The 10 Commandments for the Heart

The pistons and cylinders of the engine correspond to the ventricles and the heart muscle

Service-maintained cars live longer. So do service-maintained hearts. "Everything has to work together smoothly in the engine, and the same applies to the heart," says cardiology professor Dr. Christophe Wyss from HerzKlinik Hirslanden in Zurich. "What the fuel line is for the combustion engine, the vessels are for the heart. They must not become clogged. The valves in the engine correspond to the valves in the heart. They must open rhythmically and close tightly again. The electrical system in the car controls the impulses from the spark plugs for smooth combustion in the engine. In the heart, it is the impulse conduction system and the generation of excitation. And finally, the pistons and cylinders of the engine correspond to the heart chambers along with the actual heart muscle."

10 most important service tips

During the cardiac service, the cardiologist checks whether the heart is working without restrictions. Malfunctions, wear and tear and disturbances must be detected and - where possible - remedied. Prof. Dr. Christophe Wyss recommends a regular heart check. These are his 10 most important service tips.

Strain the heart

Move regularly instead of just sitting. A car engine that sits unused in the garage breaks down. So does a heart that only turns in neutral.

Get enough sleep, reduce stress

Sleep deprivation stresses. Stress drives up adrenaline. This in turn stresses the vessels, promotes arteriosclerosis, can upset the electrical system and ultimately damage the heart.

Lower blood pressure

When a combustion engine is loaded, the oil pressure increases. Likewise, the blood pressure in the body also rises under load. If, on the other hand, it is high even without load, help is needed.

Adjust cholesterol

The body produces most of the cholesterol itself to form cell walls, bile acid, vitamin D and hormones. Good cholesterol keeps the blood vessels open, while bad cholesterol is deposited in the blood vessels. Anyone who has too much bad cholesterol despite regular exercise and a healthy diet or because of a genetic predisposition needs medication.

Take unsaturated fats

Eat fish twice a week, once especially fatty, because it contains valuable unsaturated fatty acids. Certain omega-3 fatty acids, potassium, vitamin K2, magnesium, selenium, folic acid, niacin and also the co-enzyme Q10 can promote heart health, according to studies.

Do not smoke

The toxins in cigarette smoke destroy the vascular system and increase the risk of a heart attack. Oxidised cholesterol particles are deposited on the walls of the blood vessels, activate inflammatory processes and promote arteriosclerosis. Smoking and high cholesterol levels together increase the danger.

Eat less sugar

After years of constant bombardment with too much sugar, either the pancreas eventually fails or the muscle cells lose the ability to absorb the sugar from the blood. If left untreated, diabetes damages the blood vessels, leads to dangerous deposits and ultimately threatens the heart.

Alcohol with moderation

Moderate alcohol consumption does not harm a healthy heart. However, one should be careful with secondary diseases such as high blood pressure and diabetes.

Reduce overweight

Weight itself is not the killer, but the secondary diseases that result from being overweight are.

Recognise alarm signs

In the event of a stuttering engine, misfiring or other problems, the car must be shown to the mechanic, even if the last service has just been carried out. The same applies to the heart: suspicious symptoms such as shortness of breath, palpitations, chest pains or similar should be assessed by a doctor and clarified at an early stage.

Source: doktorstutz.ch