Heart attacks and cardiac arrest can negatively impact your life or kill you. To keep your health in check, this article teaches all you need to know about preventing heart attacks.
Why Should You Care About Heart Attacks and Cardiac Arrest?
There is a common misconception that a heart attack or cardiac arrest is an issue you should only worry about when you age. However, heart problems are very common in younger men. Statistically, heart disease is the most common killer of men between the ages of 35 and 44, only second to accidents such as car crashes. In men 45 to 54 years old, it tops the list.
The American Heart Association also recommends that people begin heart disease prevention by age 20. In the long run, the odds are almost one in three that you die due to cardiovascular disease.
What Are Heart Attacks and Cardiac Arrests?
A heart attack usually occurs when a blood clot restricts blood flow to the heart. On the other hand, a cardiac arrest happens when the heart stops beating suddenly. The lack of blood flow to the brain and other organs can make the affected person become disabled, lose consciousness, or die if not treated immediately.
How Can You Prevent A Heart Attack or Cardiac Arrest?
If you want to avoid a heart attack or cardiac arrest, the goal is to limit plaque buildup in your arteries, which can lead to atherosclerosis. You can do the following to avoid this buildup:
● Eat the right foods, i.e., preferably a diet high in fruits and vegetables and low in unhealthy fats.
● Exercise for at least 30 minutes most days of the week.
● Avoid smoking as smokers are 2 to 4 times more likely to develop coronary artery plaque.
● Lose weight
● Reduce emotional stress
Your doctor might also recommend medications such as statins to reduce your risk of heart attack or stroke based on your general health and risk factors. He might also suggest you use blood thinners, which are drugs that reduce your blood’s potential to clot.
Conclusion
A heart attack can lead to multiple issues later in life, such as strokes and cardiac arrest. You could also face many years of suffering and disability before dying. While there are effective treatments for even the most severe heart conditions, it’s in your best interest to take preventive steps to stop things from getting to that point.
