A human heart has 4 valves, the aortic valve being the largest of all. It controls the flow of blood from the left ventricle to the main artery, i.e. the aorta. You will be surprised to know that the aortic valve opens and closes 60 times in a minute without taking any rest. Hence, the valve is constantly under a lot of stress and strain. A time passes by, this can either lead to gradual wear and tear of the valve or trigger plaque formation. All these hinder the normal flow of blood via the valve. This is commonly referred to as Aortic stenosis. Doctors specializing in Heart failure treatment in Jaipur suggest that aortic stenosis if left untreated, can lead to serious complications and even make you more vulnerable to heart failure.
Although you cannot completely negate the risks of aortic stenosis, you can bring down the same by inculcating some healthy practices in your daily routine:
- Focus on eating healthy – Whatever goes inside your body directly, or indirectly impacts all the organs. This includes the heart as well. Valves of people with elevated cholesterol levels are more vulnerable to regular wear and tear as compared to those with healthy cholesterol levels. Hence it is important to keep your cholesterol levels under check by avoiding foods that are rich in it. This includes processed foods and refined carbs.
Sodium, too, is not good for your heart. Limit your salt intake and try to keep it on the lower side.
Avoid eating out and give preference to home-cooked food instead of ordering online. When you prepare your meals yourself, you have the power to control the portions of all the ingredients. Try to add more greens to your diet and replace all the unhealthy fats with healthy ones. These include olive oil, eggs, dark chocolate, nuts, avocado etc.
Don’t skip your meals, it is important to eat after regular intervals. 4 to 5 small diets are much better than having 3 full-fledged meals.
If you are finding it difficult to figure out a proper diet plan, consult a specialist to help you with the same.
Doctors specializing in TAVI heart valve replacement surgery in Jaipur, suggest that a healthy diet can significantly help to alleviate the risks of aortic stenosis, as well as other chronic heart diseases.
- Keep a track of your blood pressure – Blood pressure, as the name suggests, refers to the pressure at which blood flows within your blood vessels. Elevated blood pressure levels can put an unnecessary strain on the blood vessels, as well as the various structures of the heart. This can increase unnecessary wear and tear and put you at an increased risk of developing aortic stenosis. People with high blood pressure are at increased risks of developing various other heart ailments as well. You can easily manage your blood pressure with the help of the prescribed medication and making healthy dietary changes.
- Refrain from smoking – A lot of people opting for cardiac surgery in Jaipur, have been found to be regular or chain smokers. We all know that smoking is injurious to health, but there are people out there who find it difficult to get rid of the habit. Smoking accounts for 1 out of 3 deaths caused by heart diseases. In fact, smoking can speed up the accumulation of plaque and promote the production of blood clots. Smoking has also been found to increase blood pressure.
- Take care of your oral health – Though you may not see a link there, it is pertinent to note that maintaining good oral hygiene is extremely important for keeping your heart valves. Some research has shown a link between gingivitis, a type of gum infection, and heart infections. The bacteria present in your mouth can enter the bloodstream and reach the heart, where it can lead to chronic cardiac infection. Hence it is advisable to brush your teeth at least twice a day. You can also try flossing.
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