3 points of advice for heart patients during Ramadan

Cardiovascular patients should follow three guidelines during the holy month of Ramadan to stay safe from heart failure or other severe ailments, an expert suggests.

"A patient with cardiovascular disease should maintain a lot of things to lead a normal life. He or she has to take medicine properly, to walk at least 30 to 40 minutes daily and to take cholesterol free foods," cardiologist Dr Jahanara Arzu told BSS.

She, also an associate professor of cardiology at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), said fasting does not lead to increase any possibility of severe cardiac diseases.

She said the incident of acute coronary artery syndrome, acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF), atrial fibrillation (AF) and stroke is similar during the month of Ramadan as compared to the other non-fasting months.

Dr Jahanara Arzu said fasting during Ramadan can keep human organs, including heart, healthy.

If a cardiovascular patient follows the rules properly, he or she can stay safe otherwise it will harm the physical condition, the cardiologist said, stressing the need for keeping self-control in taking unhealthy but delicious food items and taking necessary medicine after Sehri and Iftar.

She said the patients should take balanced-diet, including vegetables, fruits, cereals, cholesterol free meat and dairy products and during Sehri and Iftar.

Dr Arzu suggested that patients should avoid attending Iftar party or other invitations outside home since such kinds of party offer rich food items, which cause high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke and many other health disorders.

"Patients should take nutritious foods during Sehri as the meal will provide energy to keep fasting. You have to select such food items those will not harm your health and will contain nutrition and vitamin," she added.

She suggested that heart patients should do physical exercise for 30-40 minutes daily after Iftar or Tarabi prayers.

"Every patient must go for walking to keep themselves healthy as they can properly perform their fasting during the holy month," she said.

The cardiologist also suggested that cardiovascular patients should stop unnecessary use of oral saline as it causes high blood pressure and heart diseases.

"Everyone should take oral saline only for vomiting or diarrhea. Unnecessary use of oral saline increases the risk of heart diseases," she added.