Today is

By: Ikedi Ani-okoye

Coping with a heart attack

Heart attack is one of the leading causes of death in developed countries. For the best chance of survival, immediate hospital admission is necessary. To ensure that this happens you need to recognize when a person is possibly having a heart attack and phone for an ambulance without delay. The cause of a heart attack is nearly always a blockage in one of the major arteries supplying the heart muscle. There may be warning signs, such as angina, or a heart attack may occur suddenly particularly in people at High risk.

A heart attack is also called a myocardial infarction or coronary thrombosis. This literaUy means she death of an area of tissue due to an interrupted blood supply. The coronary arteries, Which supply the heart muscle, can become furred up with a fatty substance, a condition known as atherosclerosis. Eventually, one or more of these arteries becomes entirely blocked and part of the heart muscle dies as a result. This is a heart attack.

Who has heart attacks?

Heart attacks become more common as we get older. However, some people are at greater risk of having a heart attack at an early age. These include:
People with a family history of heart attacks - a close relative who has had a heart attack under the age of 60.

Anyone with a high blood level of cholesterol. High levels of this fatty substance are linked to an increased risk of atherosclerosis, leading to heart attacks

Smokers.
People who are overweight.
Anyone with high blood pressure.
People with diabetes.
Female hormones give pre-menopausal women some protection against heart attacks, but after the menopause they are just as much at risk as men.

How avoid heart attacks

If you are in a high-risk group, your doctor will monitor your condition on a regular basis and prescribe drugs. You may also be put on a special diet aimed at reducing the chances of your haring a heart attacks. For the majority of other people, the risk of heart attack can be reduced by the following guidelines:

Keep within the healthy weight range for your height and build.
Take regular exercise (it is often best to check widh a doctor before starting any exercise regime).
Give up smoking.
Eat a balanced diet that is low in animal fat, salt and processed/convenience food.
Learn to manage stress.