A simple form of sugar called ribose may be able to help the heart recover at a faster rate.
According to a study on WebMD, dogs given ribose after heart surgery recovered eight days faster than the animals who didn’t. Rats who were fed the same form of sugar after having a heart attack also prevented damage to their hearts.
“A simple way to enhance recover is to give ribose. We usually say it takes five to 10 grams two or three times during the 12 to 24 hours after the heavy exercise,” said researcher John E. Foker, MD, PhD of University of Minnesota of Minneapolis. “Ribose is simple and your cells will only use it to enhance ATP production, not as fuel. People don’t feel as stiff afterwards and seem to have more energy.”
Stanley Rockson, MD, a cardiologist at Stanford University School of Medicine said this finding could potentially help out humans dealing with heart issues.
“This looks like it could work its way into treatments for heart attack and acute heart failure, but there are many steps in between seeing it in animal models and saying it is effective and safe in people,” said Rockson. “We understand why it might help and it also worked in these models, so it makes you think there is reason to pursue in human settings.”
Researcher Luis A. Garcia Rodriquez said during a different report that in order to prevent heart disease or the risk of having a heart attack, that one aspirin a day should always be taken by patients with heart issues. The study indicated and that those who stopped taking aspirin daily had a 60 percent chance of having a heart attack compared to those who did.
“Patients on low-dose aspirin for secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease should be advised that unless there is a high risk of serious bleeding or otherwise recommend by a doctor, aspirin should never be discontinued, given its overwhelming benefit [on heart health],” said Rodriquez.
