I’m Overweight How At Risk Am I
Bigger is not better, especially when it comes to our hearts. Being overweight increases the risk of heart disease. In fact, there can be a ten-fold increase in the risk of developing high blood pressure and diabetes due to being overweight. It also decreases your HDL cholesterol, another significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
In fact, obesity is the leading cause of heart disease risk and death in the United States, and 70 percent of American are adults classified as overweight or obese. What’s also alarming is that its rate and incidence of obesity have been on the rise in both adults and children.
Recommendation: If you’re overweight, consider making some serious heart-healthy lifestyle changes. Try lowering your cholesterol by eating a more plant-based diet. Also, get your body moving.
Lower Your Risk Of Heart Disease And Stroke
About half of all Americans have at least one of three key risk factors for heart disease and stroke: high blood pressure, high cholesterol and smoking.
Both heart disease and stroke are leading causes of death in the United States. Small but gradual lifestyle changes can have a big impact in preventing disease, or in keeping it from worsening. They can also help you prevent serious complications like heart attack.
Find out what you can do to decrease your risk of developing these conditions. Learn the signs and symptoms and what to do if you or a loved one has them.
Rest In A Comfortable Position And Wait For The Ambulance To Arrive
Resting will relieve pressure on the heart as it tries to pump blood around the body.
This may involve sitting or lying down, depending on which feels more restful.
If someone is on their own when they think they are having a heart attack, they should call 911 right away and follow the advice of the call handler.
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These Are The Most Effective Ways To Protect Yourself
Here are some alarming statistics about heart attacks:
- Every 40 seconds, someone in the United States has a heart attack.
- Every year, about 805,000 Americans have heart attacks, 75% of which are first-time attacks.
- The average age of a first heart attack among men: 65.
However, the most troubling fact about heart attacks is that many people don’t take steps to protect themselves, says Dr. Deepak L. Bhatt, executive director of interventional cardiovascular programs at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women’s Hospital Heart & Vascular Center. “Reducing your risk of cardiovascular disease is the best way to guard against heart attacks,” he says. “There are simple ways to do this, but unfortunately, many people still don’t follow them as they should.”
Here’s a look at five ways you can protect yourself from cardiovascular disease, and thus possible heart attacks, and avoid being another statistic.
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- Research health conditions
- Prepare for a doctor’s visit or test
- Find the best treatments and procedures for you
- Explore options for better nutrition and exercise
Live Well Today For A Healthier Tomorrow
The bottom line? Healthy living is the best way to delay or avoid many heart and brain diseases. This means being active and fit, eating healthy, avoiding tobacco and managing conditions that can put you at greater risk. Take charge of your health. Join Healthy for Good for tips, tools and inspiration to make changes and create healthy habits you can sustain throughout your life.
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Treatments Available For Cad/ Chd
is also known as Coronary artery bypass grafting. A surgeon takes a healthy blood vessel from leg, arm or chest and connects or grafts it to the affected artery slightly past the site of the blockage. The objective of this surgery is to create the new path for the oxygenated blood to pass through to the heart avoiding the blocked section of the affected artery. Patients undergoing bypass are put under general anesthetic and are not awake during surgeryAngioplasty: is the technique of mechanically widening narrowed or obstructed arteries. Coronary angioplasty is accomplished using a balloon-tipped catheter inserted through an artery in the groin or arm to enlarge a narrowing in a coronary artery. Angioplastyis is successful in opening coronary arteries in well over 90% of patients.
How To Prevent Cad/ Chd/ Mi
Most risk factors for cardiovascular disease are linked, which means if you have one disease or problem then you are prone to other disease as well, for eg. if you have High BP then you are prone to diabetes too. So, the best thing to prevent yourself from CAD/CHD is to take care of your health as a whole which includes good eating habits, fewer intakes of tobacco and alcohol, indulging in physical activities and lot more discussed below:
Don’t smoke or use Tobacco
The good news for smokers is that, when you quit smoking, your risk of heart disease drops almost to that of a nonsmoker in about five years. And no matter how long or how much you smoked, you’ll start getting rewards as soon as you quit.
Exercise for 30 minutes almost 4 days a week
Studies shows that 30 minutes of brisk walking or jogging makes a lot of difference in keeping the heart muscles healthy. In case you can’t walk or jog then indulge in some physical activity where you are pumping blood to your heart keeping it in good shape.
Weight Management
Being overweight, especially if you carry excess weight around your middle ups your risk of heart disease. Excess weight can lead to conditions that increase your chances of heart disease â high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. Keeping your body in shape is a good thing to consider as weight management is not possible without healthy eating and physical exercise.
