Diet is everything to aid acute pericarditis

[Stanadams20]

This post may help with other conditions but this is more personal to my own experience of pericarditis so do not shoot me if it does not work for yourself, I’d imagine it wouldn’t do you any harm though!

So after a recent turn of events in my life I was diagnosed with pericarditis I’ve had this for 6 weeks. I smoked regularly, I ate junk food, I never really looked after my body I just assumed “I’m in good shape so it doesn’t matter, I exercise and I’ll be alright”. I used to eat at weird times as I was really busy with work, never ate breakfast or fruit. The only veg I would have would be on a Sunday roast haha.

In the last 5/6 weeks I have completely changed my diet, gone from eating loads and loads of saturated fatty foods, sugary foods and all round junk to eating some very good food and regularly too. I have gone from 9.5st to 11st. Which I consider to be a healthy weight in my optioning for my height (5ft 9) In that period of time (been laid up and inactive for a bit would’ve contributed too) .

For me what worked was the following;

-Making a conscious effort to eat breakfast every morning

-Replace snacking on chocolate bars with having a piece of fruit or nuts

-Eating a lot of white meat with meals

-Fish (salmon preferably for me) twice a week

-Ensuring blueberries or high antioxidants are taken in through fruit

-Stock up on anti inflammatory foods

-Drink coffee 1/2 times a day and always have at least 3 or 4 glasses of water per day.

-Cut down or quit smoking ASAP

-Remove all fast foods

-Eat veg with every evening meal!

-Try walk at least an hour a day. If not possible then try exercises in house

[Thanksnhs]

Hi well done you, was it just willpower that you used, I think my diet is hmm not great at all but no matter how I try, always going to do it definitely next week! Nothing changes, I hate veg for a start, I only eat carrots, mushrooms and onions, I have breakfast, which is mostly eggs, sausage and on a good day porridge, I don't eat till about midday and dinner about 6.30 which is mostly always meat I do make my meals from scratch,soup, burgers, meatballs etc occasionally fish, every few weeks, I sometimes have pasta or rice,I eat far too much white bread, I think I live on it, I hate brown bread, I don't eat fruit or have anything in between my two meals or anything in the evening, I am 62, 8 stone 5ft 3, my consultant never says much they just want me to stay above 8 stone, I hate exercise always have done, but if it's dry I try and walk a bit, done some stuff in the house, hurt my bad shoulder, never again, re hab was only four weeks, I had a transplant last July, I am just hopeless and I don't have, anyone to encourage me, I like wine as well 😅I do know the only person that is responsible for it is me, oh well mabe next week! Char p. s I don't smoke, I suppose that's something

[Qualipop in reply to Thanksnhs]

My diabetic husband tries to live on red meat, pies chips and fried food; a packet of bacon a day oh and cakes and biscuits. I've started , like you would do with a child who hates veg, chopping ton s of veg finely and mixing it in with things like shepherds pie, bolognese, meatballs etc I've even used quorn instead of meat and he's never even noticed. I just can't stop the bacon addiction

[Thanksnhs in reply to Qualipop]

That's brilliant gave me a laugh today, I would need someone to do that to me, I am hopeless when left to my own devices although I did manage to go to the butchers yesterday and not buy bacon! But I did buy square sausages, beef links, tottie scones and black pudding 😋 mabe bacon would have been better, excuse is my boyfriend will be here at the weekend for his brekki, so it's not all for me char

[Qualipop in reply to Thanksnhs]

Ooh all those meats would worry me. All processed food has so much fat. Try it with the veg; you may even like it. With t he tomato sauce on a bolognese you wouldn't even notice veg. I've even put broccoli in and I detest broccoli.

[Sunnie2day]

Most of us here, regardless of what heart condition we have, follow the BHF Mediterranean diet. I have additionally been ordered to keep my salt intake to a low level in order to keep my lingering pericardial effusion from spiking.

Everyone is different but you're spot-on, diet makes a great difference in recovery from an acute pericarditis flare, as it does in all heart conditions.

[080311]

As Sunnie as said most of us here on the forum follow the Mediterranean diet, it works for most heart issues. You will find lots recipes on the BHF website, along with lots of information on keeping your heart healthy after having your heart mended.

[Scho1]

Pericarditis is not a lifestyle illness, though a healthy lifestyle is good for everyone anyway. When pericarditis flares you should always rest and treatment usually consists of Colchicine, rest, ibuprofen, naproxen. It also depends on what is the underlying cause ie. Autoimmune disease or as in my case idiopathic.Every case is different and it is always prudent to seek medical advice.