During a heart attack, our heart suddenly and completely unexpectedly comes into distress. A region is no longer adequately supplied with blood and oxygen. This can have fatal consequences: parts of the heart muscle can die. Or cardiac arrhythmias occur, which can lead to death if left untreated.
Along with strokes, heart attacks are considered to be the most dangerous cardiovascular diseases. Over 350,000 people in Germany die from it every year. This makes cardiovascular diseases the number one cause of death in this country.
How to prevent cardiovascular diseases
The good news is that everyone can do something to promote individual heart health. Because: “Cardiovascular diseases are often caused by avoidable risk factors,” explains the German Heart Foundation.
The experts name 6 factors that help reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases:
Detect high blood pressure and treat it if necessary Detect high cholesterol levels (LDL values) and treat it if necessary Get enough exercise Avoid being overweight No nicotine Detect diabetes and treat it if necessary
Cardiologist warns: exercise does not protect against heart attack if you make a mistake
Sufficient exercise is considered an important factor. “But even if you exercise 2.5 hours a week to reduce your risk of heart attack, you can undo all the good if you drink a sugary drink or energy drink after every workout,” writes Nishith Chandra in a post for the ” Indian Express”. The specialist in cardiology is the director of the cardiology department at the Fortis Escorts Heart Institute in New Delhi.
He cites a study by the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health. To do this, the scientists evaluated data from around 100,000 adults who were observed for 30 years. According to Chandra, the benefits of physical activity do not outweigh the disadvantages of sugary drinks.
“The data shows that those who consumed sugary drinks more than twice a week had a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, regardless of the level of physical activity,” he said. Even two sugary drinks per week were significantly associated with the risk of cardiovascular disease. “If consumed daily, the risk of cardiovascular disease is even higher.”
Which drinks you should avoid and what the cardiologist recommends instead
The expert explains the background as follows: “Sugar has an inflammatory effect – it damages the endothelium, which is the inner lining of the artery and blood vessel walls, and makes them permeable to cholesterol.” Even if only low cholesterol levels were circulating in the blood, “they can get into the “penetrate porous arteries and form plaques that trigger a heart attack.” Sugar is therefore even more dangerous than fat.
The cardiologist recommends avoiding all sugary drinks, including soft drinks, lemonade, energy drinks, fruit juices and cocktails. Likewise, over-the-counter “health or sports drinks” that are offered in fitness studios, for example. “The best way to hydrate after a workout is with plain or electrolyte-enriched water.” If you prefer something sweeter, you can add a lemon or drink coconut water or buttermilk, as these contain more complex and therefore healthier sugars.