Is it possible to drink alcohol after a heart attack and stenting? Is it possible to drink alcohol after a heart attack? Is it possible to drink alcohol after a heart attack?

Unfortunately, in recent decades, poor ecology, a sedentary lifestyle and other negative factors have rapidly “rejuvenated” the age group of patients: myocardial infarction is quite common in 30–40 year olds. Most often, the male part of the population suffers from the disease, since the fair sex is protected from atherosclerosis (the main cause of MI) by female sex hormones until the menopause stage.

Myocardial infarction is classified according to a number of indicators.

Stages of development

  1. Acute (several hours after the attack).
  2. Acute (up to ten days after the attack).
  3. Subacute (up to one and a half months after the attack).
  4. Scarring (up to six months from MI).

Anatomical features of the lesion

  1. Intramural.
  2. Transmural.
  3. Subepicardial.
  4. Subendocardial.

The volume of the lesion is small- and large-focal.

Localization of necrosis

  1. Left ventricular MI.
  2. Right ventricular MI.
  3. Septal MI.
  4. Isolated MI of the organ apex.
  5. Complex localizations.

Course of the disease

  1. Monocyclic.
  2. Lingering.
  3. Recurrent.
  4. Repeated myocardial infarction.

Clinical classification

  1. Myocardial infarction is a spontaneous type that occurs as a consequence of the first coronary event.
  2. Ischemic MI caused by insufficient oxygen supply due to anemia, embolism, hypo- and hypertension, etc.
  3. Sudden coronary death with organ failure.
  4. PCI-associated myocardial infarction.
  5. MI due to stent thrombosis.
  6. CABG-associated type of myocardial infarction.

Causes of myocardial infarction

The main cause of MI is usually atherosclerosis. In addition, the following circumstances significantly increase the likelihood of developing the disease:

  1. High blood cholesterol.
  2. Tobacco smoking.
  3. Sedentary lifestyle and excess body weight.
  4. Diabetes.
  5. Great physical activity.
  6. Hypertensive crisis.
  7. Psycho-emotional stress.
  8. High blood pressure.
  9. Age after 50 for women and from 30 for men.

In most cases, the symptoms and signs of a heart attack are specific and unambiguous; they can be used to diagnose the problem at an early stage. The main clinical symptom is angiotic pain - an intense pain syndrome that forms behind the sternum. Moreover, in some patients the above sensations are very variable, from an almost complete absence of pain to mild/moderate discomfort in the chest. In patients with diabetes mellitus, most often the above symptoms do not appear.

First signs

  1. Pain in the chest, less often in the throat, shoulder blade, discomfort in the abdomen (with atypical forms of MI). Lasts from thirty minutes to an hour (sometimes longer), is not relieved by nitrates, only analgesics of the narcotic spectrum are effective.
  2. (in half of the patients).
  3. Non-productive cough (in 20–40 percent of cases, usually with large-focal lesions and the asthmatic form of MI).
  4. Arrhythmia in the form of atrial fibrillation or extrasystoles.
  5. Neurological symptoms (impaired consciousness, dizziness) - with the cerebral form of MI.
  6. Girdle pain in the chest (in patients with).

In a quarter of patients, both early and late symptoms of MI may not appear, and the only indicator of the problem is cardiac arrest.

Diagnostics

Diagnostic measures at an early stage of the development of myocardial infarction significantly increase the patient’s survival rate. Basic procedures:

  1. Electrocardiography.
  2. Echocardiography.
  3. Analysis of blood plasma for proteins MB-CPK, AST, LDH1 and troponin. With MI, their indicators increase within 1–48 hours.

ECG for myocardial infarction

One of the main methods of early diagnosis by recording and simultaneously studying the electric fields of the beating heart gives an almost unambiguous answer to the question of whether the patient has a myocardial infarction.

On the electrocardiogram during myocardial infarction (the first six hours, the developing stage), there is a large dome-shaped rise in the ST segments merging with the T wave, followed by widened low Q waves. The R amplitude also increases. At the same time, some patients may experience QS forms of GI, mainly in the localization of myocardial infarction. With large-focal lesions, a quarter of all patients have no significant changes in the electrocardiogram, especially if the MI is repeated or intraventricular block occurs. In this situation, the indicator of the disease is the sequence of changes in QRS in relation to ST, observed after taking readings of a series of ECGs during the day.

The acute stage of the period from six to seven days after the attack is characterized by a negative T-wave and an ST segment that approaches the isoline.

Late diagnosis

Late delayed diagnosis of MI consists of coronography or myocardial scintigraphy, as well as the above-mentioned ECG - from the 30th day to several years, the patient exhibits a reduced amplitude of the R wave, ST complex on the isoline, as well as a positive T wave and persistent Q.

First aid for heart attack

  1. Place the person in a comfortable chair with a backrest, calm him down by loosening his tie and unbuttoning his constricting clothes.
  2. Give the patient nitroglycerin.
  3. If within five minutes the above medicine does not help, call an ambulance.
  4. If the patient is not allergic to aspirin, ask him to chew 300 milligrams of this medicine thoroughly.
  5. If the heart stops, begin cardiopulmonary resuscitation with chest compressions and artificial respiration. It is optimal to use a portable defibrillator.

