When the blood flow to a part of the heart muscle is interrupted due to a blood clot, it results in a heart attack. Also known medically as myocardial infarction, a heart attack is a medical emergency and needs immediate attention. Symptoms include chest pain, shortness of breath, weakness, light headedness, sweating, and anxiety. Coronary heart disease is the major cause of heart attacks.
Some lifestyle factors like smoking, alcohol and a high fat diet can worsen this condition. Being overweight and diabetic can also increase your risk of developing this condition. It is the leading cause of death in people all over the world. Most often, a mild heart attack is a wake up signal and preventive care helps to reduce the chances of getting any attacks in the future. If preventive measures are not taken, a future heart attack can be very severe and life threatening. So, if you are at high risk, or if you really care about your health, you can prevent a heart attack by following these suggestions.
9 Tips On Preventive Measures For Heart Attacks
People who have already had a heart attack should take an aspirin every day. This will help prevent another heart attack in the future. Aspirin is popularly used as a pain reliever, but when given in low doses regularly it helps prevent clotting as it thins your blood. Blood clot prevention is very important as it helps prevent your chances of getting a heart attack. However, too much of aspirin can cause internal bleeding. Hence, it is necessary to consult your doctor regularly when you are on this medication to prevent heart attacks.
Quit Smoking And Tobacco
Smoking or tobacco use can damage your heart and lead to narrowing of the arteries, which increases your risk of getting a heart attack. Your heart has to work harder and your blood pressure levels rise due to smoking. Therefore, it is important to stop smoking completely if you want to prevent a heart attack.
The risk increases with age as the heart gets weaker and smoking causes more damage to the blood vessels. Women who are on pills and have the habit of smoking are also at high risk.
Get Some Regular Exercise
Getting some regular exercise can prevent heart attacks. Physical activity helps you to lose weight and keep fit. Even a small loss of weight can help to lower your blood pressure and cholestrol levels and reduces your risk of getting a heart attack. Your chances of getting diabetes also get reduced by exercising regularly.
All these factors help to prevent the risk of getting a heart attack by keeping your heart healthy. You don’t have to do strenuous exercises; just taking walks, swimming, climbing stairs and gardening, etc, can keep your heart in good health.
Healthy Diet
A healthy diet can help prevent heart attacks, and you must take special precautions if you are at risk of developing one. Eat a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, and low fat dairy that are good for your heart. Fish or fish oil should be consumed regularly to reduce your risk of heart diseases that can lead to heart attacks.
Saturated fats and trans fat increase the risk of heart attacks due to coronary artery disease. Avoid these, and opt for healthy fats from olive and canola oil. Cut out red meat, dairy products, deep fried foods, bakery products and packaged foods.
Moderate Intake Of Alcohol
It is recommended that people with high risk of heart attacks should abstain completely from alcohol. Normally, it is best to avoid alcohol, or have it only in moderation as it raises blood pressure and increases risk of cardiovascular disease, which can lead to a heart attack. This precaution will prevent your chances of getting a heart attack.
Vitamin Supplements To Prevent Heart Attacks
Vitamin E and agents which help lower homocysteine levels such as folate and vitamin B6, play a very important role in prevention of heart disease which can lead to heart attacks. Homocysteine is considered as dangerous as high cholesterol, and vitamin B12 helps to bring down the high homocysteine levels.
You can get these naturally by consuming foods rich in these sources, but if you have a history of heart attack it is better to consult your doctor and take these vitamin supplements regularly.
Reduce Stress
Stress is a major lifestyle problem these days, and plays an important role in causing heart attacks due to anxiety. It can raise blood lipids and increase blood pressure, which may lead to a heart attack. It is advisable to learn how to reduce stress using techniques like deep breathing, yoga and meditation.
Mediation helps to reduce stress and increase blood circulation in the heart. It can reverse arterial thickening and reduce cholesterol. Also, you can try acupuncture which helps to relax the heart muscles and improves blood circulation.
Undergo Preventive Screenings
Preventive health screens will give you information on the risk of your getting a cardiovascular problem. You should get your blood pressure and cholesterol levels checked regularly. These methods are very simple and painless. Your doctor will also ask you to get blood sugar checked and monitored regularly if you have diabetes.
Health screenings are also very important for individuals with a family history of cardiovascular disease and those who are at high risk of developing it as it will help prevent the risk of getting heart attacks.
Use Of Herbs
Herbal medicine provides very effective solutions for maintaining heart health, improving blood circulation, cholesterol reduction, diabetes management, relieving stress, and preventing heart diseases. You can make use of these herbs in consultation with an herbalist, and have them regularly in order to prevent heart attacks.
Some of the useful herbs are bilberry, turmeric, ginger, garlic, gingko, fenugreek, echinacea and goldenseal. These help to make your immune system stronger, and reduce your risk of getting a heart disease that can lead to a heart attack.
Caution: Please use Home Remedies after Proper Research and Guidance. You accept that you are following any advice at your own risk and will properly research or consult healthcare professional.