What is a
heart attack
A heart attack normally occurs when part of the heart muscle
is damaged or dies when it doesn’t receive enough oxygen. Oxygen is normally transferred
to the heart by blood flowing in the arteries that feed the heart muscle -
coronary arteries. Most heart attacks usually occur as a result of a blockage
in these arteries. The blockage is normally caused by atherosclerosis, a build-up
of fatty deposits inside the artery, and hardening of the artery walls. Heart
attacks can also be caused by a blood clot in a coronary artery, blocking blood
flow.
Signs and symptoms of heart attack
Many people are normally unaware of the signs of a heart attack.
This is risky, considering the fact that a heart attack can be so fatal.By knowing
the signs of a heart attack and the necessary steps you can take, you can save
a life-maybe your own, who knows! So, what are the signs of heart attack?
- Chest pains or discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts for more than a few minutes or goes away and comes back.A lot of times it is mistakenly thought to be indigestion or heartburn.
- Pain or discomfort in areas of the upper body- arms, shoulders(mostly left),the back,neck,jaws.
- Breathing difficulties or shortness of breath which normally occurs with chest discomforts.
- Fullness,indigestion,choking feeling similar to heartburn.
- Nausea(sick feeling to your stomach), vomiting, sudden dizziness,cold sweat
- Rapid or irregular heart beats
- Sleeping problems.fatigue or lack of energy
Heart
attack risk factors
The risk factors
for a heart attack include: - Smoking
- Diabetes
- Age- About 85% of people who die from heart disease are 65 years of age or older.
- High cholesterol level
- High blood pressure
- Family history of heart attack
- Atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries)
- Lack of exercise
- Stress
- Obesity
Here are ten tips that will greatly help you reduce the risk of a heart attack:
- Avoid high cholesterol intake
- Know your blood pressure and control it
- Be physically active –raises your heart rate
- Quit smoking
- Control your blood sugar if you have diabetes
- Maintain you weight
- choose a healthy lifestyle
- Do regular relaxation exercises
- Go for regular cardiac check ups
- Include foods that are high in anti-oxidants in your diet
