Diet For Angioplasty

Could I have recipes of certain foods that can be eaten post angioplasty. Please suggest some snack items for in between meals.
(October 5, 2010)

Angioplasty is a medical procedure that is used to widen constricted blood vessels. The aim of this procedure is to ensure that the blood flow through the vessel in concerned is returned to its former normal level. Blockages in blood vessels can cause a number of symptoms depending on where they occur. It is common for individuals with weight and cholesterol problems to suffer from blockages in their blood vessels. These blockages lead to improper blood circulation.


The condition becomes extremely serious when the blood vessels connected to the heart are blocked partially or fully. The heart muscle is a type of muscle that works continuously without fatigue. In order to do this, it must be fed with oxygenated blood regularly and efficiently. When this does not happen, the muscle will start working under strain as it is not being properly fed, even though the normal amount of pressure is being expected of it. This leads to variations in blood pressure and heart beat. It can also lead to damage in the blood vessels. The angioplasty procedure itself is minimally invasive. A balloon catheter is sent into the blood vessel concerned and is inflated so that it presses against the walls of the blood vessel. The pressure from this balloon crushes the fat deposits present in the vessel and they become a part of the blood to flow and be absorbed or discarded. It is essential for your doctor to approve your diet after angioplasty or a diet after heart surgery before you go ahead with it.

An angioplasty helps to resume normal blood flow to the heart. However, once this happens, the individual must take steps to manage his or her diet so that the problem does not recur. After the procedure, blood thinning medication may be given to ensure that no clots form in the blood. The heart rate and blood pressure will be monitored for 24 hours after the procedure to ensure that the heart is functioning normally. Following this, the patient may return home and return to normal duties within a week.

One also has to follow a proper diet after angioplasty. The diet after angioplasty is one of the most important factors when it comes to post angioplasty care. An angioplasty usually occurs because the individual has consumed an improper diet. Therefore, the diet should be modified. A post angioplasty diet must include foods that are high in omega 3 acids. These include fish meat, leafy vegetables, olives and various oils derived from plants. The diet should also avoid fatty foods that include meat and fried foods. These foods cause cholesterol levels to rise and are harmful to the health of the individual. The diet should be balanced and it may be useful to have a diet chart for the proper diet after angioplasty. The individual must consume plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables so that vitamins and minerals are supplied to the body. All these foods will help to improve the health of the individual. Along with this, low grade exercise can be performed under guidance from the attending doctor. Exercise should not be undertaken unless the all clear is received from the doctor.

For people who have undergone an angioplasty, diet and other such restrictions are very important. You should first consult your doctor who can give you a list of suggestions of what you can eat. For people who have had angioplasty it is absolutely necessary to take great care about what they eat since even the slightest of carelessness could lead to further complications. For this reason it is advisable to follow a strict diet.

The first thing a person who had had an angioplasty should do is take active steps to lose weight. This does not mean that the patient should starve for long hours in a day in his attempt to lose weight. There is also no need for the patient to go on any kind of diet. Instead the patient should ensure that the entire process of losing weight is a gradual one, so that he loses only a certain amount of weight in one month.

You should instantly cut down on all food items which are rich in cholesterol, trans fats and saturated fats. Cholesterol is present in meat, shell fish, liver, poultry with skin and the yolk of an egg. You should avoid eating these food items even though all of these are rich sources of protein. However, eating food that is high in cholesterol can be harmful to your health and hence you should stop eating these.  Instead of eating these cholesterol rich food items, you can eat fish, lean meat and egg whites for your protein requirements.

However, remember that even these should be eaten in moderation.  You should use a minimum of oil and fat while cooking your food. Using a good quality non-stick pan ensures that the food is healthy. You should also explore other ways of cooking and avoid deep frying or shallow frying. Steaming, grilling or even blanching can be considered while cooking. Choose your cooking medium with care. You will find that canola or olive oil are healthy options for cooking.  Your diets should not include food that sues white flour. You should also stay away from fried food items, sugar, bakery items, butter, cream, sodas and other sweets. Instead of eating processed food that contains large quantities of additives, flavorings and preservatives, you should eat fresh food.  You can eat grains, cereals, sprouts, beans, fat free dairy products. Fresh fruits and vegetables can form an integral part of your diet.