Coronary  Heart

Disease

Angina:- Pain in the chest & in the left arm, while exercising or under mental stress which disappear on resting. This is caused by narrowing of the arteries and as a result the blood supply to the heart is reduced. This is the first indication of the heart disease.

 

Heart Attack:- This occurs when the blood supply to the heart muscles is cut off. This is caused by a thrombus or clot blocking the coronary arteries.

 

The narrowing of the coronary arteries and formation of thrombus or clot is

 

the result of Arteriosclerosis (Hardening of the arteries)

                               

Atheroma

 

(Gradual deposition of the fatty substances in the arteries)

Coronary Heart Disease is on the increase in the Asian community.

 

Reduce the risk factors of getting Heart Disease by taking the following preventive measures:

 

STOP SMOKING

This will reduce your chances of having a heart attack and of getting lung cancer and other related diseases.

Talk to your family doctor.

Seek his advice about giving up smoking.

Join an anti-smoking group in your area.

Have a healthy life and enjoy it. Don’t destroy it.

EAT A BALANCED DIET

Think carefully about the food you eat. A Cholesterol level in the blood is very harmful. Cholesterol is found in the high level in the following foods:-

Full cream milk, cheese, butter, eggs, animal fats such as Cholesterol level in lard and fatty meats.

Reduce the Cholesterol level in your blood by cutting down on these or using fat free foods.

Cook your food by steaming, grilling and baking. It is best not to fry the food. Use olive oil, corn oil and sun flower oil for cooking and use polyunsaturated margarine. Eat fruit and vegetables daily. Use garlic and onion in your cooking. Eat starchy food such as wholemeal bread, pasta, rice, pulses and potatoes.

 

HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE

High blood pressure can increase your chances of having coronary heart disease, a stroke and kidney problems.

High blood pressure is caused by certain disease and it could also be due to obesity, excessive salt in the diet, mental stress and alcohol. Obesity may cause diabetes.

Reduce your weight by exercising and dieting (consult your GP before starting).

 

EXERCISE REGULARLY

Benefits of regular exercise are as follows:-

Reduce risk of heart attacks.

Lower the blood pressure.

Lose excessive weight.

Tone your muscles.

 

Gentle exercise such as walking is best. You can take up anything you find interesting such as cycling, swimming and any other sports.

 

Please always consult your family doctor before commencing any sports or an exercise.

 

Coronary Heart Disease

(CHD)

 

CHD is world wide disease which has

had substantial impact on various countries during past years.

 

South Asians living in the U.K have a higher pre-mature death rate from CHD than average. The rate is 46% higher for men &  51% higher for women.

 

This difference in the death rates between South Asians & the rest of the population is increasing because of lack of:

· Healthy food choice & exercise

· Traditional cooking, with excess use of butter, ghee, salt etc.

· Hypertension because of social differences.

This leaflet provide specific information to

 

1 Reduce the cholesterol levels.

 

2 Eat balanced diet.

 

3 Cease smoking.

 

4 Increase Physical activities.

 

The Project aims to:

 

1) Promote Healthy Living in the

   Sikh / Panjabi Community.

 

2) Raise awareness about

   Diabetes, Coronary Heart

   Disease and stroke.

 

3) Provide advice and

   information in bi-lingual.

 

4) Analyse illness in

   Sikh/Panjabi  Community and

   provide preventive measures.