Frequently Asked Questions
There are some questions that people often ask We have tried to cover most of these below.
What is the difference between angina, a heart attack and a cardiac arrest?
What is a stroke?
What is trans-ischaemic attack? (TIAs)
What is Chelation therapy? Does it work?
What diets are recommended?
What types of fat are there?
Is margarine better than butter?
Should I eat eggs?
Should I eat soy-based foods?
Should I drink alcohol?
What is atherosclerosis)?
What is the difference between angina, a heart attack and a cardiac arrest?
Angina is the pain you feel when there is not enough blood flowing to the heart muscle. A
heart attack happens when the blood stops following to your heart causing damage to it.
Cardiac arrest happens when your heart stops beating or beats erratically which means that blood cannot flow around your body.
What is a stroke?
A stroke (also called cerebro-vascular accident or CVA) occurs when:
·
Either: an artery in your brain becomes blocked and stops the blood flowing to part of your brain. This part of the brain dies.
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Or: one of the arteries in your brain has a weakness and leaks or bursts. It bleeds and the blood enters into part of your brain. That part then dies.
A stroke causes different problems depending on which part of your brain has been affected. It may affect your ability to move, especially on one side of your body. It can also affect your ability to speak, swallow and remember. People often feel very emotional and tearful following a stroke.
What is a trans-ischaemic attack (TIA)?
A TIA is a temporary or mini stroke which happens when there is a disruption in blood flow to the brain. A TIA leaves no lasting damage and usually lasts about one minute. Symptoms include sudden :
- numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
- confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
- trouble seeing in one or both eyes
- trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
- severe headache with no known cause
If you think you have experienced a TIA see your doctor immediately. Having a TIA means that you are at high risk of having a stroke, do not ignore it.
What is Chelation therapy? Does it work?
Chelation therapy is a recognised treatment for heavy metal (such as lead) poisoning. A substance is called EDTA is injected into the blood, will bind the metals and they are removed from the body in urine. To date, there are no adequate, controlled, published scientific studies to show that chelation helps to treat cardiovascular disease.
Chelation therapy is a recognised treatment for heavy metal (such as lead) poisoning. A substance is called EDTA is injected into the blood, will bind the metals and they are removed from the body in urine. To date, there are no adequate, controlled, published scientific studies to show that chelation helps to treat cardiovascular disease.
What diets are recommended?
There are so many 'diets' advertised. We do not advise any specific diet but recommend that to lose weight and keep it off, you should eat less fat and sugar and do more physical activity regularly. Click here for our tips on healthy eating.
There are so many 'diets' advertised. We do not advise any specific diet but recommend that to lose weight and keep it off, you should eat less fat and sugar and do more physical activity regularly. Click here for our tips on healthy eating.
What are the different types of fat?
Saturated Fats - Are fats derived primarily from animal sources such as beef. These fats are hard at room temperature, such as the fat ring on the outer edge of a T-bone steak. Try to eat as little saturated fat as possible.
Unsaturated Fats - Generally, unsaturated fats come from plant sources such as canola oil, olive, and similar products. Try to replace saturated fats with unsaturated fats whenever possible.
Trans Fatty Acids - Is used in the production of many foods such as peanut butter and oils used for cooking french-fries and donuts.
Essentially, a trans fatty acid is an unsaturated fat turned into a saturated fat. Limit your intake of these foods as much as possible.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids - Are found in fish oils and are thought to be very beneficial to cardiovascular health. They reduce the tendency of blood to clot, and help the heart maintain a steady rhythm and reduce to chances of plaque in your arteries breaking away and causing a heart attack or stroke. Examples of good sources of these foods include walnuts, flaxseeds, beans, fish, olive oil and winter squash.
Saturated Fats - Are fats derived primarily from animal sources such as beef. These fats are hard at room temperature, such as the fat ring on the outer edge of a T-bone steak. Try to eat as little saturated fat as possible.
Unsaturated Fats - Generally, unsaturated fats come from plant sources such as canola oil, olive, and similar products. Try to replace saturated fats with unsaturated fats whenever possible.
Trans Fatty Acids - Is used in the production of many foods such as peanut butter and oils used for cooking french-fries and donuts.
Essentially, a trans fatty acid is an unsaturated fat turned into a saturated fat. Limit your intake of these foods as much as possible.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids - Are found in fish oils and are thought to be very beneficial to cardiovascular health. They reduce the tendency of blood to clot, and help the heart maintain a steady rhythm and reduce to chances of plaque in your arteries breaking away and causing a heart attack or stroke. Examples of good sources of these foods include walnuts, flaxseeds, beans, fish, olive oil and winter squash.
Should I use butter or margarine?
Both butter and margarine are very high in fat (75-80%), but butter has a lot of saturated fat in it (70%) whereas margarine has much less (30%). To help keep your heart and arteries healthy
you should use margarine instead of butter. Try to use it sparingly, to help reduce your overall fat intake.
Both butter and margarine are very high in fat (75-80%), but butter has a lot of saturated fat in it (70%) whereas margarine has much less (30%). To help keep your heart and arteries healthy you should use margarine instead of butter. Try to use it sparingly, to help reduce your overall fat intake.
Should I eat eggs?
It was thought you should eat no more than 3 eggs a week. There is now no general restriction on the number of eggs most people can eat a week - as long as you keep your saturated fat intake down and eat a healthy balanced diet. However some people may still not be able to eat quite as many as they would like to.
How you cook your eggs will make a difference - eggs are best cooked with as little as possible fat added. Poached, boiled or cooked on a non-stick fry pan are the best ways to eat an egg.
Should I eat soy products?
Soy beans are high in fibre, low in fat, rich in vitamins and minerals and a good source of protein. Soy foods are nutritious and provide additional health benefits, one of which is to reduce blood cholesterol levels.
Soy beans are high in fibre, low in fat, rich in vitamins and minerals and a good source of protein. Soy foods are nutritious and provide additional health benefits, one of which is to reduce blood cholesterol levels.
Should I drink alcohol?
Drinking alcohol in small to moderate amounts can help to protect older (35 years plus) people against cardiovascular disease. However, women should drink no more than two standard drinks and men should drink no more than three. Alcohol does
not have a protective effect in young people as they are not at high risk of heart disease.
(A standard drink = 1 can of beer OR 1 glass of wine OR 1 nip of spirits a day.)
Drinking alcohol in small to moderate amounts can help to protect older (35 years plus) people against cardiovascular disease. However, women should drink no more than two standard drinks and men should drink no more than three. Alcohol does not have a protective effect in young people as they are not at high risk of heart disease.
(A standard drink = 1 can of beer OR 1 glass of wine OR 1 nip of spirits a day.)
What is atherosclerosis?
Atherosclerosis is the gradual build-up of fatty deposits inside the artery walls. It is a slow, progressive disease which may start early in life resulting from a high fat and salt intake, smoking and inadequate exercise. Click here to find out more.
If you have any other questions please email Rachel Liddel rachell@nhf.org.nz