After the arrival of the medical team, the most important stage of the fight against the disease begins.

Drug treatment

  1. The prehospital stage consists of eliminating pain and restoring coronary blood flow. For pain relief, the team may use fentanyl with droperidol or morphine with sodium chloride. As an additional remedy - diazepam (all intravenously).
  2. Acetylsalicylic acid or clopidogrel intravenously 250–500 milligrams (antiplatelet therapy).
  3. Unfractionated heparin (the first two days) intravenous bolus at 60 IU/kg body weight (anticoagulant effect).
  4. Streptokinase (1.5 million IU per 100 ml sodium chloride) as thrombolytic therapy.
  5. Beta blockers atenolol, metoprolol or propranolol.
  6. Others as necessary as prescribed by a doctor.

Rehabilitation after a heart attack

On average, basic rehabilitation after an MI takes several months. Main events:

  1. Taking medications prescribed by your doctor.
  2. Undergoing physiotherapeutic procedures.
  3. Dieting.
  4. Fight bad habits.
  5. Gradual introduction of physical therapy with increasing intensity of physical activity.
  6. Combating psychoses and neurotic disorders, which are often diagnosed after myocardial infarction in an elderly group of patients.

Since the general prognosis of the disease is conditionally unfavorable, the likelihood of returning to normal life will depend not only on the completeness of the restoration measures taken, but also on the individual characteristics of the patient’s body, his environment and other factors.

Possible consequences

Possible complications of MI include a number of pathologies.

Pathologies of the early stage of the disease

  1. Various types of arterial hypotension.
  2. Disturbances in the respiratory system.
  3. Cardiogenic shock.
  4. Pericarditis.
  5. Multiple rhythm/conduction disturbances with thromboembolic complications.

Pathologies of the late stage of the disease

  1. Heart aneurysms.
  2. Dressler's syndrome.
  3. Chronic heart failure.

The list of preventive measures developed by a cardiologist and rehabilitation specialist purely individually for the patient, taking into account the current state of his health, includes the following measures:

  1. Weight control.
  2. Regular physical activity.
  3. Quitting smoking and drinking alcohol.
  4. Strict control of cholesterol, glucose and blood pressure levels.
  5. A diet with no salt and foods rich in refractory fats. Introduction to the diet of seafood, vegetables, fruits and dishes containing large amounts of minerals, vitamins, and fiber.
  6. Taking medications - cardiomagnyl, aspirin, carvedilol, statins, ACE inhibitors, eicosapentaenoic/docosahexaenoic acid, heparin in dosages prescribed by a cardiologist.

Useful video

Elena Malysheva in the program “Live Healthy!” Myocardial infarction

Acute myocardial infarction

If you believe medical statistics, then today the main killer of the stronger sex is not pancreatic cancer, but myocardial infarction. Unfortunately, the first signs of myocardial infarction in men are rarely a reason to seek medical help. But if treatment is delayed, then the person, at best, will remain disabled for life.

Insidious disease

Many call myocardial infarction a real plague of the twenty-first century. This is explained by the fact that the lives of many representatives of the stronger sex began to be stressful. This, of course, affects your health.

A heart attack is very insidious. The first symptoms of this dangerous cardiac abnormality may seem unworthy of attention to a busy person. It is typical for pathology to “attack” a person by surprise.

Most often, a heart attack attacks a person in the morning, when, due to the transition from sleep to wakefulness, an additional load is created on the main “engine” of the body.

Risk factors

The main causes of myocardial infarction in men are associated with deformation of blood circulation in the coronary vessels. This symptom often occurs with progressive atherosclerosis. Also, the causes of myocardial infarction in men include physical inactivity. Not the least risk factor is the abuse of nicotine-containing drugs, as well as excess weight.

The hereditary factor also plays a negative role. According to doctors, the condition of the coronary vessels of the nineteen-year-old boy, whose parents suffered from cardiac anomalies, is close to critical.

Symptoms

Signs of myocardial infarction in men are quite varied. There are often cases when patients complained of completely nonspecific symptoms, which significantly complicated diagnosis.

Nonspecific signs are more typical for representatives of the fair sex.

The main atypical signs of myocardial infarction in men include pain in the jaw area. Often a person believes that his tooth hurts, and certainly not his heart. Sometimes there are signs of food poisoning, such as:

  1. Nausea.
  2. Painful sensations in the abdomen.
  3. Heartburn.
  4. Vomit.

Only an ECG can help establish an accurate diagnosis in this case.

Typical symptoms include angina attacks, which are difficult to relieve with medications. Against this background, a person feels depressed, often very worried, anxious. Often his state is close to panic.

If you do not provide assistance to the patient, symptoms of the acute stage of the pathology develop.

Next, the person faces an acute attack, accompanied by burning painful sensations. The duration of the attack can vary from thirty minutes to several hours. Most often, a person feels pain in the sternum on the left, or behind the chest. In this case, discomfort radiates to the interscapular area or back.

