!!~~ assist a heart attack victim~~!!

here's how you can help a friend or a relative when he/she suffers from a heart attack.

1. Call an ambulance. That should be the priority.

2. Don't panic. Ask the person suffering from the attack to try and relax. This will help reduce the damage to his/her heart.

3. Give the person an aspirin (300mg). Ask him/her to chew it or keep it under the tongue. If consumed with water, the tablet will take longer to react. Aspirin will reduce the aggression in the blood platelets (cells) and improve circulation.

4. You could also give the patient Sorbitrate (5mg). This tablet again, should be kept under the person's tongue. If the chest pain persists, you can give up to three tablets within the interval of five minutes. It is advisable for a person with heart-related disease to carry Sorbitrate (5mg) tablets with him/her. The tablet could reduce blood pressure and cause giddiness. If the patient feels giddy they should stop taking the tablet.

5. Other symptoms of a heart attack are vomiting and a burning stomach coupled with pain in the chest and upper arm. Do not confuse it with acidity.

6. Do not let the patient walk to the doctor. Always wait for the ambulance to arrive or a neighbour or a relative to help drive the person to the nearest hospital/nursing home with an intensive care unit (ICU).

7. If the patient collapses, revive him/her with CPR (Cardiopulmonary resuscitation). Lock lips with the patient and gently exhale air into his/her lungs.

8. If the person gets sweaty or weak, get him/her to lie down and support his legs with two pillows.

9. Most importantly, even if the attack subsides, make sure the person is taken to the nearest nursing home/hospital with an ICU where an ECG (Electro cardiogram) can be taken. The doctor will then give him/her an injection to dissolve the blockage or conduct an angioplasty depending on the severity of the attack. Taking the patient to the nearest hospital an hour within the attack will reduce the amount of damage to his/her heart.

Heart-Friendly Foods for Vegetarians

Nutritionist Naini Setalvad and Consultant Dietician Sunita Dube whip-up a list of 100% vegetarian foods that will keep your heart fit and fab.

Berries
Berries like strawberries and cranberries are rich in antioxidants. “Antioxidants reduce the risk of heart disease,” says Consultant Dietician Sunita Dube. Antioxidants also help in reducing stress and thus prevents high blood pressure.
Other sources of antioxidants are tomatoes, red bell peppers, prunes and green tea. “Fruits with high water content, like watermelon are also recommended as they contain lycopene (a powerful antioxidant),” says Naini.

Nuts
Nuts like walnuts, almonds and pistachios are a good source of protein, fibre and are cholesterol-free. “They provide your body with the ‘good’ fat or monounsaturated fat that increase HDL or the good cholesterol which keeps your heart healthy,” says Sunita.

Seeds
“Include a good amount of seeds (up to 2 table spoons) like flax seeds (alsi), sunflower seeds (chironji) and pumpkin seeds (kaddu beej) in your diet,” says Naini. These are a good source of vitamin E, another powerful antioxidant. They also help lower cholesterol levels. They are a good source of minerals like magnesium, copper and selenium that help calm you nerves.

Lentils
Lentils like white chickpeas (kabuli chana) and red kidney beans (rajma) are a healthy source of protein and dietary fibre. “Fibre helps in reducing cholesterol, thus preventing heart-related problems,” says Naini. “They are also a good source of iron, vitamin B1 and folate,” says Sunita.

Green Leafy Vegetables
Greens! We can’t stop telling you how good they are for your health. Vegetables like spinach, fenugreek and broccoli are rich in iron and “powerful antioxidants that protect your heart against cholesterol,” says Nutritionist Naini Setalvad. They are also a good source of iron, magnesium and calcium.

Garlic
Raw garlic is a good source of antioxidants and “helps lower cholesterol levels,” says Naini. It also helps lower high blood pressure.
Turmeric is a heart-friendly spice too. It improves blood circulation thus preventing clots and preventing heart attacks.

Oils
Include a healthy amount of mustard oil and coconut oil in your diet. “Mustard oil has the same properties of olive oil and so can easily replace it,” says Naini. It contains monosaturated fats that lower the amount of bad cholesterol. “Limited use of coconut oil helps prevent heart attacks as it is a rich source of vitamin E, an antioxidant,” says Naini. Ghee, if used in moderation, helps lower cholesterol too.

“Combine a healthy diet with 30 minutes of exercise like skipping, running, walking, or aerobics combined with meditation everyday to keep heart diseases at bay,” says Sunita.

(Disclaimer: These foods help keep you heart healthy. However, have them in moderation and please consult your nutritionist, cardiologist and general physician before making any dietary changes.)