Reviewer: Zhicheng Jing (Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences)
Author: Zhang Haihua (Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences)
Current treatments do not cure cardiomyopathy, and once diagnosed, it can be lifelong. Therefore, it is very important to learn to manage daily life well and learn to “peacefully coexist” with diseases. Daily life management involves all aspects of clothing, food, housing and transportation. This article focuses on the diet of patients with cardiomyopathy.
1. Do: “Eat” wisely, good for health
Patients with cardiomyopathy should generally eat a bland diet that includes a variety of fruits, vegetables, and grains.
A healthy diet for cardiomyopathy should choose foods that are low in saturated fatty acids, trans fatty acids, and cholesterol. It is best to choose lean meat, skinless chicken, duck and goose, fish, beans, low-fat or skim milk or dairy products.
Choose foods and drinks that are low in sugar.
Eat the same amount of calories you consume at the end to maintain a healthy weight.
Image source: Zhanku Hailuo
2. Contraindications: Improper diet, life-threatening restriction of water intake as appropriate
Does eating a watermelon kill people? meeting! This is by no means sensational. For patients with cardiomyopathy and heart failure, if they do not pay attention to limiting water intake, half a large watermelon is likely to be the “last straw that breaks the camel’s back”. In summer, due to the hot weather, patients often drink a lot of water, which may lead to acute exacerbation of heart failure.
Image source: Zhanku Hailuo
For cardiomyopathy patients with heart failure, doctors generally recommend that the daily fluid intake should not exceed 1500 ml, and the summer weather is hot and sweaty, but it should not exceed 3000 ml. For patients with severe heart failure, especially those with reduced renal function, fluid intake should be limited to about 1000 ml due to reduced drainage capacity.
The amount of fluid intake should also refer to the amount of urine. In summer, the water lost through sweating should also be considered, that is to say, it should be “measured out”. If the amount of urine is too small , the fluid intake should also be appropriately reduced; if sweating a lot, it is necessary to appropriately increase the water supply. Of course, this is just a general principle, and it may vary from person to person, so be sure to consult your doctor.
Occasionally, doctors may ask patients to keep a record of their fluid intake and output, or they may measure their body weight every morning. If you find that your weight has increased significantly in a short period of time, you should be vigilant, indicating that too much water intake has caused retention. At this time, on the one hand, water intake should be more strictly limited, and on the other hand, diuretic therapy may be strengthened.
Be careful when calculating the amount of liquid. In addition to the water you drink directly, other “water”, such as the amount of water in porridge or vegetable soup, should also be counted. These are all liquids. amount of input.
Patients with cardiomyopathy and heart failure should not only “restrict water”, but also pay attention to the way of drinking water. The doctor recommends “small amount and many times”, do not drink a lot of water at one time, you can drink a few small sips at intervals.
3. Limit sodium
It is also important to limit sodium intake to prevent the onset of heart failure. Medical research shows that if the body retains 7 grams of sodium chloride (the main component of table salt), it must retain 1000 ml of water to maintain the balance of osmotic pressure in the body. In other words, water and sodium are not separated. Too much sodium means too much water, which increases the burden on blood circulation and is not conducive to the control of heart failure.
Doctors often say to eat a low-sodium diet. The so-called low-sodium diet means no more than 2 grams of salt per day. Therefore, if the patient has a “heavy mouth” and likes to eat salty food, it must be corrected.
However, nothing is absolute. If diuretic treatment is intensified, electrolytes such as sodium and potassium will also be lost. In addition, when heart failure is aggravated, the appetite is not good, and the amount of food is small. Hyponatremia occurs, and salt supplementation is necessary at this time. In short, under the guidance of a doctor, appropriate changes should be made to maintain the balance of water and sodium in the body.
Image source: Zhanku Hailuo
Also, abstain from alcohol and alcoholic beverages. Strong tea or strong coffee has a stimulating effect on the cardiovascular system, so it is best not to drink it.
*The content of this article is for the popularization of health knowledge and cannot be used as a specific diagnosis and treatment suggestion, nor can it replace the face-to-face consultation of a licensed physician, and is for reference only.
*The copyright of this article belongs to Tencent Medical Dictionary, and the media is prohibited without authorizationReprint, illegal reprint will be investigated for legal responsibility according to law. Individuals are welcome to forward to the circle of friends.