The absence of pain is extremely rare.

Patient's lifestyle

When a person suffers a heart attack, they must completely change their lifestyle. This is necessary to correctly restore the functioning of the cardiac and vascular systems and eliminate the risk of relapse.

The rehabilitation period includes:

  • control your own weight;
  • preventing chronic fatigue;
  • preventing stressful situations;
  • pressure level monitoring;
  • careful monitoring of cholesterol and glucose levels.

Nutrition plays a special role after myocardial infarction for men.

When pathology is at its peak

The diet after myocardial infarction involves certain stages. Each of them has its own characteristics.

The main requirement of the diet is fractional feeding of the patient.

Food should be warm and served thoroughly pureed. At the first stage, the diet after myocardial infarction involves the use of:

  1. Vegetable soups.
  2. Cereal soups.
  3. Low-fat yogurt and other “fermented milk”.

The patient should eat once every two to two and a half hours. Compliance with this regime is mandatory.

At the acute stage of the disease, a person is allowed to eat carefully crushed foods. Changing the diet, as well as adding salt and spices to food, is not recommended. On average, the patient's body should absorb no more than 1000 calories during the day. At this stage, you can gradually include in your diet:

  1. Nuts.
  2. Dried fruits.
  3. Bran.

It is advisable to replace tea with rosehip infusion. The average number of calories a patient should consume is no more than 1400.

Rehabilitation

Nutrition after myocardial infarction for men during the rehabilitation period remains without any significant changes. The number of servings should also be small, but you need to eat not six, but four times a day. You need to have dinner about two hours before going to bed.

If a person’s stomach is not accustomed to going to bed hungry, then you can drink a glass of low-fat kefir or yogurt. Chicken eggs are also allowed during the rehabilitation period. Their number should not exceed those pieces per week. You should still abstain from coffee, strong tea and alcoholic beverages. Carbonated drinks such as natural lemonade, kvass and mineral water should be discussed with your doctor.

Extensive cardiac infarction: treatment, prognosis, causes

A large heart attack poses a particular danger to human life. If during a normal heart attack blood circulation is disrupted only in a small part of the organ, then with an extensive form of the disease, almost the entire heart is deprived of nutrition, which leads to necrosis of cardiac tissue.

Classification of extensive infarction

Depending on the area of ​​necrosis, extensive cardiac infarction is divided into infarction of the posterior wall and anterior wall. In case of an infarction of the posterior wall, the right coronary artery is blocked, and in case of an infarction of the anterior wall, the left artery is blocked.

The greater danger is an extensive infarction of the anterior wall.

Causes of extensive heart attack

This severe pathology is provoked by many negative factors. Basically, extensive myocardial infarction is caused by several reasons:

  • hereditary predisposition;
  • disturbances in the activity of the cardiovascular system (especially atherosclerosis);
  • kidney pathologies;
  • unhealthy diet;
  • sedentary lifestyle;
  • overweight;
  • frequent stress and mental trauma;
  • high blood pressure;
  • overwork;
  • diabetes mellitus;
  • smoking and alcohol abuse.

The above factors lead to the closure of one of the arteries that supplies blood to the heart tissues, as a result of which certain areas of the heart experience oxygen starvation and begin to die due to the accumulation of metabolic products in them. If the patient does not receive the necessary treatment within 24 hours, this will lead to complete tissue necrosis.

Symptoms

First of all, an extensive myocardial infarction manifests itself as a severe heart attack, making a person completely helpless. The patient becomes unable to speak, move, or carry out adequate thinking.

The attack is accompanied by unbearable pain in the left side of the body, which even nitroglycerin cannot relieve, intermittent breathing, shortness of breath, dizziness, pale skin, and the appearance of cold sweat. Painful shock and fainting may occur.

Stages

This pathology is characterized by a clear staged pattern of symptoms. An extensive cardiac infarction goes through 5 periods in its development:

  1. The prodromal period or pre-infarction state (lasts from several hours to a month) is characterized by an increase in the frequency of angina attacks.
  2. The most acute period (its duration is from half an hour to two hours) – there is the occurrence of burning pain, the appearance of cold sweat, a decrease in blood pressure, an increase or decrease in heart rate.
  3. Acute period (duration from two to ten days) – an area of ​​necrosis forms in the myocardium, pain decreases, heart rhythm disturbances and temperature rise.
  4. Subacute period (lasts from four to five weeks) - formation of a scar at the site of necrosis, restoration of heart rhythm, disappearance of pain and normalization of pressure are observed.
  5. The post-infarction period (takes from three to six months) - the density of tissue in the scar increases and adaptation to new operating conditions occurs.

When cardiac infarction is detected in men and women at the stage of the prodromal or acute period, it significantly improves the prognosis for the patient.

Complications of a major heart attack

Extensive myocardial infarction threatens various complications: arrhythmia, heart failure, myocardial rupture, pericarditis, pleurisy, cardiogenic shock, venous blockage, pulmonary edema, disturbances in the functioning of various organs, loss of voice, paralysis of the limbs, cardiac arrest and death.

