What are the ways to prevent heart disease?

I have been in the cardiology clinic for almost ten years. To be honest, there is really no one-size-fits-all secret to protecting the heart. To put it bluntly, the core is to save "health savings" for blood vessels in advance, and don't wait until the overdraft causes problems before you think about making up for it. Not long ago, I met a 32-year-old Internet programmer at a community free clinic. He ate high-fat takeaways and drank iced Coke as water. It was common for him to stay up until two or three in the morning to change code. This physical examination revealed that there were mild lipid plaques in the coronary arteries. If he hadn't been discovered early, he would have probably developed exertional angina in another three to five years.

The first reaction of many people when they discover they have plaque is to buy a bunch of heart-protecting health supplements. I have seen many patients take imported deep-sea fish oil and coenzyme Q10 as their daily standard. In fact, there is currently no unified conclusion in the academic community on whether supplementing with these nutrients in healthy people can reduce the risk of heart disease. Some studies believe that long-term supplementation can slightly adjust blood lipids, and there are also large-scale clinical data showing that there is no significant difference between its effect and placebo. If you eat a balanced diet, there is really no need to spend a lot of money to pay this IQ tax.

It is better to pay more attention to small details in daily life. When ordering takeout, skim off the layer of oil on the bottom of the dish. Squeeze out 20 minutes of brisk walking three or four days a week. It is more effective than any health supplement. Many office workers tell me that they don’t have time to exercise. In fact, I get off the subway two stops before get off work and walk back. Don’t lie down to check your phone during lunch break, and walk around the office building twice. The accumulation of these fragmented activities can stabilize blood lipids and blood pressure within a safe range, and maintain the elasticity of blood vessels better.

Many people tend to ignore the impact of emotions on the heart. Last year, I treated a 45-year-old female patient. She usually ate a light diet and danced squarely every week. Her children were in high school and her husband was on business trips all year round. She was burdened with everything big and small. She often felt angry and had no place to vent her anger. Later, she was checked because of repeated chest tightness and was diagnosed with coronary artery spasm, which is also one of the high-risk factors for acute myocardial infarction. When you encounter things that make you nervous, don't just deal with it. Talk to a friend. Even if you go downstairs and enjoy the wind for five minutes to relax, don't keep your nerves tense, and your heart will relax a lot.

In addition, don’t wait until the pain is unbearable before coming to the hospital. For people with a family history of high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease, it is best to check their electrocardiogram, blood lipids, and blood sugar regularly once a year after the age of 35. If you often experience chest tightness or tight throat after exercise, don’t take it seriously and think it is tiredness. Go to the cardiology department for investigation in time. If the problem is discovered early and you can use some medicine to adjust it, it will be much easier than having to go to the emergency room after a myocardial infarction.