Heart Attack Symptoms

By Eric Hartwell

Heart disease forms the leading cause of death in the United States – it is even more common than cancer. An estimated one fifth of all deaths in America come as a result of coronary heart disease. Over thirteen million individuals across the nation suffer from coronary heart disease. Every year, over a million people suffer from coronary heart attacks; four out of every ten individuals die from their attacks. Broken down in to temporal statistics, this means that every sixty five seconds, someone in America dies as the result of a coronary heart attack.

Heart attacks are a common form of ischemic heart disease. The World Health Organization estimated in the year 2002 that over twelve percent of all worldwide deaths arose as a result of ischemic heart disease. In developed countries, it is the leading cause of death. In developing countries, however it comes third behind AIDS and lower respiratory infections.

Symptoms of heart attacks include anxiety, a feeling of impending doom, chest pain, sweating, shortness of breath, palpitations, nausea, and vomiting. Oftentimes, heart attack patients will feel sick very suddenly. The symptoms for heart attacks in men are often different from the symptoms in women. Women most often experience fatigue, shortness of breath, and a feeling of weakness. About one third of all heart attacks are silent and do not consist of any chest pain or associated symptoms.

When having a heart attack, immediate treatment options often involve the use of aspirin, oxygen, pain relief, and glycerol trinitrate. The patient is then subjected to numerous diagnostic tests, including chest x-rays, blood tests, and electrocardiograms in which elevated troponin or creatine kinase levels or detected. The patient is then prescribed medications that will break down blood clots that may be blocking the flow of blood to the heart. Or, in more extreme cases, the patient will have to undergo bypass surgery, restoring the blood flow to the blocked coronary artery. Abnormal heart rhythms and other associated complications can be quickly and safely treated in coronary care units.

At risk individuals include middle aged or older people who are smokers, obese, diabetic, overweight, or sedentary. Those who have family histories of heart trouble or high cholesterol should also be on the alert. Ideally, individuals who fit in to this category should receive regular screenings for coronary artery disease from their doctors and receive advice on modifying risk factors, as well as being informed on potential cardiac problems that might arise.

If you suspect that you are having a heart attack, it is vital to act on time to avoid serious consequences. Dial 911 immediately to avoid potential death or permanent disability. Heart attacks are a life threatening situation, and every split second matters. In today’s world, we have the benefit of new and improved treatments and medications for heart attacks and strokes that were not available in the past. Clot busting medications can stop heart attacks in progress and save lives while also reducing the level of potential disability. But in order to be effective, these medications need to be administered immediately – they will not be effective if they are administered too late. This is why it is essential to seek medical treatment as soon as heart attack signs begin to appear.

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Allergies Or Heart Attack?

By Michael Russell

A few years ago a woman started having a wide variety of medical issues. They ranged from a skin condition all the way to classic heart attack signs and symptoms. Her family doctor ran a complete array of tests over a period of months, but never considered the possibility of a heart attack. The doctor’s lack of concern with ruling out any heart problem worried the husband from the first appointment. The end result was all of her medical issues were allergies, lots of allergies to a host of different things. None of the ailments suggested allergies were the cause; either alone or collectively. Why would they?

The lady had been suffering from extremely dry skin with flaking and itching all over, but mostly on her back. She assumed it was from the brand of soap she was using in the shower. Later she began to notice unusual sensations around her mouth and in her throat, but it didn’t seem to last for any length of time. Still later she started to notice she was having stomach problems on a semi-regular basis. She still had no major concerns with her health in general, nor did she have any idea they might be somehow related to a common cause.

After several months she started noticing headaches, something she almost never experienced in the past. Even more time passed and other abnormal conditions developed. Last was the chest pain and pressure, pain radiating down her left arm, shortness of breath and pounding heartbeat. Up to this point she had made little or no mention of any of these issues to her husband. When she started seriously loosing sleep because of the chest pain and related discomforts she informed her husband. The very next day she made an appointment with her family doctor.

After the very first appointment her husband was really concerned because the doctor hadn’t ruled out any heart disease before considering anything else. The doctor ran tests for gall bladder and several other possibilities. Each test meant another follow up with the family doctor and each time nothing showed up. Still no attempt was made by their family doctor to deal with the possible heart problems.

After new problems popped up and the scare with the chest pain continued both the husband and wife decided to change family doctors.

The very first appointment with the new doctor quickly showed the couple they had made the right move by getting a second opinion. The new physician made two appointments for his patient. One appointment was with a dermatologist for the skin problems and one appointment with an allergist.

The dermatologist explained exactly what the course of treatment was going to be and explained that nothing was going to happen until the woman had seen the allergy specialist. He explained everything he was going to do in satisfying detail. Finally the couple felt some relief, all but knowing positive results were just around the corner.

