I read that people who eat a large meal and go to sleep soon after are at higher risk of experiencing a heart attack. My husband frequently falls asleep after a large dinner. Sue Gilbert Sue is a consulting nutritionist. For many years she worked with Earth's Best Organic Baby Food, integrating nutrition and product development. She has written numerous articles on children's health and nutrition for parenting publications.
Heart attacks are the result of cumulative risk factors.
Your husband's chance of having a heart attack after a large meal will depend on how many other risk factors he has. If he is otherwise healthy and free of most risk factors, eating a large meal and then going to bed will not be a problem. In particular, a large fatty meal can precipitate a heart attack. First of all, digesting a meal requires your heart to pump more blood to your digestive system. If you have an obstruction in your coronary arteries, this shunting of the blood to your digestive system can further reduce blood flow through narrowed arteries, putting additional demands on your heart.