Quality sleep
Regular health screenings
Blood Pressure
Cholesterol Levels
Medication
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In This Article You Are Going To Read About:
Table of Content
In 2004, Coronary Heart Disease was the leading cause of death in India, leading to1.46 million deaths and in 2015 CHD will cause 4.586 million deaths & 60 million people in India is suffering from CAD
- Four people mainly between age group of 30 to 50 die of heart attack also known as myocardial infarction every minute in India
- Twenty-five per cent of heart attack deaths occur in people less than 40
- Every day nine hundred people under 30 die due to heart disease in India
This video will show you how gradually plaque builds up in a coronary artery creating a partial blockage and if not taken care of can block the coronary artery completely, making the condition life threatening.
What Is A Heart Attack
A heart attack happens when something blocks the blood flow to your heart so it canât get the oxygen it needs.
More than a million Americans have heart attacks each year. Heart attacks are also called myocardial infarctions . “Myo” means muscle, “cardial” refers to the heart, and “infarction” means death of tissue because of a lack of blood supply. This tissue death can cause lasting damage to your heart muscle..
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First Know Your Risk Factors For Heart Disease
There are many things women and men can do to prevent a heart attack, says UC Irvine’s Dr. Shaista Malik, a cardiologist specializing in cardiovascular imaging and public health.
The most important step is to identify your own risk factors. “Start by knowing your numbers for blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar,” says Malik, medical director of UC Irvines Preventive Cardiology Program. “Almost 50 percent of people who die suddenly from a heart attack have no prior symptoms. Keeping tabs on these numbers gives you a good idea of your heart health.”
Malik answers the following questions about heart attack prevention:
What Are The Warning Signs Of Heart Disease
Warning signs are a good thing. They alert us to a problem and give us information that we may be able to act on. Heart disease can manifest in a number of different ways, including chest pain tightness or discomfort shortness of breath dizziness irregular heartbeat a sense of doom becoming easily winded by regular everyday activities, and more.
Recommendation: If you experience any of these symptoms, particularly together, call your doctor immediatelyit could be a sign of a heart attack.
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How To Avoid Heart Attack
A heart attack is known as a myocardial infarction. This 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.
Very often, it is quite difficult to differentiate between a heart attack and heartburn. The common signs 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 consult the doctor or go to the emergency rooms.
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 dont 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, and fast foods.
Reduce the risks of a heart attack by:
1.Quitting smoking.
Tips To Reduce Your Risk
1. Know your risk factors. Nine out of 10 women have at least one risk factor for heart disease. Risk factors include:
- high blood pressure
- smoking
- a family history of premature heart disease
Obesity also increases the risk of developing high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and pre-diabetes, which increases the risk of heart disease. Note: With the exception of family history, you can modify the other risk factors to reduce your risk of heart disease.
2. Manage current health conditions, including diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. Talk to your health care provider to confirm the best treatment plan.
3. Recognize symptoms of a heart attack in womenand call 9-1-1 if needed. Know that symptoms in women can be the same or different as those in men.
Symptoms can include:
- extreme fatigue
- breaking out in a cold sweat
Note: As with men, the most common symptom of a heart attack in women is chest discomfort. But you can have a heart attack without chest pain or pressure. And women are more likely than men to have other symptoms such as back pain, jaw pain, shortness of breath, indigestion, and nausea/vomiting.
If you have these symptoms and suspect youre having a heart attack, call 9-1-1. Call even if youre not sure it could save your life.
4. Do regular physical activity and maintain a healthy weight. You dont need to complete all activity at one set timeand its okay if youre not a fan of the gym.
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Heart Disease Symptoms In Women
Heart disease is the leading cause of death among women, and heart attack symptoms and signs can be different for women than for men, for example:
- Chest tightness
Sometimes people having a heart attack experience no symptoms at all. The medical term for this is silent ischemia, commonly referred to as a “silent” heart attack.
If you think you are experiencing signs of a heart attack, call 911 immediately!
How To Prevent Heart Attack Naturally At Home 10 Useful Tips
Heart attack occurs when one of the arteries in the heart is blocked. Severe heart attacks are very dangerous and can lead to instant death. Therefore, learning about the signs, symptoms and how to prevent heart attack is very important for everyone.
Artery blockage means the blood supply to the heart is stalled partly or completely, resulting in the death of some heart muscles due to the lack of oxygen.
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Water And Cayenne Pepper
Another online recommendation thats not effective is to drink a glass of water with a spoonful of cayenne pepper in it. Some people say cayenne pepper is a stimulant capable of increasing the heart rate and carrying blood all over the body, balancing circulation. Some claim that cayenne pepper can stop bleeding instantly.
