What is Heart Attack?

Heart attack is a serious complication of heart disease affected by atherosclerosis (atherosclerotic plaque). The plaque consists of fat accumulated over the years over the walls of the blood vessels. Mostly heart attack is from the obstruction due to thrombosis in the blood vessels.

Presentation of heart attack:

The symptoms are pain in chest. It is mostly there behind the chest bone and may radiate to the left arms, left forearm and to the left hand or may radiate to the chin, back, stomach and accompanied by sweating. There may be crushing pain of the chest or burning in the chest accompanied by anxiety. In few patients the symptoms may go unrecognised mostly in diabetics. This is called silent heart attack. There may be other symptoms such as fainting, stomach ache, nausea , vomiting and dizziness. Whatever may be the case immediate referral to the heart specialist or hospital is necessary.

Role of Cholesterol

Saturated fat leads to build up if cholesterol in body. Hence one should eat less of fats. Cholesterol are of 2 types good and bad cholesterol. Good cholesterol is high density lipoprotein (HDL). Bad cholesterol is low density lipoprotein and very low density lipoprotein as well as saturated fatty acids. One should eat foods containing more of HDL and less of LDL and VLDL.

Dietary precautions

Eat less fried food. Eat more of raw fruits. Garlic in diet decreases blood cholesterol. Eat more fish as compared to meat as fish contain omega-3 fatty acids and decrease blood pressure and contribute to healthy heart. Eat low fat dairy products like cow milk, butter milk and avoid high fat dairy products like buffalo milk, and cheese. If you want to eat meat, remove all visible fat from it. Eat low salt diet example avoid papad and pickles. Do not take stress.

Exercise

Exercises helps to keep heart diseases in check. It helps by lowering your blood pressure and cholesterol. Preferably join a gymnasium. If gymnasium is not your cup of tea simple jogging, walking, or running can do wonders. Exercise atleast half an hour daily.

Medicines for heart

If you are on medication, please take it regularly and do not change unless advised by your physician. Medication in heart disease particularly include those that decrease blood pressure and cholesterol.

Stress

Stress leads to increase in mineralocorticoids and leads to increase in heart rate and breathing rate.It decrease our immunity and makes us vulnerable to lot of diseases which further increase stress. Less of stress less of heart diseases and more of healthy life.