Listen to Your Heart

Don't Ignore These Heart Attack Signs

While you might be concerned for another’s heart at this time, take a moment to consider your own! I mean this literally.

Heart disease is a leading cause of death in the UK. Take a moment to familiarize yourself with the signs of heart attack and how to put yourself at less risk. Your loved ones need your heart working just as much as you need it to love them!

What exactly is a Heart Attack? We hear about the threat of heart attacks often, so often that we might be desensitized from it. A heart attack occurs when the blood flow to a part of the heart is blocked, often caused by a blood clot.

The blood flow is blocked when coronary arteries that supply the heart with blood slowly become thicker and harder from build-ups of fat, cholesterol, or plaque. When a clot occurs, or the blood flow is completely restricted, a heart attack occurs causing the heart muscle supplied by that blocked artery begins to die. Damage to the heart increases the longer the artery stays blocked.

Good to Read: Do self-care the right way with these easy tips. There are some major risk factors of heart attacks that just can’t be changed. For example, aging. The majority of people who die of coronary heart disease are 65 or older.

Men are also at a greater risk of heart attacks and have higher rates of experiencing them earlier in life. This makes having knowledge about the signs of a heart attack very important for everyone! There are also, major risk factors that can be controlled or modified. Prime examples of this are smokers.

A smoker’s risk of developing coronary heart disease is much higher than that of a non-smoker and has an increased risk of sudden cardiac death. High cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, and body weight should also be monitored to help keep risk down. If you are over 40, start talking to your doctor about the early signs of heart attack

you should specifically be on the lookout for!

Acupressure for a Healthy Heart! Add some Acupressure into the mix by applying firm pressure for 1-3 minutes to the following Acupressure points: Point #1: Locate the reflexology point in the palm of your left hand; right between your ring finger and little finger, it is just inside the base of the bone of your little finger. Press the point using your thumb for 30 seconds to 1 minute; it’s like giving your heart an actual massage! Point #2: This point is located on your heart meridian and is located at the round bone at the base of your palm, like where you would find your pulse. Use your thumb to press inwards and apply pressure in a circular motion.

Signs of heart attack - Listen to what it is Trying to Tell You

Know the signs that you are having a heart attack! This might seem silly, as it is easy to assume you would automatically know that you are experiencing a heart attack, however scary to hear this, that is not always the reality.

Knowing the early warning signs of heart attack is critical for prompt treatment. Many heart attacks start slowly and you might not even know it is happening.

Even a person who has experienced a heart attack could have different symptoms a second time around. Chest discomfort: Chest pain is the most common symptom of a heart attack, although it does not necessarily need to be a present symptom. This can be in the form of pain, pressure, fullness and/or a squeezing sensation in the chest.

The pain or discomfort can last for more than a few moments or go away and then return. The sensation is also known to travel to other parts of the body such as down the arms, the back, or to the head and neck. The pain most often extends on the left side of the body. Jaw pain, toothache, and headache: Women are more likely to have other symptoms such as these listed above. It is also possible to have these types of pains without experiencing any chest discomfort. Shortness of breath: Feeling short of breath or like you are gasping for air are common symptoms, medically known as dyspnea.

This shortness of breath may occur before or during the possible chest pain symptom of a heart attack. Nausea/Vomiting: This is a less common symptom however; some patients have described feelings of indigestion associated with a heart attack.

Women are also most likely to report these symptoms and some patients have described the feeling as though they were developing the flu. Sweating: Perspiring often accompanies a heart attack. Many people describe it as feeling like they are breaking out in a cold sweat. Always play on the safe side and if you are experiencing chest pain, or a combination of the above signs, seek medical help RIGHT AWAY!

Preventatives:

Stop Smoking
Engage in physical activity
Maintain a healthy weight
Control blood pressure and cholesterol
Control blood sugar
See a doctor who can analyse your risk

Super foods for your heart: Looking for a nice valentine’s dinner? Use a combination of the following foods to impress your loved one and both your hearts! Salmon Blueberries Dark chocolate Soy Potatoes Tomatoes Avocado Legumes (beans, lentils and peas) Olive Oil Red Wine