Nutrition has an important role in the management of ischemic heart disease because atherosclerosis is the primary cause of ischemic heart disease, also called coronary artery disease. Atherosclerosis is the deposit of fats along the inside lining of arteries, particularly coronary arteries. The fat deposits harden over time resulting in stiffened coronary arteries with a diminished lumen, or diameter, causing decreased blood flow to the heart muscle. Inadequate blood flow to heart muscle results in chest pain and heart attack.
Healthy Weight
The American Heart Association, called AHA, has long promoted the benefits of optimum weight to maintain heart health. Overweight and obesity greatly increase the risk for ischemic heart disease. BMI, or body mass index, is used to calculate a healthy individual weight. BMI is calculated by dividing your weight in kilograms by your height in meters squared. A normal BMI falls between 18.5 to 24.9 kg/m2. According to the authors of "Medical Surgical Nursing: Assessment and Management of Clinical Problems," being overweight as well as underweight places additional strain on your heart muscle. Furthermore, maintaining a healthy weight lowers the risk of elevated cholesterol levels; prevents anemia, a condition of inadequate red blood cells which means less available oxygen for your heart muscle; and reduces the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, all of which increase the risk for ischemic heart disease or further complicate an existing heart condition.
The Right Fats
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, or NHLBI, recommends no more than 30 percent of your daily calories come from fats, primarily monounsaturated fats. To help control or reduce cholesterol and triglyceride levels, limit intake of red meats, eggs and whole milk dairy products as these are a major source of saturated fats. Omega-3 fatty acids, which come from fatty fish like salmon, tuna, bluefish and catfish, to name a few, have been shown to lower blood triglyceride levels; the AHA recommends eating fish at least two times per week.
Less Salt
The DASH eating plan, which stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, was created by the NHLBI, and emphasizes a low-fat, low-salt, low-sugar diet. The typical American adult consumes over 3,000mg of sodium daily. The NHLBI recommends no more than 1,500mg per day to maintain cardiovascular health. High sodium diets lead to elevated blood pressure, which damages the inner lining of coronary arteries, increasing the chance for plaque to develop.
Alpha-Linolenic Acid
If you have ischemic heart disease or you wish to decrease your risk of developing this disease, the AHA recommends adding soybean products, canola oil, walnuts and flaxseed to your diet. These foods contain alpha-linolenic acid which, when metabolized by the body, becomes omega-3 fatty acids. These foods help lower blood triglyceride levels.
Metabolic Syndrome
Metabolic syndrome refers to a set of risk factors for coronary artery disease related to insulin resistance. The risk factors are obesity with an increased waist circumference, high blood pressure, elevated LDL or bad cholesterol, elevated triglycerides with a decreased HDL cholesterol, considered good cholesterol, and an elevated fasting blood glucose level. An individual with this metabolic picture has a great risk for coronary artery disease. Unstable and high blood glucose levels leads to increased plaque production. Eating a diet that stabilizes blood sugar can help reduce this risk. Such a diet is high in complex carbohydrates like whole grains and low in sugars including sucrose, glucose, fructose, dextrose, corn syrup and honey.
References
- American Heart Association: Eat Right
- "Medical Surgical Nursing: Assessment and Management of Clinical Problems"; Sharon L. Lewis, Ph.D., et al.; 2011
- National Heart Lung and Blood Institute: How is Coronary Artery Disease Treated?
