In the US, heart attacks are the top reason for death among people. It has been seen that those who more than 65 years are a higher risk compared to others. While the risk of getting a heart attack is high among men and women, steps can be taken to prevent one.
If you are interested in learning how to prevent a heart attack, you should first educate yourself on the symptoms of a heart attack. Knowing the symptoms will allow you to get immediate medical attention without delay and this could make all the difference between dying and surviving.
Some of the common symptoms of a heart attack are severe pain in the chest, fast pulse rate, shortness of breath, swelling of the ankles and feet, cold sweat, pain in the arm, jaw, neck or back, feeling very tired for no reason, having a bluish tinge on the skin, and becoming unconscious.
However, it must be pointed out that in some people the obvious symptoms of heart attacks do not occur. Also, the symptoms of the first attack could be very different from the second one.
Some of the steps in how to prevent a heart attack include the following:
- First of all, make sure that you have your blood pressure under control. This is especially true for people suffering from high blood pressure. If you have elevated pressure, take your medication diligently and also change your eating habits and lifestyle to bring down the pressure.
- Eat healthy, so that you keep your cholesterol levels low. LDL cholesterol is one of the causes that leads to a heart attack. So, stick to a low fat diet and exercise regularly to help check blood cholesterol levels. Also, if the doctor prescribes medication, make sure you take it without fail.
- Diabetes is another worrisome health condition that can lead to heart attacks. So, people who are diabetic should take steps to keep their blood sugar under check.
- Rather than eating junk food and gorging yourself on fat-laden food, stick to a heart healthy diet. This means eating food like whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, fish, lean meat, low fat dairy products and poultry. Eat food on time and refrain from snacking in between meals.
- Stop being a couch potato and begin to exercise regularly. This is one the most important measures in preventing a heart attack. It is recommended that you exercise for a minimum of 30 minutes five times in a week. Exercise can be in the form of walking, jogging, aerobic, playing squash, swimming or anything thing else that lets you sweat and burn calories. This way you will also keep your weight down and maintain a good body mass index.
- If you are a smoker, quit smoking. This can help to reduce the chances of getting a heart attack by nearly fifty percent. If you cannot give up smoking on your own, then seek professional help.
- Learn to manage stress and anger. Good heart health depends on this and this, in turn, ensures that you do not get a heart attack. Find activities and social circles that can help you cope with your stress and anxiety.
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