ANGINA

It isn’t a heart attack nor does heartburn but- a pain grip your chest when you exert yourself and then shortly after resting it is gone again.

You have been warned that you need to change your lifestyle or it will be a heart attack . So take heart- and make some lifelong lifestyle changes.

• Kick the smoking habit.
• Control the level of fat in your diet, cutting back less than 30 per cent of your calories from fat.
• Avoid large, heavy meals.
• Rest after eating.
• Avoid exposure to cold, windy weather.
• Exercise gently and then gently increase your exercise.
• Learn to relax.
• Take an aspirin a day as it appears to prevent the activation of the blood- clotting mechanism.
• Elevate your head three or four inches at night to sleep. Sleeping in this position keeps more blood down in the legs.
• If you do get an angina attack at night, sit on the edge of the bed and put your feet on the floor.