Heart Attack

                                    What Is a Heart Attack?

Every 36 seconds, someone dies from heart and blood vessel diseases, America’s No. 1 killer.

Since most of those deaths are from coronary heart disease — about 452,000 each year — it’s

important to learn all you can about heart attack.Don’t ignore heart problems. It’s a matter of life and death!

For example, you should know the warning signs     

so you can get help right away, either for yourself

or someone close to you. Acting quickly can save

many, many lives!

Some heart attacks are sudden and intense. But

most start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort.

Here are some of the signs that can mean a heart

attack is happening:

• Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or

pain in the center of your chest. It lasts more

than a few minutes, or goes away and comes

back.

• Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, your

 back, neck, jaw or stomach.

• Shortness of breath with or without chest        

  discomfort.

•  Other signs such as breaking out in a cold

sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.

If you or someone you’re with has chest

discomfort, especially with one or more of the

other signs, don’t wait more than five minutes

before calling for help. Call 9-1-1 or the

emergency medical services (EMS) in your area

(fire department or ambulance). Get to a hospital

right away.

                What causes heart attack?

  A coronary attack (heart attack) occurs when the blood flow to a part of the heart 

is blocked (often by a blood clot). This happens because coronary arteries that supply 

the heart with blood slowly become thicker and harder from a buildup of fat,

cholesterol and other substances, called plaque. If the plaque breaks open and a blood clot forms that blocks the blood flow, a heart attack occurs.Then the heart muscle supplied by that artery begins to die. Damage increases the longer an artery stays blocked. Once that muscle dies, the result is permanentheart damage.

                                              How can I recover?

                                                           

Depending on the extent of your heart attack, you may only be in the hospital a few days. But your

recovery is just beginning.

•  Start making changes in your life now to reduce your risk of having another heart attack. Eat healthful meals, be more physically active, and if you smoke, quit.

•  Talk with your doctor and nurses about how you can live as normal a life as possible. Ask how soon you can go back to work, drive a car, have sex, and what to do if you have chest discomfort. They can answer your questions about other matters, too.

• Join a cardiac rehabilitation program in your area.

                                                         

 How can I avoid a heart attack?

Even if you have heart disease, there’s a lot you can do to improve your heart’s health.

Ask your doctor or nurse for help. Together, you can set goals to reduce the things that raise your risk of heart attack.

• Don’t smoke, and avoid other people’s tobacco smoke.

• Treat high blood pressure, if you have it.

• Eat a healthy diet that’s low in saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol and salt.

• Exercise at least 30 minutes on most or all days of the week.

• Keep your weight in the normal range.

• See your doctor for regular check-ups.

• Take your medicines exactly as prescribed.

• Control your blood sugar if you have diabetes.