Six years on: my success in reversing heart disease
Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2018 9:27 am
You can search for my posts on this forum to know the details, but I just wanted to post as it has been six years since I started eating a whole food plant based diet with no added fat, in the belief that it will reverse my heart disease.
Six years ago, I was having shortness of breath going up the stairs in my house, and felt a burning pain the middle of the chest while mowing the lawn or while doing the elliptical, among other signs I later found were due to angina. I was having a metallic taste in my mouth and had heaviness at times. Also had abnormal rhythm or erratic heart beats at times.
My GP sent me for a stress test. I was on the treadmill for 9 min but failed the test. They had to give me nitroglycerin tablets at the end because I was complaining of a burning feeling in the chest.
The cardiologist told me I failed the test and that I should immediately get an angiography. I did not know at the time what angiography was and agreed to it. I was minutes away from the operation when the nurse told my wife that I was about get a stent. Yes, before the angiography!
I had the sense to decline the procedure.
I did a lot of research online. Came across Dr Esselstyn book on reversing heart disease. I got convinced within hours that procedures are not the answer. Heart disease is systemic and needs to be addressed at a higher level.
I started eating the diet prescribed in Dr Esselstyn book within hours of starting my research.
I lost 30 lbs to become normal weight. My labs were excellent. And over time my angina went away.
Six year on, I have rejoined the gym I stopped going to after my diagnosis (I was exercising but mostly brisk walks). I can easily take my heart rate to the cardio range (140 or so) and I don't feel any pain or heaviness on the elliptical. I have also started lifting weights again.
I have felt increasingly better as time has progressed. I have climbed mountains in Zion, Bryce and the Smoky Mountains and I am going to Canadian Rockies, the Banff and Jasper national parks and will be doing long hikes there.
Staying on the diet over time has done wonders for me. Time and adherence is the key. And I never got that stent!
Six years ago, I was having shortness of breath going up the stairs in my house, and felt a burning pain the middle of the chest while mowing the lawn or while doing the elliptical, among other signs I later found were due to angina. I was having a metallic taste in my mouth and had heaviness at times. Also had abnormal rhythm or erratic heart beats at times.
My GP sent me for a stress test. I was on the treadmill for 9 min but failed the test. They had to give me nitroglycerin tablets at the end because I was complaining of a burning feeling in the chest.
The cardiologist told me I failed the test and that I should immediately get an angiography. I did not know at the time what angiography was and agreed to it. I was minutes away from the operation when the nurse told my wife that I was about get a stent. Yes, before the angiography!
I had the sense to decline the procedure.
I did a lot of research online. Came across Dr Esselstyn book on reversing heart disease. I got convinced within hours that procedures are not the answer. Heart disease is systemic and needs to be addressed at a higher level.
I started eating the diet prescribed in Dr Esselstyn book within hours of starting my research.
I lost 30 lbs to become normal weight. My labs were excellent. And over time my angina went away.
Six year on, I have rejoined the gym I stopped going to after my diagnosis (I was exercising but mostly brisk walks). I can easily take my heart rate to the cardio range (140 or so) and I don't feel any pain or heaviness on the elliptical. I have also started lifting weights again.
I have felt increasingly better as time has progressed. I have climbed mountains in Zion, Bryce and the Smoky Mountains and I am going to Canadian Rockies, the Banff and Jasper national parks and will be doing long hikes there.
Staying on the diet over time has done wonders for me. Time and adherence is the key. And I never got that stent!