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 pectoris, 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 grams, 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 corona. 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 ischemia 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 physical activities.
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 cortisone. 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, pomegranates 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. One tablespoonful
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 soy milk.
Mid-morning: Fresh fruit juice 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.
Hydrotherapy
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.
Asanas such as shavasana, vajrasana, and gomukhasna,
yogic kriyas like jalneti and pranayamas such as shitali, sitkari and bhramari
are also helpful in providing relief to heart patients.
Source: www.healthlibrary.com through www.scribd.com
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