Living Well With Heart Disease
What is heart disease?
Heart disease is a broad umbrella term used to describe a range of heart related conditions. These include;
Coronary Artery Disease, Arrhythmias, Valve Disease, Structural Problems, Heart Failure.
Heart Disease currently affects around 8 Million people in the UK.
Did you Know?
•Your heart beats on average 115,000 times a day
•Your heart pumps on average 5.7 litres per minute
•An average heart rate in an adult is between 60-100 bpm
•A full beat of a heart takes less than a second
•Every cell in your body gets blood from your heart, except for your corneas
Can diet and lifestyle help?
Yes, a balanced diet can help reduce blood pressure, aid cholesterol levels and reduce inflammation.
What is Cholesterol?
•Waxy like substance (lipid) produced by the body, and found in some foods
•Essential to our daily functioning
•Helps with fat absorption
Diet actually affects the collection and removal of cholesterol . Cholesterol is one substance, but how it circulates in the body is different:
LDL (bad cholesterol)
Particles are taken from the liver and deposited in our blood vessels.
Over time, it is also taken up by the lining of our vessels = build up of plaque = narrowing of the vessels
HDL (good cholesterol)
Takes particles back to the liver for it to be broken down / excreted
What impact does salt have?
The body does need salt. Salt has a role in the healthy function of nerves and muscles, as well as keeping your body’s fluid levels in good balance.
However, too much can cause fluid retention = increase in blood pressure
Why Oats are amazing!
Oats contain a fibre called beta-glucan. This fibre is known to lower cholesterol. When you eat oats, they capture cholesterol-rich bile acids, meaning less enters your blood stream. It also means your liver removes the cholesterol out of your blood to make more bile.
It’s all about balance and simple swaps.
The Eatwell Guide is an excellent visual resource, showing the range of foods that can be eaten to support heart health.
More detailed information and insights can be found here
Why Laughter, Really Could be the Best Medicine:
😆Laughing helps increase oxygen flow around the body
😁It increases blood flow around the body
😂It helps release endorphins (feel-good hormones)
🤣It relieves your stress response
😅It lowers your heart rate and blood pressure
When Things Just Don’t ‘Feel Right’
Signs and symptoms that you may have heart disease, or that your existing condition is out of balance.
•Feeling dizzy / lightheaded / blurred vision / feeling confused
•Fatigue
•Chest pains / indigestion sensation / palpitations
•Feeling more breathless / short of breath
•Coughing more / wheezing
•Abdominal pain / swelling
•Feeling sweaty / clammy
•Leg pain - gripping, cramping, sensations, particularly when walking
•Swollen ankles
If you are worried at any time, please seek medical advice.