Heart attacks may come on suddenly and have devastating results, but they are preventable. When not completely preventable, their effects may be minimized by making some changes. Here are some tips for CDPAP caregivers on recognizing oncoming attacks, what to do to help someone having one, and how to reduce further risk.

What Is A Heart Attack?

A heart attack occurs when the blood flow to one or more areas of the heart is obstructed or even completely blocked. The lack of oxygenated blood to the heart causes direct damage to the heart muscle, and if the blood flow is not restored, the damage can become more and more severe as time passes. In some cases, the damage is too severe, and the heart muscle cannot recover from the trauma.

Symptoms Of A Heart Attack

Several symptoms are indicative of an oncoming heart attack, and recognizing them as soon as possible can give you life-saving extra seconds. The most common symptoms that can indicate a heart attack is about to begin, or may already be in progress include:

●        Chest pain

●        Feeling weak or fatigued

●        Sudden dizziness

●        Nausea

●        Pain or discomfort in the jaw, neck, or back

●        Pain or discomfort either arm, shoulder, or both

●        The sensation of squeezing or tightness that starts in the torso and radiates outward

●        Shortness of breath

●        Cold Sweat

●        Heartburn or indigestion

What Should I Do If Someone Is Having A Heart Attack?

If you notice someone is showing symptoms of an oncoming heart attack or is actively experiencing a heart attack, the first thing you should do is call 911 or the applicable emergency services number in your area. This will allow for not only the immediate dispatch of emergency medical help, but it will also give you immediate access to someone who can talk you through any triage or prophylactic measures.

While you are on the phone with the 911 dispatcher, they will likely have you begin chest compressions or other resuscitative attempts. It is important that you only do this under the instruction of the dispatcher, or if you have otherwise been trained in the proper technique. Performing chest compressions or CPR improperly can cause additional injuries.

Lifestyle Changes To Prevent A Heart Attack

Some of the most powerful things that can be done to prevent heart attacks or reduce the risk of additional attacks are making significant lifestyle changes. By leading a healthier life overall, not only will general health improve, but many of the individual risk factors that cause heart attacks can be mitigated. Here are some of those changes, and how they can help.

Quit Smoking

Quitting smoking can have an incredibly dramatic effect on cardiovascular health. Smoking not only constricts blood vessels, but it lowers the overall oxygen content of the blood supply to the heart. This forces the heart to work even harder to make up for the lowered oxygen levels.

The main addictive component in tobacco, nicotine, also forces the body to release adrenaline which adds to the constriction of veins and arteries, but it raises blood pressure and forces the heart to beat faster and harder. Stopping smoking will eventually allow these effects to fade, helping the heart to heal.

Improve Nutrition

This is one of the harder lifestyle changes that can be made, like quitting smoking, though just like stopping smoking it can have a huge impact on health, and a corresponding drop in heart attack chances. This means not only watching portion control, but effectively managing the intake of potential unhealthy items, but increasing the number of healthy items in the diet as well.

Reduce Cholesterol

By eating fewer foods that cause high cholesterol, mainly those that are higher in saturated fats, the accumulation of cholesterol and plaque in the arteries can be reduced, stopped, and even reversed. Cholesterol is one of the main causes of arterial blockages. We’ve included a list of foods likely to increase cholesterol below.

Manage High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure can put undue stress not only on the heart but on the entire cardiovascular system. Lowering blood pressure can help take some of the strain off of the heart, and allow it time to recuperate. Provided the blood pressure stays within a healthy range, lowering it will always reduce the risk of a heart attack.

Get Daily Physical Activity

Working the heart harder by increasing physical activity may sound counterintuitive, but getting regular physical activity following a heart attack can help rebuild heart health. It can help increase the number of small blood vessels that interconnect arteries, and it helps the heart to pump more blood with less effort. This reduction in strain and increase in efficiency helps the heart stay healthier, longer.

Maintain A Healthy Weight

By limiting the intake of foods high in salt and saturated fats, as well as processed sugars, the resting blood pressure can be reduced. This drop in blood pressure is nearly always accompanied by a drop in heart attack risk. By maintaining a healthy weight, other risk factors are reduced as well, such as asthma which can drastically reduce the amount of available oxygen in the blood, and make heart attacks more severe.

Manage Diabetes

Those with diabetes can work to reduce their risk of heart attack by making sure they manage their condition in a healthy way. This includes keeping blood sugar as normal as possible, as well as blood pressure. Diabetics also need to keep a closer eye on their cholesterol levels, as well as work toward maintaining a healthy weight. All of these factors will reduce the chance of cardiac issues.

Reduce Stress

Reducing stress not only lowers blood pressure, but it allows stress hormone levels to normalize, which can help control appetite and maintain a healthy weight. Stress also tends to raise the heart rate, and coping methods like smoking or drinking can make the issue far worse. Stress can also lead to other unhealthy habits and lifestyle choices that further complicate and exacerbate heart and other cardiac issues.

Reduce Drinking

Those who drink alcohol more than once or twice on most days may see more stress put on their heart from the tendency of alcohol to thin the blood. While light drinking has been shown to reduce the risk of heart attack, most people drink far more than the recommended amount.

Take Medication As Directed

This is a big change, particularly for those who either have a habit of forgetting to take their medication or simply not giving it the care and attention that it should be given. It can be crucial to make sure that you are taking all prescribed medication exactly as the doctor directed it to be taken. This applies to all medication, no matter what it is for. While most symptoms may seem minor, not managing them can lead to disaster.

When blood pressure medications are prescribed, not taking them can result in blood pressure that is far too low, or even dangerously high. Those with high blood pressure are at an even higher risk for heart attack, so it is even more important for them to make a greater effort to remember to take their medication.

Know If, And When, You May Be At Risk

One of the best ways to prevent a heart attack is understanding if you are at risk of having one. Heart attacks are more common in older people, men, and they can sometimes be hereditary. If your family has several risk factors or a significant history of heart disease, keep an eye out for the signs and symptoms of a heart attack.

Foods That Are High In Saturated Fat & May Contribute To An Unhealthy Heart

Healthy fats are an essential part of our diets, but not all fats are good fats. If you are eating a diet that is heavy on trans fat and saturated fats, you could be at a higher risk of heart attacks, heart disease, and several other health problems.

Saturated fats are solid at room temperature. When eaten in higher amounts, it is common to see increases in cholesterol levels. To keep your cholesterol low reduce your chances of having a heart attack, these are some foods you should avoid or eat in moderation:

●        Butter

●        Cakes and biscuits

●        Cream

●        Foods that contain coconut or palm oil

●        Fried foods

●        Ghee (a type of butter often used in Indian cooking)

●        Hard cheese

●        Lard

●        Pies

●        Sausages and other fatty cuts of meat

Foods That Help Prevent A Heart Attack

One of the best ways to stay healthy and to prevent a heart attack is by eating mindfully. Everything we put into our bodies can impact our health. Make sure to limit your intake of sugary drinks and red meat. Some of the best foods you can eat for heart attack prevention are:

●        Fruits and vegetables

●        Fish (oily varieties; consume at least twice a week)

●        Fiber-rich whole grains

●        Nuts, legumes, and seeds (great way to add protein and fat to meatless meals)

●        Low-fat dairy

●        Lean skinless poultry●        Leanest cuts of meat you can find

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