Do you get those pains in your chest like something is squeezing your heart? It may be heartburn or it might be angina. What is angina? Angina occurs when you eat too much greasy foods and fat that clog up your arteries in your heart. An angina attack can happen when the blood flow to the heart is decreased. Angina pains are similar to heartburn but way worse. Angina attacks can be mild but without taking the right medications and, more importantly, changing your lifestyle, angina attacks can get worse over time. They can even lead to heart attacks. Sure you can go to your doctor and have him put you on angina plls but if you keep eating greasy, fatty foods, and don’t exercise like you should, those pills will only be a temporary fix. You will be better off in the long run if you change your lifestyle now. Read on to find out what you can do to avoid angina attacks and what to do if you already have angina attacks and want to avoid or decrease them in the future.
If you smoke, quit. Yeah I know it is not that easy, I am a smoker myself so who am I to tell anyone else to quit smoking? However, if you have a chance of having angina attacks you should really try your very best at quitting. Angina is an artery clogged heart that needs oxygen. Smoking increases levels of carbon dioxide and carbon dioxide replaces oxygen. So you see how smoking can make angina attacks worse? If you have angina now or have a family history of it, your best bet is to stop smoking.
Cut Back on Salt, Fat, and Greasy Foods
It is a good idea to cut back on greasy and salty foods and your fat and calorie intake. If you have angina, the best thing to do for yourself is to cut back on saturated fat, for example, butter is one thing to cut back on as well as any food that hardens at room temperature. A few good things to think about are eating less meat, seafood, and poultry. This means trying to eat no more than 6 ounces of these foods every day. Also try to trim your meat before cooking and eat lean types of meat that have less fat on them.
Remove the skin from chicken, turkey, and all poultry before cooking or remove it before eating. Get in the habit of serving meat sparingly in a meal. For example, cook your meat in a stir fry and use cooking spray for oil instead of vegetable oil. Also serve the meat with veggies.
Quit eating organ meats because they are high in cholesterol, change to one percent or low fat milk, and eat more fresh fruits and vegetables.
Get Enough Exercise
If you suffer from angina, you will experience a little bit of angina pain during exercise but that is no reason to quit exercising. Don’t over work yourself and if you feel an attack coming on during exercise, just slow down a bit but you don’t have to quit. Exercise trained muscles pull the oxygen out of the blood and, in turn decreases the amount of work the heart will have to do to pump the blood back in.
One doctor, Julian Whitaker, MD. who is also the founder of the Whitaker Wellness Institute in Newport Beach, California tells a story of a group of angina sufferers who started an exercise program before they had a heart transplant. Over a period of several months, half improved their heart function so much they no longer needed the surgery” says Dr. Julian Whitaker.
Make sure to consult your doctor before you start an exercise program.
Learn to Relax
Whether exercising relaxes you or you have a special relaxation technique, get in the habit of using whatever means are available to stay relaxed. Some angina sufferer’s may only suffer from angina after a fight with their spouse. Learning to relax and resolve your conflicts will help you just as much as medication and lifestyle changes will.
Take Your Aspirin Everyday
For those suffering from angina and have it often, taking an aspirin every day can help significantly. Aspirin is good for any kind of heart trouble. Aspirin prevents the initial activation of the blood clotting mechanism. One study has showed that angina sufferer’s decreased their chances of a heart attack by 51 percent just by taking a low dose aspirin every day. Consult your doctor before using aspirin.
Lay on a Tilt Every Night
If you suffer from angina at night while sleeping, lay on a tilt. This means simply tilting the head of your bed just 3 or 4 inches. Tilting your head can reduce the number of attacks because sleeping in a tilted position will make the blood go more toward your legs and keep it from returning back to the heart’s narrowed arteries. This can also reduce the need for nitroglycerin pills.
Put Your Foot Down
If you are awakened during the night with an angina attack, sit on the edge of the bed and place your feet on the floor. Doing this is equivalent to taking a heart pill but if you don’t feel your symptoms subsiding, then it is time to take a nitroglycerin.
If you suffer from Angina or know someone who does, use these simple yet effective ways to ease the attacks and decrease your risk of having them in the future. Do not replace your doctors suggestions or your heart medications with these home remedies.
For more information on decreasing your chances of an angina attack, visit the website below.
The Doctors Book of Home Remedies
