Can people with coronary heart disease drink alcohol?

Written by Zhang Yue Mei

Cardiology

Updated on November 04, 2024

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Patients with coronary heart disease are advised not to drink alcohol, especially those with combined heart failure, arrhythmias, and those who frequently experience angina, as alcohol contains ethanol, which can cause increased excitability of the sympathetic nerves, leading to faster heartbeats and increased heart burden. This can easily worsen heart failure and induce arrhythmias, potentially triggering angina attacks. In daily life, patients with coronary heart disease should consume a diet that is easy to digest and low in fat and salt. They should avoid spicy foods and quit smoking and drinking alcohol.

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Written by Chen Ya

Geriatrics

1min 21sec

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What is good for patients with coronary heart disease to eat?

For patients with coronary heart disease, a predominantly vegetarian diet is recommended. The diet should be low in calories, fats, cholesterol, and salt; high in protein, vitamins, and fiber; non-irritating; divided into more frequent, smaller meals; and consist of easily digestible foods. Regular consumption of nutrient-rich, easily digestible foods is advisable, especially those containing high-quality proteins with essential amino acids, B vitamins, and vitamin C. It is important to avoid overeating, restrict salt intake, and remember to include potassium-rich foods. Examples of beneficial foods include beans and their products, potatoes, seaweed, kelp, shiitake mushrooms, other mushrooms, Chinese yam, bamboo shoots, wood ear mushrooms, buckwheat, and bananas. Limit the intake of fats and sugar-rich foods, and opt for foods that can reduce blood lipids, such as milk, sheep's milk, soybeans, green beans, peas, lentils, carrots, cauliflower, hawthorn, kelp, fish, onions, and shiitake mushrooms.

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Written by Tang Li

Cardiology

1min 19sec

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What to do if coronary heart disease causes constipation?

Patients with coronary heart disease should pay attention to bowel movements, as difficulty in defecation can lead to intestinal obstruction. This is especially true for elderly patients with diabetes. Additionally, straining during bowel movements can easily induce angina or even lead to myocardial infarction or sudden death. Patients with constipation should consider the following issues. Firstly, their diet should include high-fiber foods; secondly, appropriate exercise should be undertaken; thirdly, some patients may take laxatives, and currently, there are many laxatives suitable for the elderly available clinically with relatively minor side effects and good efficacy; fourthly, some patients may use enemas for prolonged constipation, but long-term use is not recommended. Besides preventing constipation, patients with coronary heart disease should also maintain a calm demeanor, avoid emotional fluctuations, and prevent overeating or vigorous activity, as these can cause insufficient blood supply to the heart, triggering angina or myocardial infarction. (Specific medications should be used under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Liu Yong

Cardiology

1min 6sec

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Is premature beat related to coronary heart disease?

Firstly, there is no direct connection between coronary heart disease and premature contractions. If we must discuss whether ventricular premature beats are related to coronary heart disease, we should mainly consider patients with myocardial ischemia, especially those with active myocardial ischemia. In these cases, premature beats may be somewhat related to coronary heart disease, but these two conditions cannot be directly equated. Since the majority of premature contractions are unrelated to coronary heart disease, these two issues should not be confused or directly equated. It is common to see some elderly people with premature contractions on their ECGs and consider coronary heart disease, but this consideration is not entirely correct. Of course, the occurrence of real premature beats, especially frequent ventricular premature beats, also suggests the possibility of myocardial ischemia. However, a large number of people, even those with obvious real premature beats, do not have significant coronary insufficiency, thus there is no direct relationship between the two.

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Written by Gong Hao

Cardiology

1min 18sec

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Can coronary heart disease be cured?

Can coronary heart disease be cured? Objectively speaking, the current treatment of coronary heart disease mainly focuses on controlling the progression of the disease, relieving symptoms, improving the quality of life, and improving the prognosis, but it cannot completely cure coronary heart disease. Firstly, the cause of coronary heart disease is the major blood vessels supplying the heart, the coronary arteries, undergoing atherosclerosis and narrowing, leading to insufficient blood supply to the heart, ultimately resulting in angina and heart failure. Therefore, the fundamental cause of coronary heart disease is the pathological changes in the coronary arteries, and the reasons and fundamental mechanisms causing these changes are not entirely clear, and are related to factors such as high blood lipids, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, age, smoking, family history, etc. Thus, the main treatment for coronary heart disease currently is to improve lifestyle, quit smoking and limit alcohol consumption, control blood pressure, blood sugar, and blood lipids, and use aspirin or antiplatelet drugs to inhibit the aggregation of platelets and prevent thrombosis.

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Written by Chen Ya

Geriatrics

1min 25sec

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What to do when coronary heart disease occurs suddenly?

Coronary heart disease is the abbreviation for coronary atherosclerotic heart disease. It refers to the narrowing or blockage of the coronary artery vessels due to arteriosclerotic lesions, causing myocardial ischemia, hypoxia, or necrosis, leading to heart disease. Its attacks are often related to seasonal changes, emotional excitement, increased physical activity, overeating, heavy smoking, and drinking. When sudden coronary heart disease occurs, the first step is to eliminate these triggering factors, such as immediately calming down when emotionally agitated, or immediately resting in bed if active. Rest should be the priority. If resting and removing triggers do not relieve symptoms, sublingual administration of nitrate and rapid-action heart-saving pills can be used; generally, these medications can relieve symptoms. If relief is still not obtained, it is advised to seek medical attention promptly nearby. In cases of sudden unbearable pain, a sense of impending death, and intense pain despite taking rapid-action heart-saving pills, it is advised to call emergency services (dial 120) immediately to compete for time to prevent acute myocardial infarction, where emergency surgery might be available.