Unfortunately, a serious danger is a massive heart attack, and death occurs very often. The number of deaths exceeds the number of cases of successful treatment.

Diagnosis of heart attack

At the first sign of suspicion of a massive heart attack, you should call an ambulance and hospitalize the patient. At the hospital, doctors will conduct diagnostics. The main method used for this purpose is an electrocardiogram of the heart.

Additionally, the patient is sent for an ultrasound examination of the heart, after which a photo of an extensive cardiac infarction clearly shows the emerging foci of necrosis. A study of the biochemical composition of the blood is also carried out.

Treatment and rehabilitation

Extensive myocardial infarction, the treatment of which must be carried out in a hospital, requires bed rest, complete psycho-emotional rest, a special diet and monitoring of the functioning of all body systems.

The patient is admitted to the intensive care unit. It is often necessary to perform artificial ventilation, cardiac defibrillation or electrical cardiac stimulation.

To cure a large heart attack, the drug method is mainly used. Patients are prescribed medications for:

  • resumption of blood flow to the affected area (aspirin, prasugrel, Plavix, ticlopedin, clopidogrel);
  • pain relief (nitroglycerin, analgesics);
  • getting rid of arrhythmia (lidocaine, amiodarone);
  • preventing blood clots (anticoagulants);
  • resorption of previously formed blood clots (thrombolytics).

If necessary, the doctor will prescribe surgery. Surgical intervention is performed by coronary artery angioplasty or coronary artery bypass grafting.

Despite significant advances in medicine that can cure extensive myocardial infarction, the prognosis is not entirely comforting. 40% of those who die do not even end up in hospital. Therefore, immediate hospitalization is extremely important, which significantly increases the chances of recovery. But even timely assistance does not guarantee success: 18-20% of patients die.

Rehabilitation period

After leaving the hospital, the patient remains under the supervision of the attending physician. During this period, it is advisable to purchase a ticket to a cardiological sanatorium and undergo rehabilitation after a heart attack.

To reduce the risk of a recurrent attack, which in most cases ends in death or paralysis, you should follow some rules: stop smoking and alcohol, avoid stress, maintain a special diet, engage in moderate exercise, take a daily walk in the fresh air and take medications recommended by your doctor.

Disease prevention

To prevent a massive heart attack, you need to lead a healthy lifestyle: eat rationally, exercise, stop smoking, and limit your consumption of alcoholic beverages.

At what pressure is Valsartan taken: instructions for use

Blood pressure surges are a problem for many people. They are observed not only in old age, but also in young people. Therefore, every person who regularly encounters this disease wants to find the most effective and safe means to normalize this indicator. One of these drugs on the modern pharmacological market is Valsartan, the instructions for use of which should be studied in detail.

  • Composition of the drug
  • Indications for use
  • Instructions for use
  • Side effects
  • Contraindications for use
  • Valsartan and alcohol: compatibility
  • Which is better: comparison of medicines
How to take Nifedipine during pregnancy
  • Instructions for use of the drug Tenox
  • Composition of the drug

    Valsartan is a medication from a Czech manufacturer, which is available in tablet form. The active ingredient of this drug is valsartan. It also includes the following auxiliary components:

    • magnesium stearate;
    • microcrystalline cellulose;
    • croscarmellose sodium;
    • pink dye.

    Valsartan is available without a prescription and can be purchased at any pharmacy. The price in Russia averages 130 rubles. As for Ukrainian consumers, they can purchase the drug at an approximate cost of 75 UAH.

    Indications for use

    At what blood pressure is this medication prescribed? Its mechanism of action is aimed at lowering blood pressure, so Valsartan is used for hypertension. Its effectiveness is also observed in the following diseases:

    • chronic heart failure in combination with other medications;
    • acute myocardial infarction;
    • anemia;
    • dysfunction of the left ventricle.

    Instructions for use

    According to the annotation, this medicine should be taken 2 times a day, 1 tablet. Only the attending physician, who first assesses the patient’s condition, can adjust the dosage. The drug must be taken without chewing and with plenty of water. Valsartan has the following effect on the body:

    • blood pressure decreases within 2 hours after administration;
    • The drug works throughout the day;
    • blood pressure normalizes 3 weeks after the start of treatment;
    • After a month, maximum effectiveness is observed.

    Side effects

    If used excessively, Valsartan can cause the following side effects:

    1. From the central nervous system: general weakness of the body, severe headaches, dizziness.
    2. From the gastrointestinal tract: nausea, sometimes leading to vomiting, constipation or diarrhea.
    3. From the cardiovascular system: anemia, metabolic disorders.

    Also, an overdose of this medication can sharply reduce blood pressure, which will lead to hypotension. During this period, you may experience a rapid or slow heartbeat.

    Contraindications for use

    This medicine does not have many contraindications. It should not be taken in the following cases:

    • hypersensitivity or individual intolerance to some components of the drug;
    • women during pregnancy and breastfeeding;
    • severe dysfunction of the hepatic system;
    • age up to 18 years.

