Heard attack warning sing :
Prevention:
Prevention is better than cure is the good old saying and it holds very true as far as young heart attacks are concerned .Let’s start with exercise. 45 minutes of aerobic exercise, let it be walking, running or sports, at least 5 days a week be our motto. Do not consider weight lifting and body building as good aerobic exercises for the heart, they may even be harmful. Yoga, pranayama and stress management protocols can be added to your regular exercise schedule.
Diet rich in fruits and vegetables are a treat to the heart. Avoid fried items and junk fast foods as far as possible .Reduce the consumption of red meat and prefer fish based non vegetarian diet. Supplementation of tofu instead of paneer is more healthier for vegetarians.
Early detection of coronary risk factors is the key to prevent cardiovascular disease in the future. All youngsters should have their Fasting blood sugars and Lipid profiles checked by the age of 30 years and even earlier if there is family history of cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular disease not only involves coronary artery disease but includes strokes, carotid and peripheral vascular disease.
We often see individuals with Serum cholesterol between 200 – 250 mg % and LDL cholesterols between 130 – 160 mg % taking drugs for couple of months and stopping. This has no use as the cholesterol levels will rise again on discontinuation. Lifestyle modification and meticulous exercise will do more good than default drug use. Prolonged use of Lipid lowering drugs like statins have shown to reduce cardiovascular mortality even in patient with near normal level of bad cholesterol in many primary prevention trials.
