WHAT CAN YOU EAT TO DECREASE YOUR RISK OF HEART DISEASE?
A heart-healthy diet is one which is low in carbohydrates, cholesterol, and saturated fats but high in fiber, protein, and ‘good’ fats such as omega-3 fatty acids. A vegetarian diet which follows these principles is healthiest, however diets which include lean meats can also be healthy.
WHAT TYPE OF EFFECT DO FRIED FOODS HAVE ON OUR HEARTS?
Fried foods can lead to the accelerated development of plaque in arteries including those in the heart. These plaques can grow into frank blockages which can lead to heart attacks. Fried foods can also lead to high blood pressure which can predispose one to heart attacks and congestive heart failure.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF HEART DISEASE?
Symptoms of heart disease vary widely. Classically, they include chest pain radiating to the left arm, neck or jaw, chest tightness, and chest pressure (like an elephant is sitting on your chest). Others include shortness of breath, nausea / vomiting, sweating, cool / clammy skin, back pain, headache, dizziness, and prodrome of malaise (general sensation of not feeling well).
ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF HEART DISEASE THE SAME FOR MEN AS THEY ARE FOR WOMEN?
Women tend to have more of the subtle symptoms of heart disease than men such as back pain, headache, nausea / vomiting, and malaise. Therefore it is very important for women to aggressively seek evaluation of even vague symptoms such as these, because they could be heart-related.
AT WHAT AGE SHOULD WE START MONITORING OUR HEARTS?
I recommend initiating cardiac evaluations as early as 40 years old and would recommend it at 30 years old if you have a strong family history. Of note, in the past two months I have operated on two young men with heart disease in their 30’s and 40’s, both of whom had strong family histories of heart disease.
CAN YOU INHERIT HEART DISEASE IF OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS HAVE IT?
Absolutely. This is one of the strongest risk factors. As I suggest above, those with a family history of heart disease should aggressively seek evaluation at a younger age to catch it early.
TEXT YOUR QUESTIONS TO 646464 AND DR. HENRY WILL ANSWER THEM ON Blackamericaweb.com
Dr. Henry was born in Anderson, IN to parents who both worked in General Motors factories. He was honored to serve as senior class president and captain of the football team in high school there. He then attended Indiana University where he continued to play football and graduated with honors with a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry in 3 years. His education continued at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, MO.
Henry did his general surgery residency at the Detroit Medical Center / Wayne State University in Detroit, MI. While there he completed a Ph.D in molecular medicine and genetics and had the opportunity to present his thesis work in China and at multiple centers in the U.S.
Also, during his residency, he joined the U.S. Army Reserve where he continues to serve as a Lieutenant Colonel. Following residency he proceeded to a fellowship in cardiothoracic surgery at the University of Louisville in Louisville, KY. Upon completion of training he accepted his first attending position as a staff cardiothoracic surgeon at St. Joseph Medical Center in Reading, PA.
While there he was deployed on his first tour in Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom II. Upon return stateside, he was recruited back to Detroit, MI by one of his former professors of surgery to join the faculty of Henry Ford Hospital.
During his tenure there, he was deployed on his second tour in Iraq in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
After approximately 5 years there he returned to the Detroit Medical Center as the Director of Cardiovascular Surgical Care. He is now the attending cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon at Glenwood Regional Medical Center.
Dr. Henry answers your questions on the next page.
What about air-fried food? Is that any better, Doc?
It is, as long as you don’t add grease or oil with saturated fat.
Can you ask the doctor if constant indigestion a sign of a potential heart attack?
Yes!
What are the proper exercises to do riding bike at the gym?
Riding a bike is a good exercise. Consult with you doctor with regard to the intensity of your workouts.
I am a dental hygienist. Ask the doctor why he didn’t mention the correlation of the periodontal disease and the plaque in the mouth that can clog arteries?
Yes, there is a correlation. Unfortunately can’t mention everything.
My dad had a heart attack at age 57, I’m 54 and I have mitral valve prolapse. How at risk am I for heart disease?
You could possibly have a genetic predisposition for coronary artery disease and definitely should be evaluated for it.
Good morning Doc, can you talk about heart disease as it relates to diabetes?
