By 
Heart attacks occur when a blood clot prevents the flow of blood to or from the heartto the rest of the body parts. Without the flow of blood, the tissues lose out on oxygen and die, causing severe damages to the heart and other vital organs in the body. Heart attacks are becoming more & more common and it is important to learn about the various risk factors and warning signs. Heart attacks can be sometimes ignored or assumed as something minor, which can be highly dangerous. Thus, it is also important to know how to act when you think someone is having a heart attack, and learn ways on improving your health to prevent chances of getting a heart attack.
Warning Signs
Most of the heart attacks tend to start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort, but some heart attacks can also occur suddenly and with high intensity. You must always pay attention to your body and call for help if you experience any of the following signs:
- Discomfort in the Chest:This isthe most common sign of heart attacks.If you experience discomfort in the center of the chest and it lasts for more than a few minutes,or if the pain goes away and then returns, it may be a possibility that you are having a heart attack. It may feel like having an uncomfortable pressure, or squeezing like pain.
- Discomfort in the Upper Body:Sometimes, you can experience pain or discomfort in your arms, or the back, in the neck, or even the jaw or stomach.
- Breathlessness:Shortness of breath that occurs with or without experiencing any discomfort in the chest. So, do not ignore it or consider it to be something minor.
- Other known signs and symptoms of heart attack include,light headedness,nausea andcold sweat.
The most common heart attack symptomsin women are chest pain and discomfort in the upper body. However, other common symptoms such as shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, or back or jaw painis more likely to be experienced by women than men. Keep in mind – don’t hesitate in seeking help if you experience any of these warning signs, the earlier you get medical help, the better are your chances of recovery!
How to Act when you/someone elseis having a heart attack?
The first and the foremost thing to do is to call emergency services or an ambulance. If in case you’re unable to get through any emergency medical service provider, seek the assistance of your neighbours or a friends.
If you are experiencing the symptoms yourself, do not drive on your own.Call a cab.This is because, driving the vehicle yourself while you’re experiencing the symptoms of a heart attack can put your life into jeopardy.
As recommended by most heart specialists, when you are someone around you is experiencing a heart attack, take an aspirin.However, if you’re allergic to its salts and have been advised not take aspirins, then find alternatives, for say, nitroglycerin. But, take it only as directed by a physician.
If you’re with an individual who’sprobably having or just had a heart attack and he/she has lost their consciousness, try rescuing them back through cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Meanwhile, contact the emergency services and tell them about the patient’s unconsciousness. The best way to perform CPR in such a situation is to focus on chest compressions,at about 100 times a minute. The emergency support will instruct you how to act until help arrives.
Prevention
Your lifestyle choices affect your heart health directly and indirectly. The way we eat, drink, exercise, take stress, and the environment we are exposed to – all of these impact our health and inner strength or immunity. The following actions can help you prevent the https://www.therapyheals.ca/valium-10mg/ chances of having a heart attack:
- Quit Smoking:If you are a smoker, the most helpful thing you can do to improve the health of your heart is to stop smoking. Also, avoid the company of smokers as passive smoking is more harmful.
- Cholesterol & Blood Pressure Levels: Try and keep your blood pressure and cholesterol levels under control. This is important because if either of these is high, you are more prone to having a heart attack.Get your blood pressure and cholesterol levels monitored regularly.
- Regular Health Checkups: It helps to get regular medical checkups, because you are aware of your potential health conditions and can take preventive actions. Health tests help you check for any existing conditions and allow you to manage them, so that they don’t develop any major concerns.
- Exercise Regularly:Regular exercise helps prevent a heart attack by allowing you to control your weight, keep a check on your diabetes, keep the cholesterol down, and your blood pressure in normal range. Exercising need not be really vigorous, a simple 30 minute walk every day, five times a week can help you improve your health.
- Adopt a Heart-Friendly Diet:Eating junk foods that contain saturated fat, trans-fats and cholesterol, can make your arteries narrower and cause damage to your heart.A diet that contains too much of salt can cause high blood pressure. Adopt a heart-healthy diet which contains lean proteins, such as fish or beans, fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
- Manage Your Diabetes: High blood sugar is considered as a silent killer. It damages your heart, and makes your body weaker from the inside. Regular exercising, eating well and managing weight can help you keep your blood sugar levels in control. Follow a strict medication schedule to manage your diabetes.
- Stress Management:Try and reduce the amount of stress you take in your everyday activities. It can cause serious damage to your heart by causing hypertension or high blood pressure.
- Check Your Alcohol Intake:Drink alcohol in moderation, if you have to. Drinking habits cause damage to the liver, kidneys, heart, and even brain.
Heart attack is a chronic condition and must not be taken lightly. If you or anyone around you experiences even the slightest of symptoms that may suggest a heart attack, rush to a hospital immediate. For any delay can cost you your life!
Comments