Holiday dinners, holiday barbecues or game night getaways… We all reward ourselves with a big and delicious meal from time to time. According to the Washington Post report Such evasions do not cause problems as long as they are measured; However, overdoing it can lead to serious consequences, especially for risk groups.
Kaiser Permanente cardiologist Dr. Ameya Kulkarni states that while a single large meal will unlikely increase the risk of heart attack in healthy individuals, this risk increases significantly in those with chronic diseases:
“If you are young and healthy, you are unlikely to have a heart attack with a large meal, but in the right group of patients the risk can increase significantly.”
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, and according to data, one person has a heart attack every 40 seconds, which equates to more than 800 thousand people a year.
Danger period: First two hours after eating
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A study presented by the American Heart Association in 2000 found that an “overly heavy” meal can quadruple the risk of heart attack within the first two hours after eating. A larger analysis in 2005 also confirmed that overeating, emotional stress, and intense physical exertion were the most commonly reported triggers before a heart attack.
Mayo Clinic cardiologist Prof. Steve Kopecky draws attention to the physiological pressure that a large and fatty meal creates on the body:
- Blood flow is directed towards digestion.
- Heart rate and blood pressure increase.
- The veins narrow and the blood flowing to the heart decreases.
- High-fat meals make the blood more prone to clotting.
Who is more at risk?
A big meal;
- diabetes,
- high blood pressure,
- high cholesterol,
- those with obesity,
- those who eat unhealthy,
- Those with a history of smoking
has a particularly negative impact. For these people, a heavy meal can be a trigger, just like intense stress or shoveling snow.
What are the symptoms of heart attack?
Experts list the symptoms that require urgent help as follows:
- Pressure/sensation in the middle or left side of the chest
- Pain radiating to arms, jaw, back, neck, stomach
- Shortness of breath without cause
- Sudden sweating, dizziness, weakness
- Nausea, vomiting
- Fast or irregular heartbeat
Ways to reduce heart attack risk
Doctors highlight the following suggestions at large tables:
- Fill half the plate with vegetables and fruits, and complete the rest with protein and healthy carbohydrates.
- Eat slowly – the brain’s fullness signal is delayed by about 20 minutes.
- Limit alcohol, it can increase appetite and reduce control.
- Stop when you are full, do not exceed the second plate.
- Take a short walk after dinner; It balances blood pressure, triglyceride and blood sugar.
Source: Newspaper Oxygen