In just a couple of appointments with the allergy doctor, the couple knew exactly what all of the medical problems were a result of and knew what they had to do to avoid repeats of the discomfort.

It seems the list of different things the lady was allergic to was two and a quarter pages long. Almost all of the allergic reactions were different from the next. Some of the allergies were causing the skin dryness. Some were much more dangerous, causing her airway to constrict. The allergy doctor told her that some of the things she was allergic to would close off her airway so rapidly that emergency medical treatment would not be quick enough to save her life. The husband was most relieved by learning that the heart attack signs and symptoms were all allergies too.

It is important to know this woman was age 49 when she demonstrated allergic reactions. Prior to that time, she had no known allergies throughout her lifetime.

In the event that someone you know does have similar medical conditions, insist that the doctor consider allergies as the cause. If the conditions present themselves like a possible heart attack, first insist that all heart issues are ruled out. That should be the doctor’s first focus. Hopefully, simple testing will prove that the heart is healthy. If so, insist the doctor test for allergies. Keep in mind that this lady had lots of medical difficulties and none seemed related. That is because there were lots of different allergies - each producing different symptoms with different levels of severity. It is worth the uncomfortable feeling of pushing the medical professional for the peace of mind you will finally gain.

Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Allergies

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Heart Attack Statistics

By Eric Hartwell

Heart attacks are a common form of ischemic heart disease. The World Health Organization estimated in the year 2002 that over twelve percent of all worldwide deaths arose as a result of ischemic heart disease. In developed countries, it is the leading cause of death. In developing countries, however it comes third behind AIDS and lower respiratory infections.

Heart attacks, known by their medical name of acute myocardial infarction, is a state of disease that involves the interruption of the bloody supply to part of the heart. The result is a shortage of oxygen that can damage the heart tissue and potentially kill. Heart attacks are the leading cause of death all over the world. Major heart attack risk factors include a history of angina or vascular disease, a previous stroke or heart attack, old age, excessive alcohol, the abuse of illegal drugs, smoking, episodes of abnormal heart beat, obesity, high levels of stress, high or low cholesterol, high triglyceride levels, high blood pressure, and diabetes.

Heart disease forms the leading cause of death in the United States – it is even more common than cancer. An estimated one fifth of all deaths in America come as a result of coronary heart disease. Over thirteen million individuals across the nation suffer from coronary heart disease. Every year, over a million people suffer from coronary heart attacks; four out of every ten individuals die from their attacks.

Symptoms of heart attacks include anxiety, a feeling of impending doom, chest pain, sweating, shortness of breath, palpitations, nausea, and vomiting. Oftentimes, heart attack patients will feel sick very suddenly. The symptoms for heart attacks in men are often different from the symptoms in women. Women most often experience fatigue, shortness of breath, and a feeling of weakness. About one third of all heart attacks are silent and do not consist of any chest pain or associated symptoms.

Below, you will find some recent statistics for heart attacks in the United States.

452,327: the number of deaths due to heart attacks in the United States in the year 2004.

20: the percentage of all deaths due to heart attacks in the United States in the year 2004.

1.2 million: the average number of heart attacks that occur each year.

38: the percentage of all those who die from a coronary heart attack.

15.8 million: the number of heart attack patients who survive.

8.9 million: the estimated amount of angina patients in the United States.

400,000: the number of new angina cases each year in the United States.

233,000: the number of women who died from cardiovascular disease each year.

14 million: the number of Americans afflicted with some form of heart disease or angina.

50: the percentage of deaths that occur one hour after a heart attack when not treated.

60 billion: the amount of dollars spent on heart attack treatment and prevention each year.

20: every 20 seconds, a new heart attack occurs somewhere in America.

60: every minute, another heart attack death occurs.

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Lower Risk of Heart Disease by Increasing Your HDL Cholesterol Level

By Connie Limon

The best way to lower your risk of heart disease is to reduce LDL cholesterol and increase HDL cholesterol. Increased risk of coronary artery disease is caused by the bad cholesterol buildup (LDL cholesterol) that forms plaques. These plaques make arteries hard and narrow, which contributes to coronary artery disease.

The good cholesterol (HDL cholesterol) picks up excess cholesterol in your blood and takes it back to your liver for disposal. The higher your HDL cholesterol, the less bad cholesterol you will have in your blood.

If you don’t know your HDL level, ask your doctor for a baseline cholesterol test. You need to think “high” when it comes to HDL cholesterol. Most people should have an HDL level of 60 mg/dL or above. An HDL level below 40 mg/dL increases the risk of heart disease. If your HDL level is not within a desirable range, your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes.

Even the smallest changes to your daily habits can help you meet your HDL target level. Review the following:

• Don’t smoke. Smoking lowers HDL cholesterol (remember you want to think in terms of what will raise your HDL cholesterol levels).

