🫀 Mechanical Valve: The Importance of Proper Nutrition

Living with a mechanical valve requires attention to your diet — mainly due to anticoagulant therapy (e.g., warfarin) that patients take. With small but consistent choices, you can protect your heart and live a normal life 💙

🔹 Watch your vitamin K intake:

Vitamin K, found mainly in dark green vegetables like spinach, cabbage, broccoli, parsley, and Brussels sprouts, can reduce the effectiveness of anticoagulant medications.

This means that if consumed in excessive amounts, your blood may clot more easily ➡️ increasing the risk of thrombosis.You don’t need to avoid these foods completely — just avoid overconsumption.

🔹 Be cautious with certain fruits:

Fruits such as grapefruit, cranberries, and grapes can enhance the effect of warfarin, making the blood clot more slowly ➡️ increasing the risk of bleeding.

🔹 Limit alcohol:

Excessive consumption can affect the metabolism of your medication and increase the risk of bleeding.

🔹 Maintain a balanced diet:

Choose lean proteins, whole grains, fruits and vegetables in moderation, and stay adequately hydrated.

🔹 Monitor your INR:

Patients with a mechanical valve need to regularly check their blood’s clotting levels with a simple lab test called INR (International Normalized Ratio).This value shows how effectively your anticoagulant therapy is working:

• If it’s too low, blood clots more easily ➡️ increasing the risk of thrombosis.

• If it’s too high, blood clots less easily ➡️ increasing the risk of bleeding.

Target values depend on the type of valve. With regular monitoring and collaboration with your doctor, INR can be kept at safe levels, effectively protecting the valve.

❤️ With proper monitoring and a balanced diet, patients with a mechanical valve can enjoy a normal, safe, and active life.

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