There is no proof, however, that cayenne pepper or other types of pepper are useful when taken at the onset of a heart attack. Whats more, its not understood how capsaicin might interact with aspirin when taken during a heart attack and experts know that aspirin is helpful.
While you cant control all your heart attack risk factors, such as aging, gender , and heredity, there are some that you can control. To prevent your risk of a heart attack:
- Stop smoking and minimize your exposure to secondhand smoke.
- Get your high blood cholesterol and high blood pressure under control by modifying your diet, losing weight, taking medication, or doing a combination of these things.
- Stay physically active daily.
- Control your weight if youre overweight or obese.
- If you have diabetes, take care by sticking to your treatment plan and managing your blood sugar.
- Get a handle on the stress in your life by practicing relaxation techniques like deep breathing or yoga, or try talk therapy.
- Limit your alcohol consumption.
Dont Become A Statistic
Of course, all of these life-saving treatments are of no use if you dont respond immediately to the warning signs of heart attacks.
According to a study published in Circulation , more than half of the 1.2 million people who have a heart attack or coronary death each year in the U.S. die in an ED or before reaching a hospital within an hour of the onset of symptoms.
Speed is of the essence in stopping heart attacks. Lifesaving measures are only effective for a brief period of time after symptoms begin, before heart muscle begins to die and your heart ceases to function. Heed the advice. And just. Dont. Wait.
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Ake In Physical Activity
Being physically active will also help to prevent a heart attack. According to the American Heart Association, adults should try to get at least 150 minutes of moderate or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise every week when possible.
Adults who are already active can increase their activity levels to give themselves even better prevention against heart attacks.
Are You At Risk
Of the major modifiable risk factors, smoking, having a high blood pressure and having high cholesterol have a significant impact on ones risk of developing heart disease. Studies show that about half of all American adults have at least one of these three major risk factors.
To learn more about your risk of having a heart attack, visit the following helpful links:Heart Attack Risk Assessment. For people who have not been diagnosed with heart disease or diabetes, this tool can help you evaluate your risk of experiencing a heart attack.
My Diabetes Health Assessment. This tool is helpful for people who have diabetes and want to determine their risk of heart disease.
Understand Your Risk of Heart Attack. This link describes the major and contributing factors that increase your risk of heart attack.
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If I’m A Woman Are The Symptoms The Same
It’s no longer a man’s world, especially when it comes to heart disease. For decades, the medical community and general public saw heart disease as a “man’s” disease. But this is no longer the case. If you have the risk factors and also family history, you have the potential to develop heart diseasewhether you’re a man or woman. The sad truth is that about the same number of women and men die from heart disease every year.
Wait, there is more: Heart disease is now the No. 1 cause of death in women. According to the Centers for Disease Control heart disease kills almost 300,000 women every year or causes 1 of every 5 female deaths. And despite increased awareness, the CDC reports that only 56 percent of women know how deadly heart disease is to women.
Recommendation: A heart-healthy lifestyle goes a long way toward reducing your overall risk of heart and other diseases.
Aim For A Healthy Weight
Obesity is highly prevalent in America, not only for adults but also for children. Fad diets and supplements are not the answer. Good nutrition, controlling calorie intake and physical activity are the only way to maintain a healthy weight. Obesity places you at risk for high cholesterol, high blood pressure and insulin resistance, a precursor of type 2 diabetes the very factors that heighten your risk of cardiovascular disease. Your Body Mass Index can help tell you if your weight is healthy.
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Things You Can Do To Prevent That Second Heart Attack
Once youve had a heart attack, medical professionals will tell you that your odds of having another are pretty high unless you do something about it.
Fortunately, by paying keen attention to the 10 areas listed here, you can drastically reduce your risk of a second heart attack and live an overall healthy life.
Dont Play Around With Your Medication
After your first heart attack, your doctor would have prescribed medications that are meant to address your hearts health. Its important that you stick to your regimen. If you think the medications are no longer effective, talk to your doctor. Its never acceptable to just stop taking them as this may affect how well your heart functions and put you at serious risk.
Walk Away From The Cigarettes
Cigarette smoking has been proven to not only affect the lungs, but can also damage blood vessels, impair oxygen saturation, and cause blood clots. If youre having trouble quitting, check out all the resources that are available as quickly as possible.
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Establish An Exercise Routine
Exercising regularly can positively influence different aspects of your health. Specifically, being physically active will strengthen your heart muscles. The ideal amount of exercise is 30 60 minutes of activity for at least 3 days per week. Since youre recovering from a heart attack, however, you need to get your doctors advice to choose the right exercise for you.