Dr Sonya Babu-Narayan, the Associate Medical Director at the British Heart Foundation (BHF), wants to encourage everybody to think about their heart health. Speaking on behalf of Royal Brompton Hospital, where Dr Sonya is a consultant cardiologist, the expert warned that heart disease “remains one of the country’s biggest killers”.
Yet, one small dietary change could have a big impact on heart health and a person’s health trajectory. By minimising your risk of heart disease you are inadvertently reducing your risk of a deadly heart attack. Dr Sonya emphasised the importance of eating a healthy diet to protect your heart health.
However, there is one food item in particular you should definitely “avoid”, according to Dr Sonya – ultra-processed foods.
Ultra-processed foods
The British Heart Foundation (BHF) listed common ultra-processed foods, such as:
- Ham and sausages
- Mass-produced bread, breakfast cereals, instant soups
- Crisps and biscuits
- Ice cream and fruit-flavoured yoghurts
These foods cantina high levels of saturated fat, salt and sugar, which aren’t good for anybody. “Aim to eat less sugar or salt, avoid ultra-processed food, and instead eat more wholegrains, fruit and vegetables,” said Dr Sonya.
There are other considerations to be had when you’re looking to minimise the risk of developing heart disease.
Additional factors include being at a healthy weight, to do at least 150 minutes of moderate activity each week, and to not smoke.
Dr Sonya says: ” If you live in England and are between 40 and 74 years old, you may be invited to your free NHS Health Check.
“Do go along as you will have your cardiovascular risk levels calculated and explained.”
Two health conditions to keep under control is high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
“Lower it through diet, exercise, improving wellbeing, being kind to yourself and medication [if needs be],” said Dr Sonya.
Heart attack symptoms
If you already have heart disease – whether knowingly or unknowingly – you’re at risk of heart attack.
Heart attack symptoms
- Chest pain – a feeling of pressure, heaviness, tightness or squeezing across your chest
- Pain in other parts of the body – it can feel as if the pain is spreading from your chest to your arms (usually the left arm, but it can affect both arms), jaw, neck, back and tummy
- Feeling lightheaded or dizzy
- Sweating
- shortness of breath
- Feeling sick (nausea) or being sick (vomiting)
- An overwhelming feeling of anxiety (similar to a panic attack)
- Coughing or wheezing