You may be strong. You may have the strength of ten men. Maybe your body can handle a lot of abuse. Nevertheless, don’t fool yourself. You can’t live forever. Eventually, your body will give out. But, an achy body stricken with joint and back pains “from all the mileage” is the least of your worries. A heart attack can take you down just like that–in the snap of the fingers. There would be little time–if any–to fight it. Just like that, you’d be gone, with no way to turn back the clock and have a “do-over.” Thankfully, now is the time for that “do-over.” Now is the time to prevent a heart attack from ever happening. Do heart attacks run in your family? If yes, then you will want to especially play close attention to this article. If no, then it can still happen. It’s up to you to live long enough to prove otherwise.
A heart attack, also known as a myocardial infarction, occurs when the heart muscle is damaged or does not receive enough oxygen. Many cardiac related problems occur due to blockages in arteries that carry purified blood away from the heart to different parts of the body. Another cause is the formation of blood clots. These, too, can be prevented.
Very often, (for some people, at least) it is quite difficult to differentiate between a heart attack and heartburn or a panic attack. Obviously, they are very, very different medical problems that require very different medical treatment. A heart attack is much, much more serious and certainly more life threatening.
The common signs and symptoms of a heart attack are:
- a tightness, pain, or discomfort in the chest.
- Sweating, nausea, and vomiting that are accompanied by intense pressure in the chest.
- A radiating and intense pain in the chest that extends from the chest to the left arm.
- A shortness of breath for more than a few minutes.
If you have any of the above you must CALL 911 or go to the Emergency Room IMMEDIATELY!!!
Once again, if you even think you are having a heart attack you must call for a cardiac care ambulance, and put under your tongue a sorbitrate or chew an aspirin. If you are allergic to aspirin don’t take one. At the hospital care will include rapid thrombolysis, cardiac catheterization, and angioplasty. They will also administer intravenously clot busting medications.
The Risk Factors for a heart attack include:
- smoking
- diabetes
- high levels of cholesterol
- hypertension
- family history of heart diseases
- atherosclerosis
- lack of exercise
- obesity,
- Eating foods high in fat, such as ”fast food.”
Reduce the Risks of a Heart Attack by:
1. Quitting smoking.
2. Eating healthy. Avoid fatty foods, excess salt, and red meats.
3. Controlling high blood pressure and diabetes.
4. Ensuring regular exercise at least 30 minutes a day. Walking is most beneficial.
5. Preventing obesity. Doing all you can to maintain weight.
6. Choosing to live a healthy lifestyle.
7. Practicing meditation.
8. Doing regular relaxation and breathing exercises.
9. Undergoing periodic cardiac evaluations.
10. Including foods that are rich in anti-oxidants in your diet.
A Killer Disease:
According to the American Heart Association approximately 58.8 million people in the US suffer from heart diseases. And, about 950,000 Americans die of heart ailments each year. Heart diseases and death from it can be prevented by maintaining your health. Find a balance in life between work and other activities, abandon the couch for the outdoors, don’t watch sports on television play sports instead and you can hope to live a long and fulfilled life.
**This article is not a substitute for medical advice which can only come from a health care professional. If you have any questions or concern that you may be at risk don’t hesitate to talk to your doctor or health care professional as soon as possible. Learn and live longer!!**
