HEALTH: Causes Of Heart Attack!

                                  

It is so pathetic that most people suffer from heart attack without knowing the cause. Though factors like lifestyle and environmental factors account for this,  Some equally do not know the solution to the problem. 

First before we talk about the causes of a heart attack, we need to first understand what a heart attack is.

What Is A Heart Attack?

According to medical news: “Heart attack is the death of a segment of heart muscle caused by

the loss of blood supply. The blood supply is usually lost because a coronary artery, one that supplies blood to the heart muscle, has a blood clot, a blockage (coronary thrombosis).”

So basically, a heart attack happens when blood flow to the heart artery is cut out from reaching the heart.

Now what could lead one to suffer a heart attack, In other words what are the causes.

The Causes of Heart Attack

There are factors that contribute to the unwanted build up of fatty deposits or cholesterol along the blood vessels that supply blood to the heart. When this happens, there is a narrowing of the arteries throughout the body, and this build up of fatty tissues, if not controlled, could block the arteries and stop blood flow to the heart, and when this happens, a heart attack occurs.

You can actually eliminate the chances of a heart attack from happening if you understand the risk factors or the causes.

Here are some of those causes…

1. Tobacco Smoking 
Smoking and long term exposure to second hand smoking could increase your chances of having a heart attack. Second hand smoking refers to the effect of smoking on people who don’t smoke, but are always around those who smoke.

For example, a father who smokes, could harm himself and his children, and wife if they are always inhaling the fumes from his smoke around the house.

2. High Blood Pressure 
High blood pressure can damage the arteries that feed blood to the heart overtime, and this happens because fatty build of tissues
along the walls of the artery may continue if not checked.

3. Lack of Physical Activity 
If you are the type that have a sedentary job, this could cause you to have a high level of blood cholesterol and obesity. And obesity contributes to the build of fatty tissues along the walls of the artery, this could increase your risk of having a heart attack.

People who exercise like 2 – 3 times per week decrease their overall risk of having a heart attack because by virtue of their workouts, they build a strong heart muscle, burn some of these fatty build up along the arteries, and becomes more fit. Additionally, regular exercise helps in lowering high blood pressure.

4. People Living With DiabetesInsulin, is a hormone secreted by the body which helps to manage the presence of sugar in body. When you have diabetes, it means your body is not producing enough insulin or it is not responding to the presence of insulin, and this causes the blood sugar level to rise.

Consequent effect is the poisoning of the blood from toxic or acidic substances resulting from excessive high blood sugar levels, and this could cause the gradual build of tissues along the walls of the blood vessels and increases the chance of a heart attack.

5. ObesityBeing overweight could cause high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, and diabetes. Research studies says that loosing just 10% of your body mass could lower your risk of a heart attack.

That means if you weigh 100kg, losing just 10kg alone could lower your risk of a heart attack. The more reason why you should endeavour to lose weight.

6. The Use of Illegal DrugsThe use of stimulants like cocaine, amphetamines, could trigger a spasm of your coronary arteries which could cause a heart attack.

7. StressStress is one thing a lot of people look down on. But in reality, having Stress could cause more damage to your body than you realize. People who have been severely stressed at the work have always had health problems and this could increase your chance of a heart attack anytime.

8. Advancing AgeThe chance of having a heart attack also increases with age.  For men, at the age of 45 and above, most men are more likely to have a heart attack if the above risk factors are not taken care of. And for women, from the age of 55 and above.

Other factors include…

• Family history of heart attacks
• High blood cholesterol
• A history of rheumatoid arthritis

Now, what are some of the symptoms of a heart attack. In other words, how do you know that you or someone around you is about to suffer a heart attack?

Some Symptoms of a Heart Attack 

• Shortness of breath
• Pain in the chest, or a squeezing or aching sensation in your chest which is accompanied with a pain in your left arm (your heart is at left side of your chest).
• The feeling of sudden dizziness or light headedness
• Having a sudden cold sweat
• Sudden exhaustion
• Heart burn, indigestion, abdominal pain or nausea.

Some heart attack strike suddenly, however in the majority of cases there are symptoms which precede the attack. These symptoms are warnings and they happen hours before the attack, days or weeks in advance.

Most times, the earliest warning signs may be recurrent chest pain (angina), triggered by exertion and relieved by rest. Angina is caused by a temporary decrease in blood flow to the heart.

In the case of the death of my dear cousin, he did not realize or understand the warning sign of a heart attack hours earlier before the attack.

And that is why knowledge of the symptoms of a heart attack is vitally important because it can happen to you or someone you know.

What To Do If You Suspect A Heart Attack

If you suspect you or someone around you is having a symptom of a heart attack, act without delay. Ask someone to drive you to the nearest hospital.  Drive only when there is no option because driving yourself puts you and others at risk.

If you can get to the hospital on time, it could save your life or the person who you suspect is about to have an attack.

Prevention Is Always Better Cure

There are preventive measures that could be taken to avoid any of the health problems we have today.

And one of those preventive measures is learning how to live a healthy life.

And if you are obese and wish to trim down and avoid any risk of heart attack or related illnesses that obesity brings like diabetes and high blood pressure, then take steps to get the weight down.