Cardiovascular patients should follow at least three guidelines during the fasting month of Ramzan to stay safe from heart failure or other severe ailments, experts suggest.
“We can divide the cardiac patients in two categories – cardiac patient with diabetes and cardiac patient without diabetes. Cardiac patients without diabetes will have to eat low carbohydrate foods for leading a normal life,” Professor Syed Ali Ahsan, Chairman of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) Cardiology Department, told media on Friday.
He said the cardiac patients with diabetes should follow several advices to lead a normal life in Ramzan.
In the month, the patients should take medicines properly as per their doctor’s advice and eat the balanced diet, including vegetables, fruits, cereals, cholesterol-free meat and dairy products, he added.
Dr Jahanara Arzu, an Associate Professor of BSMMU Cardiology Department, said a patient with cardiovascular disease has to take medicines properly, walk for at least 30 to 40 minutes daily (at least five days in a week) and take cholesterol-free food items.
She said fasting does not increase any possibility of severe cardiac diseases.
“We should keep in mind that fasting improves ischemic heart disease, as it reduces body cholesterol,” she added.
If a cardiovascular patient follows the rules properly, he or she can stay safe otherwise it will harm the physical condition, the Dr Arzu said.
