Patient was educated on DASH diet as follows:
- DASH diet stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension. This essentially deals with observing strict moderation with intake of all the dietary sources at risk to enhance the blood pressure, such as, sodium/salt and cholesterol/fats.
- DASH diet plan deals with promotion of intake of all the dietary sources that potentially are known to improve blood pressure control, such as, low fat and reduced salt foods.
- Sodium has the tendency to hold and retain fluid in the body, thus increasing the blood volume and blood pressure. Increased blood volume and poorly controlled blood pressure can contribute to extra workload on the heart and kidneys, leading to compromised function of the vital organs. Consumption of reduced sodium/salt can help with improved blood pressure control and prevent extra workload on the vital organs, thus preserving their function.
- Increased consumption of unhealthy fats, such as, foods rich in saturated fats, LDL cholesterol, VLDL cholesterol, and trans fats, increase risk for fatty deposits in the blood vessels, obstruct free flow of blood along the blood vessels, and contribute to increased risk for atherosclerosis & hypertension. Increased risk for atherosclerosis and poorly controlled hypertension can add extra load on the heart and lead to deteriorating heart function with increased risk for heart disease and stroke. More unhealthy fats in diet also are high risk factors for diabetes, obesity, and in general are associated with poor health.
- Increased consumption of healthy fats reduces fatty deposition in the blood vessels and contributes to reduced risk for atherosclerosis. More healthy fats in diet are low risk factors for HTN, heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and stroke and in general are associated with good health.
- DASH diet is recommended for individuals with hypertension, heart failure, compromised kidney function, and history of stroke, to help with better control of blood pressure numbers and prevent any extra workload on the heart and kidneys. This can help prevent any risk for further compromise in the function of these vital organs.
- On DASH diet, it is important to avoid foods high in salt and unhealthy fats and choose foods low in salt and high in healthy fats.
