Image via WikipediaWhat is a heart attack?
A heart attack (also called “myocardial infarction”) occurs when a blood vessel supplying blood to a part of the heart becomes blocked, resulting in permanent damage to the heart muscle due to the lack of blood flow. The blood vessel can become blocked from advancing atherosclerotic plaque lesions, a sudden formation of a blood clot, or from the spasming of a coronary artery - an artery that supplies blood to the heart.
More than 1 million Americans have heart attacks each year,"Myo" means muscle, "cardial" refers to the heart, and "infarction" means death of tissue due to lack of blood supply.
Risk factors for a heart attack
Smoking
Diabetes
Age--Risk increases for men older than 45 years and for women older than 55 years (or after menopause). About 83% of people who die from heart disease are 65 years of age or older.
High cholesterol level
High blood pressure
Family history of heart attack
Race--African Americans, Mexican Americans, Native Americans and native Hawaiians are at greater risk.
Atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries)
Lack of exercise
Stress
Obesity
Sex (Gender)--More men have heart attacks, although heart disease is the leading cause of death for American women.
Heart Attack Symptoms
Symptoms of a heart attack include:
Discomfort, pressure, heaviness, or pain in the chest, arm, or below the breastbone
Discomfort radiating to the back, jaw, throat, or arm
Fullness, indigestion, or choking feeling (may feel like heartburn)
Sweating, nausea, vomiting, or dizziness
Extreme weakness, anxiety, or shortness of breath
Rapid or irregular heartbeats
During a heart attack, symptoms last 30 minutes or longer and are not relieved by rest or nitroglycerin under the tongue.
Some people have a heart attack without having any symptoms (a "silent" myocardial infarction). A silent MI can occur in any person, though it is more common among diabetics.
On January Dr. Oz did a show that spoke of Artery Maintenance and we wanted to share his info as this is a very important subject and the link is below
Week #1: Artery Maintenance
With simple additions to your diet and exercise routine, you can keep your arteries clean.
- Add 2 tablespoons of flax seed oil to your breakfast. Flaxseed oil keeps red blood cells from clumping and forming the clots that block arteries.
- Take 2 baby aspirin every night before bed. Make sure to drink a large glass of water. Baby aspirin will helpprevent inflammation, which increases your risk for heart disease. Aspirin keeps blood platelets from clumping and clotting.
- Do 10 minutes of stretching in the morning. Research shows that adults who stretch have 30% less stiffness in their arteries – a key factor in preventing a heart attack. Click here to see some sample stretches.
Week #2: Challenge Your Heart
Getting your heart rate up for a few minutes a day can improve your overall fitness and heart function. Exercise helps to strip away the irritating materials that contribute to artery ruptures.
- Climb stairs for 7 minutes a day.
- Take a brisk 20-minute walk. Studies show walking briskly for 20 minutes a day may lower your risk for a heart attack by 30%.
Resource D.Oz,WebMD, Mayo Clinic
28-Days to Prevent a Heart Attack | The Dr. Oz Show
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