A Wake Up Call for Heart Health

By Nancy Kennedy

Heart disease is widespread across America, but it is not an inevitable part of growing older. In fact, most heart disease is preventable, when we are willing to make small but important modifications in our daily habits. That is the approach taken by board certified cardiologist and internal medicine specialist Shishir Mathur, M.D., who practices with Jefferson Cardiology.

"Heart health can be achieved," says Dr. Mathur. "It begins with the understanding that there are things people are doing every single day that put them at risk for heart disease. These things include smoking, eating fast food and junk food, drinking alcohol excessively, eating too much meat and failing to get any exercise. It can also be a matter of not keeping diabetes under control. These things are very bad for you, and when you add them to a family history of heart disease, you raise your risk. I find that many people need a wakeup call that opens their eyes to the unhealthy things they are doing."

Dr. Mathur takes an interest in learning about the daily lives of his patients, so he can help them identify their personal risk factors and develop positive changes. "I have a discussion with my patient: what is your daily life like? How often do you eat meat? Often it's every day, even more than once a day. How often do you eat vegetables - never? I tell them which things they are doing that are not okay. They need to realize, 'I can do better.'"

Preventing heart disease can be difficult but it is achievable. Dr. Mathur says some patients try to justify their bad habits and blame other factors. "I had a patient who was young but had severe peripheral arterial disease. She blamed her genes, but she was a heavy smoker. She was in denial about her responsibility." He had another patient who had a heart attack in her 40's. She had no risk factors except for unhealthy eating habits. "This patient owned up to it and acknowledged her bad habits. She changed her lifestyle and is doing great. It took a heart attack to open her eyes."

Dr. Mathur empowers his patients by telling them, "You have control over this. Accept the problem, take responsibility and do what you can. You have to think: what are you doing regularly that is making you sick, putting you at risk? No doctor can fix this – no medication, no dietician, no gym – only you. People don't know how bad heart disease can be. They are in denial – 'it won't happen to me.'

Part of heart disease prevention is knowing the symptoms of heart problems. Dr. Mathur encourages his patients to think beyond chest pain and be aware of these symptoms:

  • Any chest discomfort – not just pain but heartburn, heaviness or unusual sensations. "There is a wide spectrum of chest symptoms, and ignoring chest symptoms is dangerous. It may not be heart disease but if you don't see the doctor how will you know?"

  • Palpitations, passing out – this can mean a heart rhythm problem.

  • Shortness of breath

  • Leg swelling or leg pain

Becoming aware and changing one's daily habits is not easy, says Dr. Mathur, who speaks from personal experience. When he was completing a residency, he and his wife, who is also a physician, had a young family. It was a busy time with enormous demands placed on him. "I was eating too much, all the wrong things. I lacked awareness about my bad habits. I stopped exercising and gained 25 pounds. Back pain was my wake up call. I gave up meat, lost the weight, and learned yoga. Now my BMI is below 25 and I have tremendous energy. I understand how hard this is because I've lived it; now I help my patients become aware. You cannot preach what you do not practice."

Dr. Mathur says that we all need to be more selective about what we put into our bodies. "We eat what we see around us and cheap unhealthy food is everywhere. Eating healthy is more expensive, but worth it. Try to grocery shop more often and buy fresh healthy food; go for a walk instead of sitting, watching TV and drinking beer. You don't need to be a vegetarian but cut down on meat, which contains many calories and bad fats.

"Heart health is a matter of the little, everyday choices. My appeal to my patients is this: Wake up before the heart attack! You may not get a second chance."

To learn more about the treatment of heart disease and vascular problems, visit the web site, jeffersoncardiology.com. To contact Jefferson Cardiology Association, call 412- 469-1500.