Is there a member of your family who has had a bypass operation? A friend, or you, maybe?
Then you must know it is something they (or you), don’t want to go through again, right?
The entire process, from pre-op preparation to post-op rehabilitation, is a series of tests, of prepping you up before you go under the knife, to making a new life of dos and don’ts after.
How do I know these? My best friend had a bypass operation last December. Oh, he survived. But now I am left to drink and smoke alone – two vices that bound us together.
However, no matter how intricate or delicate the operation is, no matter how uncertain the results or expensive it may be, it is something you cannot say “No,” to without the risk of a death from a heart attack.
A heart attack (or myocardial infarction) refers to the death of a heart muscle due to loss of blood supply.
Lay people often call it cardiac arrest, which it’s not. Cardiac arrest happens when the heart’s electrical system malfunctions.
Though different, each can trigger the happening of the other. A heart attack results from a heart disease while cardiac arrest results from a blocked artery – chiefly the reason for a bypass – one of the many heart anomalies that fall under the generic term “heart diseases.”
Heart Disease and Seniors:
Heart disease is the second most common medical issue among seniors (next to arthritis). But it is the top serial killer among people aged 65+, killing 489,722 U.S. seniors in 2014.
Of the various heart diseases, cardiovascular disease (CVD) holds the top spot among seniors.
A 2013 report by the American Heart Association showed that there were approximately 42 million Americans in their 60s suffering from CVD. The percentage was higher in people in their 70s.
The silver lining (LOL!) is that 66% of CVD deaths occur in people 75 above.
At any rate, if you have a heart disease, regardless of age, worrying is not going to help you in any way. Most of the causes of a heart disease are modifiable by changing your lifestyle.
If you manage your heart problems well, you can enjoy old age even beyond age of 75.
Here are a few tips how to:
1. Develop good habits:
Developing good habits is always difficult. But there is no truth that old dogs can’t be taught new tricks. You can and you must:
– Quit smoking;
– Get enough sleep;
– Avoid stressful situations;
– Limit your alcohol intake;
– Develop a positive attitude.
2. Adopt a heart-healthy diet:
You are what you eat and when you get old, what you eat can spell the difference between enjoying old age or frequent visits to your doctor.
To achieve better heart health:
– Eat more vegetables, fruits whole grains and legumes;
– Limit your intake of saturated (animal) fats and dairy products like whole milk, cream, butter, cheese, and ice cream;
– Minimize eating baked foods like doughnuts, cookies, crackers, pies, and cakes that use hydrogenated vegetable oil;
– When cooking or baking, use monounsaturated fats like canola, olive, and peanut oils;
– Fill your diet with protein-rich foods like lean meat, fish, and vegetables. Eat foods that help bring your cholesterol down;
– Eat the right kinds of carbohydrates such as those in quinoa, brown rice, sweet potatoes, and other high-fiber foods, and minimize your salt intake;
– Don’t overeat. It stresses the heart. Drink lots of water to avoid dehydration and, above all, eat regularly to control your blood sugar, burn fat efficiently and regulate your cholesterol level.
3. Exercise:
Several studies have shown that people who regularly exercise have less chance to develop coronary heart disease (CHD) than those who don’t. Even if they do at a later age, it will be less severe than sedentary people.
Exercise can reduce “bad” cholesterol and can raise the “good” kind.
Not only is it good for the heart, but also good for your overall feeling of wellness – a necessary ingredient to heart health.
4. Socialize:
Studies have shown that socializing and social support lowers mortality risks and cardiovascular disease, especially if coupled with moderate drinking.
While heavy drinking is associated with greater risk of a stroke, light to moderate drinking does the opposite. People who imbibe lightly are less prone to strokes and coronary heart disease.
Every day more than 1,300 seniors die of heart attack (2014 figures). But your chances of being one of them is very slim considering that there were 46.2 million people aged 65 and above in the same year.
While this may sound consoling, but having a heart disease is like having a cocked pistol pointed at your temple. And it can go off anytime if you don’t manage it well.
Please share so other seniors will know that having a heart disease is not the end of the world.
Image: www.steadyhealth.com
~oOo~