    Valsartan should be used with caution and minimal dosages in the following situations:

    • dehydration, especially in summer;
    • following a diet that involves consuming a minimum amount of foods with sodium;
    • renal failure;
    • disruption of the functioning of the biliary tract.

    The negative effect of alcohol on the heart muscle is manifested in disturbances in rhythm, force of contractions, progression of hypertension and angina pectoris.

    A history of myocardial infarction means serious disturbances in the coronary circulation, so the best option, even after stenting, is to limit the dose of alcoholic beverages to 10 g per day in terms of pure ethanol. For women, this dose is halved; in addition, at least 2 days a week you need to completely abstain from alcohol.

    📌 Read in this article

    Is it possible to drink alcohol after a heart attack?

    • the structure of muscle fibers is disrupted - their density and ability to effectively contract are lost;
    • fats are deposited in heart cells;
    • cardiomyocyte structures capable of producing energy are destroyed;
    • foci of inflammation and inflammation form in the myocardium.

    Despite this, there is evidence that alcohol may reduce the risk of death after. This causes a certain contradiction between the results of previous long-term studies.

    In addition, to conduct a study on reducing the risk of complications in the post-infarction period when drinking alcohol, patients who drank alcohol in moderate doses before a heart attack were taken. This means that the detoxifying function of the liver is not impaired, they can fully control themselves regarding the dose, that is, there is no alcohol dependence.

    In this case, indeed, taking one glass of high-quality (this is especially important) red wine or one glass of highly purified vodka can be allowed by a doctor.

    Watch the video about the dangers of alcohol for the heart and blood vessels:

    Are there any restrictions after stenting?

    The operation to install a stent in the coronary artery improves the quality of life of patients. They can significantly increase physical and social activity, many return to their previous work, and the fear of the danger of angina attacks is gradually lost. Therefore, some resume bad habits - smoking and drinking alcohol.

    Observations by cardiac surgeons indicate that drinking large amounts of alcohol in the early period after surgery leads to dehydration, increased blood viscosity and blockage of the lumen of the vessel in the stent area. Patients who combine the use of alcohol and a sauna or steam bath expose themselves to mortal risk. Therefore, we can draw the following conclusions:

    • A clear recommendation is to avoid alcohol in the first month after surgical treatment.
    • You can drink alcoholic beverages only after consulting a doctor and a full examination.
    • If favorable, minimal doses of red wine are allowed (up to 120 ml per day).
    • The simultaneous intake of alcohol and heat or heat is prohibited.

    How much alcohol can you drink for men and women?

    If we consider in more detail the possibility of alcohol intake by cardiac patients, then we need to pay attention to this feature - taking 10 g per day, that is, 50 g per week, is not equivalent to taking the entire dose once.

    For Russia, it is the factor of a large single dose that is the determining cause of death from heart disease. It has also been proven that if a person, while taking small doses of alcohol, sometimes (even very rarely) allows himself to exceed them, this leads to 100% progression of the disease.

    Therefore, you can die from the consequences of coronary heart disease earlier if:

    • drink mostly strong alcoholic drinks,
    • periodically drink more than is allowed,
    • drink a lot of alcohol in a short time,
    • smoking,
    • don't play sports
    • do not undergo periodic examination and treatment.

    After several experiments, it was found that 10 - 20 g per day of pure alcohol is not dangerous for the heart muscle. This is approximately what 100 - 200 ml of wine contains, depending on the strength, and 30 - 50 ml of strong drinks. This amount applies to men, and for women, who have less resistance to alcohol, it is 2 times lower.

    For people who know how to stop there, alcohol may not cause harm. Anything beyond this norm is poison for the heart and other internal organs. We must also remember the danger of addiction to alcoholic beverages. After all, over time, this dose will no longer seem sufficient, and if it is exceeded, a deceptive sense of security will arise in a larger amount. Therefore, any recommendations about “treatment” with ethanol are meaningless.

    What is better - beer, red wine, vodka?

    The choice in this case is made according to the principle of the least evil. If we evaluate from this point of view, then undoubtedly high-quality and natural red wine, due to the presence of antioxidants, has a less harmful effect on the body. It can be taken in the absence of other concomitant pathologies (migraine, allergies, peptic ulcers, hepatitis) in the amount of 1 glass 3-4 times a week.

    In second place is one glass of high quality vodka. Beer is tolerated worst of all by heart patients.

    Alcoholic beverages after myocardial infarction can only be consumed after consultation with the attending physician. This recommendation is also relevant for patients who have undergone coronary artery stenting. There is no convincing data on the benefits of ethyl alcohol. Minimum doses, the intake of which does not cause much harm to the myocardium, can be allowed for patients who do not have alcohol dependence and liver dysfunction.

    Read also

    Stenting is performed after a heart attack to restore blood vessels and reduce complications. Rehabilitation takes place with the use of medications. Treatment continues afterwards. Especially after a major heart attack, monitoring of exercise, blood pressure and general rehabilitation is necessary. Do they give you disability?

