A chat with Dr.Devi Shetty, Heart Specialist of Narayana Hrudayalaya, Bangalore have been transcript here which will surely help those who are anxious about heart diseases. Since the interview was too long to publish in one post, we have decided to publish the complete conversation in 4 phases. Here’s the first phase.

Ques: What are the essentials for a layman for taking care of his heart?

Ans:
1. Diet – More of protein, Less of carbohydrate, less oil
2. Exercise – Walk for half an hour, at least five days a week; stay away from lifts and avoid sitting for a long time.
3. Control weight
4. Quit smoking
5. Control blood pressure and sugar

Ques: Eating non-veg food (like fish) is good for the heart?

Ans: No

Ques: How does it happen that an apparently healthy person gets a cardiac arrest without any prior notice?

Ans: This is called silent attack; therefore we recommend every person past the age of 30 to go through routine health checkups.

Ques: Are the heart diseases hereditary?

Ans: Yes

Ques: What are the ways to make heart stressed? What practices should we do to de-stress the heart?

Ans: Change your approach towards life. Do not try to go for perfection in everything in life.

Ques: Is walking better than jogging? Do we need more intensive exercise to maintain a healthy heart?

Ans: Walking is better than jogging because jogging leads to early tiredness and injury to joints.

Ques: You have done many things for the poor and deprived. What has encouraged you to do so?

Ans: Mother Teresa, who was my patient.

Ques: Do you think people with low blood pressure still can suffer heart diseases?

Ans: Extremely rare

Ques: Does cholesterol amasses right from an early age or do people have to worry about this issue only after they are above 30 years old?

Ans: Cholesterol accumulates from childhood.

Ques: How do irregular eating practices affect the heart?

Ans: You tend to eat scrap food when the habits are asymmetrical and your body’s enzyme release abnormally which confuses the digestion process.

Ques: How can I control cholesterol element without using medicines?

Ans: Walk, control diet and eat walnut.

Ques: Can yoga help to prevent heart disease?

Ans: Yoga helps.

Keep reading the 2nd phase of Healthy Heart Tips