Heart block is different from coronary heart disease called ‘arrhythmia ‘which occurs when a waxy substance, called plaque, builds up in the coronary arteries. It affects the electrical system of the heart and causes the heart to beat irregularly and slower than usual. A third degree heart block is the most serious. It can cause chest pain, known as angina, or a heart attack, or cardiac arrest, also called a myocardial infarction (MI).

Heart patients should try to reduce heart blockage but not to increase them. For that, they need to make changes in your diet, how much to walk and how much to do exercise in consultation with a professional cardiologist who uses a holistic approach.

Dos and Don’ts

1. Walking - you can see bigger benefits by increasing the intensity, duration and frequency of your walking and workouts. Aim for at least 30 to 45 minutes of continuous walking at a brisk pace especially before your meals (keep your speed under threshold where you do not feel angina or chest pain. Nothing happens, just slow down and reduce your walk speed. In case you take a break, then you need to walk 20 minutes before break and 20 minutes after break ) for at least 5 days in a week plus some aerobic activities like running, jogging, and swimming and some physical activities such as gardening, housekeeping etc. offer you more health benefits.

Increases cardiovascular and pulmonary (heart and lung) fitness if you increase your heart rate above the normal range of 70 to 80 and maintain it for more than 35 minutes (one can increase one’s heart rate up to 220 – your age)

• Reduces risk of heart disease and stroke
• Improves management of conditions such as hypertension (high blood pressure), high cholesterol, joint and muscular pain or stiffness, and diabetes
• Stronger bones and improves balance
• Increases muscle strength and endurance
• Reduces body fat.
• Get fresh air and reduce mental stress

Try to build physical activity into your daily lifestyle plan that is going to be one of most effective ways to assist with weight loss and keep weight off once it is lost. For example;

• Take the stairs instead of the lift (for at least part of the way).
• Get off public transport one stop earlier and walk to work or home.
• Walk (do not drive) to the local shops.

2.  A healthy diet - can help protect the heart, improve blood pressure and cholesterol, and reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes. A heart-healthy eating plan includes vegetables and fruits, beans or other legumes, lean meats, low fat or fat-free dairy foods, whole grains, very little healthy fats. Limit intake of the following: salt, sugar, processed carbohydrates, alcohol and saturated fat (found in red meat and full-fat dairy products) and Trans fat (found in fried fast food, chips, and baked goods)

3. Maintain a healthy weight - Being overweight especially around the middle of the body increases the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and type 2 diabetes.

4. Get good quality sleep - People who do not get enough sleep have a higher risk of obesity, high blood pressure, heart attack, diabetes and depression.

5. Manage stress - by engaging in physical activity, relaxation exercises or meditation that can help improve your health but not indulging in overeating, drinking or smoking.

6. Get regular health screenings - know whether you have high blood pressure and high cholesterol can damage the heart and blood vessels and Type 2 diabetes screening. Make sure to take your medications as your health care provider prescribes and follow a healthy-lifestyle plan.

3. Driving- people with heart problem can safely drive a car, scooter, bike and bicycles without any fear since your heart rate never changes. However do not compete with other driver, do not push vehicle, do not lift heavy things, take several breaks during your long drive.

3. Traveling - Heart patients can travel in bus, train, auto, and plane without any fear. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance says that most people with heart failure can travel by plane. However, during the flight, legs and ankles tend to swell and breathing may become more difficult for people with severe heart failure. However, people having chest pain or a heart attack within three months, a stroke within six months, uncontrolled hypertension, very low blood pressure stop flying. Jerks in auto will not affect the heart patients but be careful of slip disk.

4. Climbing Stairs - heat patients can take stares every day. Nothing happens except some increase in heart rate which normally happens during walking. In case some difficulty walk few steps, stop for a while, and then continue. Increase in the heart rate is essential for the heart patients’ heart fitness.

5. Talking - There are no restrictions on talking for heart patients. In Talking, vocal cord is involved not the heart. One thing to remember is not to become excited, or work under lots of mental pressure.

6. Manual work - Heart patients can perform all the day-today light manual household works, desk and office works where there is no hard work since manual work can raise heart disease risk by 20 per cent.

7. Quarrelling - Heart patients are not allowed to take part in quarrels, screaming and fighting.

8. Visiting Hill station - Heart patients can go to hill stations where they need not have to walk to the guesthouse that is on the steep hill. If your vehicle goes until the guesthouse, then no problems.

9. Sex - Iif you are able to climb stairs, jog, or walk a mile without difficulty, it is safe for you to have sex. Remaining sexually active is important for maintaining a healthy quality of life and staying connected to your partner. 

10. Don't smoke or use tobacco - Chemicals in tobacco can damage the heart and blood vessels and reduces the oxygen in the blood, which increases blood pressure and heart rate. After a year quitting smoking, the risk of heart disease drops to about half that of a smoker.