  • It is not necessary to visit a sanatorium after a heart attack, but it is highly recommended. Rehabilitation there has many advantages. Where can I go to continue treatment? Is it required by law?
  • Not everyone can drink coffee after a heart attack. Actually, like not all cores, it is prohibited. So is it possible to drink coffee after a heart attack, for hypertensive patients, and for arrhythmia?
  • Smoking spoils overall health, and blood vessels suffer greatly from it. What harm does nicotine cause to the legs and brain? Does smoking narrow or dilate blood vessels, does it cause spasm, atherosclerosis? How to recover from a bad habit?
  • If your heart hurts after drinking alcohol, there are several reasons for this. For example, high blood pressure can cause pain in the heart area. Can the heart itself hurt? What to do if your heart hurts after drinking alcohol or your blood pressure rises? Why does my heart pound, pound, and breathe hard after drinking? How to restore, support, help the heart after heavy drinking? What to do if you feel bad after drinking alcohol?



  • For people facing a heart attack, it is very important to lead a correct lifestyle, and therefore have to give up a lot. As for alcoholic beverages, doctors previously categorically forbade their patients to drink alcohol. However, after a lot of research, they began to treat it more loyally.

    How is alcohol harmful and beneficial?

    It is no secret that chronic alcoholism leads to severe stress on the cardiovascular system. The controversial issue is how often and how much alcohol is allowed to be consumed so as not to harm health. Doctors have still not been able to come to a consensus on this matter.

    Some categorically prohibit patients from drinking, while others argue that a moderate amount of alcohol will not harm a person, but on the contrary, will benefit him. The opinions of medical workers are divided due to the controversial effects of ethyl alcohol on the human body.

    Let's look at the beneficial effects of alcohol on the body:

    1. If alcohol is consumed in moderate doses, an antiplatelet effect occurs, due to which the lipid composition of the blood returns to normal. Red wine is most effective in this case, since in its composition, in addition to alcohol, it contains a large amount of antioxidants, rasveratlor, polyphenol, catechin and other substances.
    2. A small amount of alcohol thins the blood, thereby preventing blood clots.
    3. Due to the ethanol entering the body, the amount of dense lipoproteins increases, which prevents the development of atherosclerosis.

    You should also consider what harm alcohol can cause to the human body:

    1. If you regularly take alcohol, it negatively affects the pancreas, which produces insulin, therefore increasing the likelihood of diabetes.
    2. Even a small amount of alcohol consumed is accompanied by an acute deficiency of fluid in the body, which is why a person wakes up in the morning with extreme thirst. Due to this, the blood becomes viscous, which negatively affects the circulatory system.
    3. Exposure to ethanol negatively affects the heart muscle and vascular walls. A person who drinks for a long time runs the risk of experiencing alcoholic myocardiopathy.
    4. Alcohol in large doses greatly poisons the body. Accumulated toxins disrupt autonomic regulation, stiffen vascular walls, change the amount of blood in the circulatory system, and dilate peripheral vessels. Such phenomena are dangerous due to the occurrence of hypertrophy of the heart muscle.

    For some time, the body is able to compensate for the pathological condition, but its reserves are not unlimited, and they are soon depleted. Due to this, a person may experience heart failure.

    The hypertrophied myocardium requires a large amount of blood, this reloads the arteries, which are not able to cope with such a load, which is fraught with coronary heart disease or a recurrent heart attack.

    Is alcohol allowed after a heart attack?

    In order to determine whether people who have had a heart attack can drink alcohol, multiple medical studies have been conducted. The results of one of the largest experiments, which was carried out about 20 years ago in the USA, were quite unexpected.

    It turned out that people who periodically drink alcohol are much less likely to experience complications or a second heart attack than those who decide to completely eliminate alcohol.

    More than 1,500 males of different age categories participated in this study. They were observed for several years and came to the conclusion that the minimum percentage of deaths was in the group of people who systematically took alcohol.

    The study found that people who drink alcohol every day are 14% less likely to die from heart failure. In addition, their risk of developing cardiovascular diseases is reduced by 43%. And the likelihood of another heart attack drops by 22%.

    Such indicators can be achieved only with moderate alcohol consumption. Men can drink no more than 50 g of vodka or a couple of glasses of wine daily, and for women it is necessary to reduce this dosage by half.

    It is important to understand that if you drink alcohol in large quantities after a heart attack, the entire effect of medical therapy will be negated. The likelihood of death will increase after a second heart attack or other pathologies associated with the cardiovascular system.

    Consequences

    Ethanol affects the heart and blood vessels through a fairly simple mechanism. It penetrates the blood within 3 to 5 minutes after a person drinks alcohol. Immediately after this, there is a sharp increase in heart rate, increased blood pressure and increased heart function. Ethanol is removed from the body within 5 - 7 hours, and if the dosage was more than prescribed, then this process is delayed by 1.5 - 2 days.

    Alcohol abuse can result in:

    • increased load on blood vessels and heart;
    • surges in blood pressure;
    • altered microbiological composition of blood;
    • pain in the chest area;
    • emergence;
    • repeated heart attack or .

