The benefits of healthy eating for patients with heart failure

A new study proves that habits related to healthy eating can significantly reduce hypertension and can improve heart function in patients with heart failure. “Our work suggests diet could play an important role in the progression of heart failure, although patients should always talk to their doctor before making major dietary changes”, Dr. Scott Hummel, a cardiologist at the University of Michigan Frankel Cardiovascular Center, said in a university news release. “We're excited to confirm these results in longer-term studies that also help us understand the challenges patients face when they try to improve their eating habits”, he added. Doctors have long known that the low-sodium DASH diet can lower blood pressure in patients who are sensitive to salt. This study, although small, showed that the DASH diet can improve left ventricular relaxation and reduce diastolic chamber stiffness in heart failure patients, meaning a more efficient transfer of blood between the heart and arteries, Hummel explained.