Intermittent fasting may not be good for the heart, report says; some patients advised against it

Everyone wants to stay fit, and many people take up exercise and different diet plans for it. One of the diet plans in vogue for losing weight is intermittent fasting, which many people have adopted in the past few years.

Intermittent fasting follows methods such as 16:8, 5:2 or eating only within a fixed window of time. Its aim is to shed excess body weight. However, several studies have found that the method is not beneficial for heart health. This article tries to explain why intermittent fasting could lead to heart and blood vessel diseases.

According to a report published by the American Heart Association, intermittent fasting was built into the daily routine of more than 20,000 older people, with a routine of 16 hours of fasting and 8 hours of eating. The report says heart-related diseases began to develop in about 91 per cent of them.

According to the British Heart Foundation, the heart is a very sensitive organ. Any change in lifestyle, such as a change in eating habits, can adversely affect heart function, blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Intermittent fasting changes the entire diet plan, and people stay hungry for many hours at a stretch. This can affect blood sugar, stress hormones and fat metabolism, leading to various physical problems.

For example, if a diabetic patient practises intermittent fasting, their blood sugar may drop suddenly. The level of the stress hormone cortisol may rise, increasing the risk of high blood pressure. A change in eating pattern can also alter cholesterol and triglyceride levels. All three problems can be linked to heart disease.

The report says intermittent fasting is not a weight-loss plan for everyone. Patients with certain health problems should therefore not follow it. These include patients with heart-related conditions such as heart attack and paralysis, those taking heart medication, diabetics, patients with high blood pressure, and people with eating disorders.

People above 60 who have any of the problems listed above are also not advised to practise intermittent fasting. The report also says that those who still wish to do so should keep fasting hours shorter, stay hydrated and include healthy fats in their diet.

According to the NCBI, instead of intermittent fasting, it may be better for health to include in the diet plan balanced and nutritious food, 2 to 3 litres of water, vegetables, fruit, whole grains, nuts and protein-rich foods. Daily exercise is also described as necessary, as it helps maintain both energy and metabolism. Getting full sleep is equally important, as lack of sleep can affect the hormones that control hunger.

According to the NCBI, severe weakness, dizziness, headache, a racing heartbeat or other unusual symptoms during a fast could point to a serious problem. In such cases, people are advised to consult a doctor immediately. They are also advised to consult a health expert before starting any new diet plan, so that the expert can assess their health condition and suggest the right plan.