Snippets

After a heart attack!

A variety of emotions are common after a heart attack, and it's important to take care of them -- as well as your heart. The American Heart Association offers these recommendations to keep your mind in good health:

• If you are afraid, get all the facts. Talk to your doctor about your concerns, and about what you should expect in the coming months.

• Soothe anxious feelings by talking to a friend or family member.

• Get exercise. It's good for your heart, and it can help alleviate anxiety.

• Spend time doing activities that you enjoy.

• Talk to your doctor if you feel symptoms of depression, which are common after a heart attack.

• Stay social. Establish a network of friends to help you through your difficult time.

Eat well, sleep well

If you've noticed that you feel particularly sleepy or more energized after eating certain foods, that's because what you eat can have an impact on how well you sleep and how awake you are during the day.

Here are examples of foods that can affect your sleep, courtesy of the US National Sleep Foundation:

• Carbohydrate-rich foods, such as pastas and breads, can make you more sleepy.

• Carbohydrates work well with proteins to induce sleepiness, which makes combinations such as peanut butter on toast, cereal with milk, or cheese and crackers good bedtime snacks.

• A large meal can make you more tired, especially one with a lot of carbohydrates.

• Caffeine in foods and beverages is a stimulant that blocks hormones in the brain that make you feel sleepy.

• While alcohol may help you relax and fall asleep in the short term, over the course of the night it inhibits the sleep process and can prevent you from getting deep, restful sleep.

(HealthDay News)