• Maintain a healthy weight. Excess weight lowers HDL cholesterol. If you are overweight, losing just a few pounds can increase your HDL level.

• Get more physical activity. Studies have shown that regular aerobic exercise increases HDL cholesterol. Aim for at least 30 to 60 minutes of aerobic activity on most days of the week, if not every day. If you can’t fit a long workout into your schedule, break it up into smaller sessions spread out through the day.

• Choose healthier fats. You need to include some fat in your diet to be healthy. However, you must choose healthy fats and stay away from the unhealthy choices. Use less saturated fat. Avoid foods that contain trans fat. This includes most margarine, most commercial baked products and anything with partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Monounsaturated fat found in olive, peanut and canola oils is a healthier choice. Nuts, fish and other foods that contain omega-3 fatty acids are other good choices.

• Drink alcohol in moderation. If you already drink some alcohol red wine has been linked with higher levels of HDL cholesterol in some studies. The benefits are not strong enough to recommend red wine to people who do not drink already. If you already drink alcohol, drink in moderation, no more than one drink per day for women and one to two drinks per day for men. There are some medications used to lower LDL cholesterol that may also increase HDL cholesterol. These medications include:

• Niacin

• Fibrates (Lopid and others)

• Stains (Lipitor, Zocor and others)

Researchers continue to study for other medications. In the meanwhile, lifestyle changes will help you to achieve an optimal HDL level. If your doctor prescribes a medication to help control your cholesterol, take it as directed while you incorporate healthy lifestyle habits into your daily routine as well.

Source: Mayo Clinic

Disclaimer: The information in this article is not intended to replace the medical advice of your doctor or health care provider. Please consult your health care provider for advice about specific medical concerns.

Author: Connie Limon. Please visit our collection of Nutrition and Health articles at nutritionandhealthhub.com Articles are available for FREE reprint to your newsletter, website or blog. Please sign up for our weekly nutrition and health tips.

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Reversing Heart Disease - Rewind Your Life Clock

By Michael Haydon

You can play your part in reversing heart disease by simply making some adjustments to your lifestyle. It’s a simple concept but so many people fail to make the small changes that can have such a massive impact in avoiding heart disease. Avoiding key risks can help you not only maintain a healthy heart but also lengthen your life.

When you put it simply, your heart is a pump that feeds blood through your body and all you have to do is make sure the pathways are clear. This means keeping your arteries clear so the flow goes on unimpeded. Blocked arteries lead to heart problems, heart attacks and death. It’s as simple as that. We have all heard this so many times it can often go unheeded, and that is where the real problem lies. If you maintain unclogged arteries you are actually reversing heart disease and, therefore, healing your own heart.

Reversing Heart Disease - Your Action Plan

It’s all a matter of diet and exercise. If you can keep your diet free of dangerous saturated fats and cholesterol, you will be well on the way to reversing heart disease. There is so much information on diets and tips on how to structure a diet comprising elements of the five food groups, that there is no longer an excuse for endangering your health. Some social commentators have suggested that health authorities can do little more in this regard short of forcing people to eat correctly by admitting them to dieting compounds where food is compulsorily healthy. This tongue in cheek assessment is just another way of saying your life s in your own hands. You can play your individual part in reversing heart disease by following the simple dieting rules available everywhere.

How Exercise Helps

Reversing heart disease is easily achieved if you simply get more exercise. With regular exercise, your heart becomes more efficient. The exercise does not have to be a complicated set of routines specially designed by an exercise physiologist. It can be achieved once again by making a few simple changes to the options you take every day. For example, you could walk instead of taking a bus. Take the stairs instead of the elevator, or simply walk around your neighborhood once a day, or just go for a relaxing stroll after dinner.

Surgery – The Last Option

Of course, surgery may be the last resort for reversing heart disease, but in my mind the prospect of surgery should be as great a deterrent as anything you can imagine. Whilst it is something of a comfort to know that surgery can be effective, surely prevention is better than cure. In any case, surgery will only be effective in acute cases and unless the cause is treated then you may face subsequent surgery if you don’t do what we have already suggested. In summary, to be active in reversing heart disease, you have to adopt a twin pronged attack. You just need to diet sensibly and exercise regularly. It’s not the end of the world to do this; in fact it could be the end of your world if you don’t!

Make it your challenge now to do at least one thing every day to get yourself in a strong position where reversing heart disease becomes a natural part of your thinking and lifestyle. Set an example to your friends and family and you’ll bear the boundless fruits of a healthy heart.

Michael is the owner of Your Healthy Heart, the BEST site for healthy heart options and information. You will also find great tips on the best healthy options and action plans for a healthy heart at Your Healthy Heart

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