    A person who has had a heart attack does not need to completely eliminate alcoholic beverages, especially if they were often present in his life before. Drinking moderate amounts of alcohol and not often is the key to its safe effect on the cardiovascular system. But the exact answer to the question “Is it okay to drink alcohol after a heart attack?” Only your cardiologist will give the answer, because each person’s health condition is individual, and while alcohol may benefit someone, another will be harmed by it.

    To ensure that the efforts of doctors to preserve life are not wasted, the patient (recovering) must follow the diet prescribed by the cardiologist. Nutrition after myocardial infarction for men plays a huge role in maintaining the balance of important nutrients in the body and the process of restoring the function of the heart muscle.

    After a heart attack, you can only eat approved foods.

    Briefly about what can cause myocardial infarction

    The most likely causes of myocardial infarction are as follows:

    • atherosclerosis;
    • blood clots in the coronary artery;
    • arterial spasms;
    • hypertension;
    • vascular operations.

    Provoking factors are identified that cause the conditions described above, leading to an attack of myocardial infarction.

    What causes atherosclerosis? First of all, the reason for this is fatty deposits that accumulate on the walls of blood vessels. They form plaques that can rupture in certain cases.

    As a result of plaque rupture, a blood clot is formed, which can block the path for arterial blood circulation. As a result of cessation of blood flow, cell necrosis occurs - this is myocardial infarction.

    The rupture of the formed fatty plaque occurs due to increased pressure in the blood vessel. Therefore, the causes of myocardial infarction are not necessarily physical activity: it can happen in the early morning or at night.

    Attention! According to statistics, men are more susceptible to heart attacks, while the risk of a second attack among those who have had this disease remains. Therefore, doctors require proper nutrition during the recovery period to reduce the risk of myocardial infarction.

    Prevention of myocardial infarction


    Healthy products have a beneficial effect on the general condition of the patient: male strength and heart muscle function are restored

    To reduce the risk of a myocardial infarction, therapy is used to reduce the possibility of blood clots. For this, patients may be prescribed treatment with aspirin, and those who have recently suffered a myocardial infarction may be prescribed special beta blockers. To improve the condition of the person being rehabilitated, polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega-3), magnesium and potassium supplements are prescribed.

    During the recovery period, which can take quite a long time, it is recommended to regularly measure blood pressure twice a day. Herbal infusions can be taken as additional medications.

    Attention! Treatment of myocardial infarction with medications and prescriptions from the attending physician should not be replaced by treatment with decoctions.

    It is important to gradually include physical exercise in your regimen and adhere to the nutritional therapy recommended after a myocardial infarction. All preventive measures are aimed at preventing recurrence of the attack and the development of complications of the disease.

    Myocardial infarction: diet


    Daily nutritional norms

    Here is an approximate daily diet for patients who have suffered a myocardial infarction:

    • On an empty stomach: decoction of prunes, dried apricots.
    • Breakfast: porridge with milk, made from ground buckwheat, curd mass (sugar according to the daily allowance), coffee substitute made from barley with milk.
    • Second breakfast: fruit puree (apple), rosehip decoction.
    • Lunch: chicken soup with egg flakes, boiled chicken meat, currant jelly.
    • Afternoon snack: cottage cheese and carrots with pureed sugar.

    What can a man who has survived a myocardial infarction eat: diet


    Healthy foods made from whole grains

    After experiencing a myocardial infarction, it is necessary to restore normal functioning of the body and reduce the load on the heart. This can be helped by special diet food.

    The Pevsner table (medical tables) determines dietary nutrition after myocardial infarction with diet number 10.

    Nutrition principles:

    1. Reduce the overall calorie content of food by adding low-calorie foods.
    2. Reduce the amount of fat - factors in the development of atherosclerosis.
    3. Reduce the amount of food you eat, including salt and water.

    At the same time, the diet has its own characteristics depending on the stage of rehabilitation of those who have suffered an attack.

    7 first days of rehabilitation (acute period)

    In the first seven days, they eat 6 times a day, while foods after myocardial infarction are served in the form of purees. Diet for acute myocardial infarction: the patient is recommended to adhere to the following daily norms for about 7 days:

    1. Protein weight – 50 g.
    2. Fat – 35-40 g.
    3. Carbohydrates -160-200 g.
    4. Liquid in any form – no more than 800 ml.

    This creates a diet of about 1200 kilocalories, and food should be taken without salt.

    7-21 days of rehabilitation (subacute period)

    Food is taken 6 times a day, and the puree-like consistency can be changed to crushed:

    1. Proteins – 65-70 g.
    2. Fats – 55-60 g.
    3. Carbohydrates – 240-250 g.
    4. Liquid – 1000 ml.
    5. Salt no more than 3-4 grams.

    At the same time, the calorie content of the table is no more than 1700-1800 kcal.

    Fourth week of rehabilitation (scarring)

    Food can already be consumed in pieces, while eating 5 times a day. The daily diet should contain:

    1. Proteins up to 85-90 g.
    2. Fat no more than 65-70 g.
    3. Carbohydrates are about 300-320 g.
    4. Salt no more than 4-5 g.
    5. Liquids 1000-1100 ml.

    Calorie content increases to 2100-2300 kcal.