Diabetes is a strong risk factor for heart disease. It compromises the small blood vessels of the body, including the heart arteries, leading to blockages. It also compromises the nerves of the body. This is problematic in the fact the nerve damage can mask the symptoms of heart disease such as chest pain or pressure. Oftentimes shortness of breath is the first sign of heart disease in diabetics.
Do you suggest going to a cardiologist if you have these symptoms you described in women and your internal medicine doctor can’t seem to find anything and just gives you medications? I’m a 40-year-old woman with a highly stressful career and a busy 8-year-old.
Absolutely!
My question for you is centered on prostate cancer which I am being treated for. Most of the symptoms that you named I experience. I am being treated with a drug called LuPron DePot and radiation and my quality of life has not been the same since surgery and treatment. Could there an issue of heart disease as a result of this?
It could be so. You should have an evaluation by a cardiologist.
Dr. Henry, Hope you’re well. What procedures, if any, should be completed after the aorta is punctured during surgery?
I would certainly need to know the specifics but the options include doing nothing, monitoring with serial chest CT scans, or immediate operative repair.
Question for the doctor is eating red meat like steak bad for your heart?
I cannot make a strong, scientifically proven case against eating lean red meat. However, having said that, I don’t eat red meat.
I have ventricular tachycardia with an implanted defibrillator. I want to take CoQ10. How much exercise is too much?
Exercise capacity and tolerance is certainly an individual assessment. In general I would recommend 30-60 minutes 3-5 times a week. However, each individual should consult his/her physician for guidance.
What specific procedures consist of a thorough heart evaluation?
History, physical examination. EKG, stress test, echocardiogram, cardiac catheterization to name a few.
I have A-fib. I’m a vegan and choose NOT to take blood thinners. What can you recommend that I can take that’s natural?
Blood thinners are the best option in certain cases. I would consult your cardiologist for specific recommendations in your case.
Every time I have an EKG, it comes back abnormal. Recently, because my EKG was abnormal I had a battery of test by two hospitals and both said nothing was wrong with my heart. Yet I still have chest pains. What is the likelihood I do have heart problems? I do have a strong family history of heart problems and death due to heart attacks.
You very well may have heart disease. Unfortunately, EKG can sometimes be normal in the setting of heart disease. I would press your cardiologist for an aggressive evaluation.
What is the difference between a flutter, arrhythmia, and palpitations?
Arrhythmia is any abnormal heart rhythm, palpitations are the sensations felt resulting from arrhythmias typically described as a feeling of the heart racing in your chest, a flutter is a type of arrhythmia generated for the atrium.
Have a friend that takes blood pressure pills she informed me yesterday instead of taken one pill she takes two pills is that OK? Is she at risk?
She is at risk of dropping her blood pressure too low. If she has concerns regarding her dose, she should consult with her doctor.
I use apple cider vinegar to soak my meats like chicken and fish before I cook it which I heard pulls out the cholesterol. I also mix it with water when I drink water. Aside from exercise is the regular use of apple cider vinegar good in helping to reduce cholesterol and what other herbs/products are good to use?
It seems that apple cider vinegar has gained momentum and buzz as being the next super food, however I am not convinced. One proven, long established natural method of lowering cholesterol is eating oatmeal regularly.
Can having bronchitis regularly cause heart disease?
Any type of longstanding chronic inflammatory state, such as bronchitis, can increase the risk of heart disease.
I’m a 48-year-old Black male who is 6 foot 5, 250 lbs. I recently had my blood pressure taken & it was 154/ 89. After googling it, I found out that my BP rate is considered to be stage 1 hypertension. In your opinion, how bad is this?
This is definitely higher than you want it. You will want to recheck it and make sure it is not an isolated reading. If it is consistently this high, then you should seek treatment.
I have a cholesterol level of 377 with 298 ldl. I eat well and exercise. I weigh 140 at 5″4. I was told with a LDL that high it is familial high cholesterol. Is that accurate?
It is very likely that it is familial hypercholesterolemia. I would verify this by getting testing by your doctor.
Do you recommend Krill oil, fish oil or any other supplements for heart health?
Daily fish oil can be an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids which is good for heart health.
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