Prevention
Making lifestyle changes is the most effective way to prevent having a heart attack (or having another heart attack). There are three main steps you can take to help prevent a heart attack (as well as stroke): eat a healthy, balanced diet avoid smoking try to keep your blood pressure at a healthy level Diet Eating an unhealthy diet high in fat will make your atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) worse and increase your risk of heart attack. Continuing to eat high-fat foods will cause more fatty plaques to build up in your arteries. This is because fatty foods contain cholesterol. There are two main types of cholesterol: low-density lipoprotein (LDL) this is mostly made up of fat plus a small amount of protein; this type of cholesterol can block your arteries, so it is often referred to as "bad cholesterol" high-density lipoprotein (HDL) this is mostly made up of protein plus a small amount of fat; this type of cholesterol can reduce deposits in your arteries, sois often referred to as "good cholesterol" There are also two types of fat saturated and unsaturated. Avoid foods containing high levels of saturated fat, as theyincrease levels of bad cholesterol in your blood. Foods high in saturated fat include: meat pies sausages and fatty cuts of meat butter ghee (a type of butter often used in Indian cooking) lard cream hard cheese cakes and biscuits foods that contain coconut or palm oil Eating a small amount of unsaturated fat will increase the level of good cholesterol and help reduce any blockage in your arteries. Foods high in unsaturated fat include: oily fish avocados nuts and seeds sunflower, rapeseed and olive oil If you decide to stop smoking, your GP will be able to refer you to an NHS Stop Smoking Service , which will provide dedicated help and advice about the best ways to quit. You can also call the NHS Smoking Helpline on 0300 123 104 (England only). Specially trained helpline staff will offer free expert advice and encouragement. If you are committed to quitting but do not want to be referred to a stop smoking service, your GP should be able to prescribe medical treatment to help with withdrawal symptoms you may experience. For more information about giving up smoking, read our stop smoking page. High blood pressure Persistent high blood pressure can put your arteries and heart under extra strain, increasing your risk of a heart attack. High blood pressure can often be reduced by a healthy diet, moderating your intake of alcohol, maintaining a healthy weight and taking regular exercise. Diet The dietary advice above also applies if you have high blood pressure. In addition, cut down on the amount of salt in your food and eat plenty of fruit and vegetables. Salt raises your blood pressure. The more salt you eat, the higher your blood pressure. You should aim to eat less than 6g (0.2oz) of salt a day, which is about a teaspoonful. Find out how to cut down on salt . Eating a low-fat diet that includes lots of fibre such as wholegrain rice, bread and pasta and plenty of fruit and vegetables, has been proven to help lower blood pressure. Fruit and vegetables are full of vitamins, minerals and fibre, and help keep your body in good condition. You should aim to eat five 80g portions of fruit and vegetables every day. men and women are advised not to regularly drink more than 14 units a week spread your drinking over three days or more if you drink as much as 14 units a week Being overweight will also increase your blood pressure. Find out how many calories are in popular drinks . Weight Being overweight forces your heart to work harder to pump blood around your body, which can raise your blood pressure. Find out if you need to lose weight with the BMI healthy weight calculator . If you do need to shed some weight, it is worth remembering that losing just a few pounds will make a big difference to your blood pressure and overall health. Get tips on losing weight safely . Exercise Being active and taking regular exercise will lower your blood pressure by keeping your heart and blood vessels in good condition. Regular exercise can also help youlose weight, which will help lower your blood pressure. Low-impact activities such as walking, swimming and cycling are recommended. More strenuous activities, such as playing football and squash, may not be recommended. Check with the doctor in charge of your care. For tips, read our pages on walking for health , swimming for fitness and the benefits of cycling . It is pumped around the body by the heart. Cholesterol Cholesterol is a fatty substance made by the body that lives in blood and tissue. It is used to make bile acid, hormones and vitamin D. Heart The heart is a muscular organ that pumps blood around the body. Heart attack A heart attack happens when there is a blockage in one of the arteries in the heart. High blood pressure Hypertension (high blood pressure) is when the pressure of the blood in your bloodstream is regularly above 140/90 mmHG. Lungs Lungs are a pair of organs in the chest that control breathing. They remove carbon dioxide from the blood and replace it with oxygen. Obese Obesity is when a person has an abnormally high amount of body fat.
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Articles for myocardial infarction
A heart attack (myocardial infarction or MI) is a serious medical emergency in which the supply of blood to the heart is suddenly blocked, usually by a blood clot.
Read about symptoms of a heart attacks, including chest pain, shortness of breath, feeling and being sick, and anxiety
Heart attacks are caused by the blood supply to the heart being suddenly interrupted, usually by a blood clot
If a heart attack is suspected, you should be admitted to hospital immediately. You will usually be admitted to an acute cardiac care unit (ACCU) so the diagnosis can be confirmed and treatment begin.
Read about treating a heart attacks, including an ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI)
Read about complications of a heart attack. Complications of a heart attack can vary widely, from mild to life threatening.
Read about recovering from a heart attack. Recovery can take several months, and it's very important not to rush your rehabilitation
Making lifestyle changes is the most effective way to prevent having a heart attack (or having another heart attack).
Mike Smith has had three heart attacks. As he nears 60 and enjoys life to the full, he explains how the attacks affected him.
After a heart attack Debbie Siddons was too scared to pick up her 18-month-old baby. Rehabilitation helped her move on.
Following a heart attack, a quick diagnosis and emergency treatment saved Lynn Connors life.
Doctor enquires about breathing because patients often exhibit respiratory issues to the point of passing out. Doctor immediately recommends an EcG. Through the EcG, one determine the positioning of the ischemia, the degree of heart muscle involved in the ischemia.
Infarct is an ischemic necrosis of the myocardis, which comes as a consequence of the acute insufficiency of the coronary arteries. This comes as a consequence of the obstruction of coronary muscle blood vessels by a thrombus.
The most common symptom is chest pain or discomfort that may travel into the shoulder, arm, back, neck, or jaw. Often it is in the center or left side of the chest and lasts for more than a few minutes.
Complications that might occur are: cardiogenic shock; progressive cardiogenic shock; septal rupture, rhythm disruptions; pericarditis, thromboembolism, left ventricle aneurysm.
Some of the risk factors of myocardial infarction include: hypertonic disease, disruptions in the metabolism of lipids, obesity, inherited hypercholesterolemia, biliary problems, age (above 50 years old), etc.
Pre-hospital treatment is very important, due to its crucial involvement in preserving and potentially saving the patient’s life.
Aiding and transporting the patient to the hospital immediately hold primary importance in saving the patient’s life.