    In addition, the food you eat should have an optimal temperature of 15-50 degrees, that is, it should not be too cold or hot.

    You should try to eat food more often, but in small amounts, so as not to put too much strain on your heart. In this case, dinner should be at least 3 hours before bedtime.

    As you can understand, a limit is set on the salt content in the diet. This is due to the fact that salt contributes to the formation of edema and prevents fluid from leaving the body; in addition, it thickens the blood, which can impair blood circulation.

    Attention! Drinking alcoholic beverages is strictly prohibited for absolutely everyone who has experienced a myocardial infarction, as they excite the nervous system and load the heart, forcing it to work harder. All of these factors increase the risk of another attack. In addition, alcohol has a bad effect on the kidneys, increasing blood pressure.

    What can and cannot be eaten?


    Dieting requires willpower

    The diet after myocardial infarction for men is associated with a decrease in fat mass, and therefore is characterized by a reduced calorie content.

    All foods that contain large amounts of purines are excluded from the patient’s diet, because these substances have a negative effect on the cardiovascular system. And this, in turn, can worsen blood circulation and aggravate the course of rehabilitation. Cholesterol, which everyone has heard about from commercials, must also be excluded. It is found in animal fats.

    The digestive tract and the heart work together: blood circulation during digestion is more active, therefore, in order to relieve the load on the heart, it is necessary to reduce the amount of food consumed at one time. For the same purposes, it is necessary to exclude fermentation products for survivors of an attack. They asked if you can drink kvass? Answer: no!

    You will have to remove foods that are difficult to digest (lamb, mushrooms) from your diet. Food containing carcinogens is also undesirable (baked and fried foods). Food should be digested with the least energy consumption.

    Here is a list of what you need to completely exclude from your diet:

    1. Flour products.
    2. Fatty meat and fish. Soups and broths with a lot of fat.
    3. Roast.
    4. Salo.
    5. Cold appetizers (canned salted, smoked, caviar).
    6. Egg yolks.
    7. Stew.
    8. Canned and sausage products.
    9. Marinated mushrooms and vegetables.
    10. Confectionery products with a high sugar content.
    11. Beans, cabbage, onions, sorrel, spinach, radish, garlic.
    12. Dairy products high in fat.
    13. Coffee drinks, cocoa and strong tea.
    14. Sweets.
    15. Spices.
    16. Grape juice.

    When limiting sweets, honey is allowed, which is a plant biostimulant rich in vitamins and microelements. After myocardial infarction, during diet therapy, the sugar content in food should be increased gradually.

    Below is a list of foods that can be eaten, and they are indicated according to the diet corresponding to the period of the disease:

    Flour products

    1. Period 1: crackers.
    2. Period 2: one-day old bread no more than 140 g.
    3. Period 3: daily fresh bread up to 250 g, which can be rye.

    Soups

    1. Vegetable broths and soups containing pureed vegetables and boiled cereals no more than 190-200 g.
    2. Period 2-3: soups made from vegetables and cereals cut into small pieces.

    Meat, fish and poultry dishes

    1. Steamed cutlets. Boiled fish.
    2. Meat cooking, poultry dishes and river fish, boiled in pieces.

    Dairy

    It is allowed to add milk to tea or cook porridge. Drink kefir only with a small fat content. Unsalted cheese or shredded cottage cheese are allowed.

    Eggs

    In two forms: omelettes or soups.

    Cereals

    1. All types must be pureed: buckwheat, semolina or boiled oatmeal, no more than 200 g.
    2. Porridges should be taken in liquid or viscous form.
    3. You can have up to 200 g of porridge, with a little boiled pasta and cottage cheese.

    Vegetable products

    1. The first diet should contain only pureed vegetables (puree).
    2. In the second period, you can have boiled cabbage (cauliflower) or raw carrots, put through a grater.
    3. In the third, stewed carrots and beets are allowed.

    Snacks

    Completely prohibited in the first two periods of rehabilitation (up to the 4th week). In the third period of treatment, you can eat soaked herring or lean ham.

    Sweets

    1. Jelly and puree from fruits and berries, dry fruits, honey in small quantities.
    2. Diet 2-3: you can take soft varieties of berries and ripe fruits. Increase the amount of sugar to 50 g.

    Supplements

    In the first two periods, you can use lemon and tomato juice, vanillin. Vegetable decoctions and 3% vinegar are allowed.

    Beverages

    Weak tea with lemon or milk, a decoction of prunes or rose hips. Carrot and fruit juices.

    Why do you need a diet after a heart attack and stenting?

    In case of a heart attack, it is extremely important to restore the proper function of the heart muscle, and it is impossible to achieve accelerated recovery without following the correct diet.

    A diet plan after an attack of myocardial infarction has a beneficial effect on the patient’s weight (he becomes lighter after losing extra pounds), which allows him to reduce the load on the heart and other organs.

    A diet after a heart attack for a man can stabilize the development of coronary artery disease, prevent the occurrence of blood clots, and reduce the likelihood of recurrent myocardial infarction. Thanks to a healthy diet, the intestinal tract functions in a lighter mode without constipation.

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