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Cardiovascular diseases have emerged as a global health issue, accounting for 32% of global deaths. Heart attacks and strokes contribute to 85% of all cases. India has seen a 12.5% rise in heart attack cases in 2022. One of the major reasons behind these rising cases of heart attacks is lifestyle issues. We often overlook this aspect unless a medical condition arises. So, stay informed and take proactive measures on how to prevent heart attacks before it gets too late. This blog will walk you through the symptoms of heart blockage, heart tests to determine blockage, and simple steps to prevent heart attacks to live a longer and healthier life.
Synopsis
What is a Heart Attack?
Maintaining heart health is vital for the overall wellness of the body. But a bad lifestyle and other factors cause blockage in the heart muscles, depriving them of oxygen-rich blood and leading to a heart attack. It can be life-threatening if this condition is not treated on time. There can be various factors and medical conditions responsible for heart attacks. One thing that is completely under your control is your lifestyle. Taking simple steps as precautions for heart attack can yield significant results in maintaining heart health and preventing heart attacks. Additionally, it's crucial to recognise the symptoms of heart blockage early, undergo heart tests for confirmation, and seek appropriate heart blockage treatment promptly for better outcomes.
What Causes Heart Attacks?
Recognising the signs and symptoms of a heart attack, often caused by heart blockage, is crucial for prompt medical attention. Common symptoms are:
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Chest pain or discomfort (fullness in the chest or radiating pain in the shoulders, arms, jaw, back, or neck)
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Fatigue and weakness
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Palpitations
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Dizziness
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Sudden loss of consciousness
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Nausea or vomiting
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Cold sweat or turning pale
If you experience any of these symptoms, seek evaluation from our best Cardiologist in Mukundapur for early diagnosis and treatment.
Ways To Prevent Heart Attacks
By making certain lifestyle adjustments and having regular health check-ups, you can reduce the chance of getting a cardiac artery disease or heart attack. Follow these simple and effective steps to keep your heart strong:
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Heart-Healthy Diet: Eating a healthy diet keeps the heart healthy and lowers the risk of issues like diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol levels. Add vegetables, fruits, lean meats, whole grains, low-fat dairy foods, and healthy fats to your diet. Avoid saturated fats, trans fats, sugary beverages, high-sodium meals, and highly processed foods.
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Regular Physical Activity: Exercising regularly keeps you active, controls body weight, and lowers the risk of heart disease and other metabolic conditions. Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise (walking) or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity (running) in a week.
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Maintain a Healthy Weight: Being overweight increases your risk of heart disease, stroke, and many other diseases. Reducing and maintaining a healthy weight by eating a well-balanced diet and exercising regularly helps keep your heart healthy.
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Manage Stress and Get Quality Sleep: Ongoing stress increases the risk of heart disease and other related diseases. Look for healthy ways like relaxation exercises, yoga, deep breathing exercises, and meditation to manage stress. Getting quality sleep at night is important to lower your risk of obesity, diabetes, heart attack, depression, and high blood pressure.
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Quit Smoking: Smoking is a significant risk factor for heart disease and other diseases. If you smoke, quit it today and see the improvement in your health. Also, avoid secondhand smoke to keep your heart healthy.
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Limit Alcohol Consumption: Excessive alcohol intake can lead to high blood pressure and heart failure.
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Regular Health Screening Tests: Regular health checkups help in managing risk factors and detecting diseases at an early stage. High blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes can affect your heart, so manage these conditions by keeping an eye on their levels through regular tests and checkups.
Conclusion
Keeping your heart healthy is crucial for a long and quality life. By understanding heart blockage symptoms, undergoing the necessary heart test for blockage, and adopting a heart-healthy lifestyle, you can significantly lower the risk of heart attacks and other cardiovascular diseases such as heart failure and cardiac artery disease. Implement these simple yet powerful steps to keep your heart strong and resilient. Prevention is the best cure, so seek a consultation with our Cardiology Hospitals in Mukundapur, for regular checkups or the diagnosis and treatment of heart diseases for a better tomorrow. Check our blog page for the latest medical updates.
FAQ's
A heart attack is mainly caused by a complete or partial heart blockage. But there can be various other causes of heart attacks, such as:
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Coronary artery spasm
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Certain infections (COVID-19 and other viral infections)
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Spontaneous coronary artery dissection
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Hypertension
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Diabetes
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Atherosclerosis
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Family history of heart diseases
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Obesity
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High cholesterol levels
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Excessive consumption of alcohol
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Anxiety and stress
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Unhealthy lifestyle
Heart attacks can be life-threatening, so every minute counts. The treatment will depend on your condition and will start immediately. Its treatment options include:
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Balloon Angioplasty and Stenting
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Chronic Total Occlusion Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
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Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting
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Robotic Bypass Surgery
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Thrombolysis
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Medications (aspirin, clot busters, nitroglycerine, other blood-thinning medicines, ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers, morphine, statins)
Seek consultation with our experienced cardiologist for personalised and effective treatment.
It's important to act quickly and calmly when someone is experiencing a heart attack. Follow these steps for handling this emergency and saving a person’s life.
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Call emergency medical services immediately
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Keep the person calm and comfortable by making him sit or lie down
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Administer aspirin if the person is conscious and not allergic to aspirin
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Perform CPR if you know the technique
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Monitor the response and provide support
No, they are not always irreversible; heart conditions can be easily managed with lifestyle changes and appropriate medical treatment. So, focus on prevention and early treatment for better results and to minimise further complications.
To schedule an appointment at Manipal Hospitals, Mukundapur, contact our Cardiology Department or visit our website.
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