open, thus improving blood flow.  A stent is a temporary fix, however, and risk modification is more important.  Receiving a stent will not benefit a person if s/he continues to make poor lifestyle choices such as smoking or eating poorly.

Heart Attack Prevention from Dr. Prerana Manohar

Saturday, January 9th, 2010

Preventing a First or Subsequent Heart Attack

It is never too early to be concerned with heart health and taking deliberate steps to prevent a heart attack. Not all changes are easy, but Dr. Prerana Manohar and the staff of the Heart and Wellness Institute are a valuable support and can help guide you in making healthy lifestyle choices that can positively impact your health. Even if you have already had a heart attack, key measures can help prevent subsequent ones and help an already damaged heart function optimally.

 For those who have already suffered a heart attack, or those at risk, a cardiologist or heart doctor is likely to prescribe a drug therapy which may include:

  • Blood thinning medications like aspirin
  • Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors which make the blood flow more easily and reduce the risk of a second heart attack.
  • Beta blockers are also used by heart doctors to lower the heart rate and blood pressure which reduces the demand on the heart.
  • Cholesterol- lowering medications such as statins, niacin and fibrates may be prescribed by the cardiologist to help lower cholesterol levels.

Lifestyle choices are key in preventing a heart attack.

  • Develop healthy eating habits. Your heart doctor can recommend a low fat, low salt diet
  • If you are overweight, a plan for weight loss can be developed.
  • Exercise.  Simply taking a brisk walk several times a week can help reduce your risk.  Speak to your cardiologist before embarking on a high intensity workout plan.
  • Control your blood pressure if you have hypertension.
  • Control your blood sugar if you suffer from diabetes.

Heart and Wellness Institute, Grand Rapids is dedicated to helping you live a happy and healthy life. If you have any questions about heart health or need a cardiologist, please feel free to contact us.