Complications arising from heart attacks can be serious and possibly life-threatening. The older you are the more likely you are to experience serious complications following a heart attack.
A heart attack is a medical emergency. A heart attack usually occurs when a blood clot blocks blood flow to the heart. Without blood, tissues lose oxygen and die.
Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) or Ischaemic Heart Disease is a leading cause of heart attack. It is a condition in which coronary arteries (major blood vessels supplying the heart with blood) get clogged up with deposits of cholesterol. These deposits are called plaques.
Signs to watch out for
Heart attack is often not a sudden occurrence though in many people, it strikes suddenly, but more often than not, people have warning signs and symptoms sometimes for hours, days or weeks in advance.
Nigeria records more than 1.5 million cases of coronary heart disease per year according to report from Google. You or someone near you may be having a heart attack if they experience any of the following symptoms: tightness or pain in the chest, neck, back or arms, as well as fatigue, light-headedness, sweating, an overwhelming feeling of anxiety which may or may not include an unusual awareness of a racing heartbeat.
Women are more likely to have atypical symptoms than men.
Treatment of a heart attack will depend on how much blockage has occurred within the ‘coronary’ arteries supplying the heart and how much damage to the heart muscle has occurred as a result.
Treatment ranges from lifestyle changes and cardiac rehabilitation to medication, stents and bypass surgery.
How to prevent heart attack
According to the World Health Organisation, the following are key ways to protect heart health and could help reduce your risk of having a heart attack or having another heart attack.
WHO warns says tobacco use, an unhealthy diet, and physical inactivity increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
Engaging in physical activity for at least 30 minutes every day of the week will help to prevent heart attacks.
Eating at least five servings of fruit and vegetables a day, and limiting your salt intake to less than one teaspoon a day, also helps to prevent heart attack.
Having your blood pressure checked and knowing the number to avoid sudden attack. If it is high, you will need to change your lifestyle to incorporate a healthy diet with less salt intake and may need medications to control your blood pressure.
Know your blood sugar, raised blood glucose (diabetes) increases the risk of heart attacks if you have diabetes it is very important to control your blood pressure and blood sugar to minimize the risk.
However, experts say that the longer the delay in starting treatment, the greater the likelihood of a poor outcome after a heart attacks.
ANTHONIA OBOKOH
