heart

Heart Attack Warning Signs

There are several warning signs to indicate that one is having a heart attack. Moreover, the signs may be different for men and women.

Understanding the warning signs is critical in getting help quickly. What are the heart attack warning signs?

It may begin with discomfort in the chest such as pressure or pain. One may also experience pain in the back, jaw, stomach, or in one or both arms. The heart attack may cause shortness of breath or perhaps sweating, dizziness, and nausea. These symptoms usually occur in men.

In women, while chest pain is one signal, shortness of breath, back or jaw pain, and nausea accompanied by vomiting may also be clear warning signs they are having a heart attack.

Unfortunately, in some individuals, the symptoms may appear and then disappear suddenly. The pain may be attributed to indigestion or heartburn. Some may even think the pain is caused by undue stress.

In addition, there are other signals that may be altogether different from one person to another. Although chest pain is the common denominating factor, there may be other signs including profuse sweating, a feeling of fatigue, stomach pain, headache or toothache.

But the most alarming statistic is that some heart attacks are silent - that is, there are no symptoms that are generally associated with a heart attack and the individual may feel fine one moment and go into cardiac arrest the next. This is considered the most serious type of heart attack.

Heart attacks can be life-threatening and therefore it is vital for anyone who displays any of these symptoms to seek emergency care immediately. This cannot be stressed enough. There have been cases where a person with one or more of these symptoms, albeit mild in nature, goes to the hospital and has a heart attack as he or she is being tested.

If you or a family member complains about chest pain or shows any of the aforementioned signs, take them to the hospital and/or call for assistance immediately. The longer one waits, the higher the chances of permanent damage to the heart.

Tags: heart attack warning signs, heart attack

Heart Health - The Benefits of Walking

While the combination of diet and exercise is important to maintain a healthy body, it is exercise that offers the most bang for its buck because it is conducive to an individual’s overall well-being.

When a person is stressed, blood pressure rises, headaches can occur, and fatigue sets in. Walking is perhaps the best form of exercise that can not only reduce stress and lower blood pressure, but also release endorphins which exhilarate the mind and help bring you into a balanced state.

Many people who are health-conscious may join gyms or purchase expensive equipment for home use. However, there is one type of exercise which is completely free, and that is walking. You can engage in walking anytime of the day, for as little or as long as you wish.

How many times have you been sitting at your desk at work and felt so stressed that it has caused back pain and other symptoms? If you took a walk at this point, even around the block, the blood pressure would decrease and you, in essence, would have “cleared your mind.” The stress would no longer be felt and you could go back to your desk and continue with your work uninhibited.

Imagine, then, if you walked for thirty minutes a day - the results would reveal that your cholesterol decreased significantly, the blood pressure lowered, and you felt revitalized and clear of mind. More importantly, this form of exercise substantially reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Statistics show that more adults today live a more sedentary lifestyle than ever before. Thus, obesity has become a pandemic in our society and with it comes the increased risk of heart disease, stroke, and other illnesses.

If you have high cholesterol, one of the things your doctor may request is a blood test every three months to monitor the HDL (good cholesterol) and LDL (bad cholesterol), as well as the triglycerides (the fat contained in your body). While your LDL may be low, it is the HDL and triglycerides that are of the biggest concern.

Why? A high triglyceride level of 200 or more would indicate that you lack physical exercise and may be overweight. In addition, the blood test may show that your HDL is below 50, which is considered the normal range. The only way to increase the HDL and lower the triglycerides is through physical exercise.

In fact, if your doctor shows you the blood test report, and the aforementioned results are indicated, the report will also state that you are at high risk for cardiovascular disease.

In order to decrease the risk, walking is not only recommended but necessary. If you are not currently engaged in any physical activity, now is the time. Start slowly and work your way up. No one is saying you have to run a marathon, but if you want to avoid future health problems associated with your heart, walking is the first step. 

Tags: heart health, benefits of walking, ldl, cholesterol