Keep your heart warm

A dip in the mercury levels calls for lifestyle changes. And if you are suffering from an illness, be extra cautious, advises  Dr Deepak Khurana.

With the onset of winters, there is an increased demand on the body to generate heat to keep itself warm. That is why the basal metabolic rate (BMR) of an individual goes up. We tend to eat more, especially more of fried and junk food. Winter is a convenient time for lazily snuggling in bed. We have a state of high-calorie intake to maintain our fuel supply to generate heat. When the imbalance in input versus output is tilted towards input, we gain weight, and our lipid profile and bad cholesterol starts going up.

All this bears an extra load on the working of our heart, which has to pump harder and faster to keep the body functioning. Healthy individuals can withstand the harsh effects of this climate, but for those suffering from cardiac problems, these symptoms call for immediate
medical attention:

Chest heaviness, pain on the left side of chest, behind the chest or along the
jawline.

Breathlessness and tiredness.

Undue lethargy.

Frequent throat infections, which may lead to infection of the heart valves.  All the fatty and junk food consumed will soon start showing its effect on the body mass in the form of fat deposition. There is also some thickening of blood, which results in clogging of blood vessels in the heart, brain and lower limbs. Due to cold climate, people tend to feel less thirsty and thus drink less water and also sweat lesser. Therefore, our heart needs special care in winter. Follow some rules of thumb for a better heart:

-Eat intelligently: Try substituting fried food with roasted or grilled stuff. The ill-effects of oily food will be done away with and nutritional value of the food chosen will be delivered. Increasing roughage, high-fibre diet, good protein and limiting carbohydrates are essential to maintain your weight during winter.

-Work out: Going for a morning walk well covered in warm clothes is a must. You can also opt for indoor activities like yoga, aerobics, tennis, zumba or else, set up a gym at home.
n A day out: Motivate yourself to get out for some fun sport activities during the day with family and friends.

- Control your drinking: Though the consumption of hard liquor shoots up
exponentially in winters, one must exercise control and drink in moderation. Consuming alcohol makes you feel warm initially, but drinking too much causes harm in the long run, besides being addictive.

-Adequate protection: Wear warm clothes and take in warm fluids and good nutrition to protect yourself against throat and chest ailments, which precipitate cardiac problems.
n Climb stairs: A simple activity like climbing stairs rather than taking the lift does so much for your heart. The heart pumps and beats faster, leading to exercising of heart muscles.

-Regular health checkup: People who have a history of cardiac ailments or those over 40 with high risks should have regular preventive checkups to help prevent any problems.

Drastic climatic changes take a toll on the functioning of the body. Kidney patients also need to be careful with respect to their water intake and urine output, and should keep their doctors’ appointments without fail.

(The author is director, cardiothoracic & vascular surgery, Rockland Hospital, New Delhi)