Facts about your Heart

Your heart sits inside the rib cage in your lower chest, slightly left of center, and it is about the size of a clenched fist.
It is a muscle that pumps blood around your body carrying oxygen and nutrients to your vital organs, keeping you alive and healthy.
Your heart can beat up to 100,000 times a day.

According to the World Health Organization, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death globally – more people die from cardiovascular disease annually than from any other cause.

There are many different heart conditions that a person could have – some are inherited and some develop over time due to lifestyle or aging. Some are passed on through families (hereditary), but most are avoidable.

The best way to reduce your risk is to keep your heart healthy and make the right lifestyle choices.

Heart Attack

A heart attack is a medical emergency. It happens when the blood supply to the heart is blocked, usually by a blood clot. A heart attack is sudden and can be fatal. It is crucial to seek medical attention immediately.

As we get older, our artery walls can become damaged and narrow due to the build-up of fatty material called plaque. This plaque can result in clots forming, blocking the path of blood to the heart. In cases where the artery is blocked completely a heart attack will occur.

Warning Symptoms of a Heart Attack

Chest pain is the most common symptom of a heart attack but some people experience others symptoms. These symptoms can come on suddenly or develop over minutes. The symptoms can occur on their own or together and last for at least 10 minutes, getting progressively worse. Stay alert to the symptoms, especially if you are known to be at risk for cardiovascular disease.

Heart attack symptoms: Men vs Women

As per the American Heart Association, the most common symptom of a heart attack for both men and women is chest pain. Women may experience less obvious warning symptoms

Heart attack symptoms in Men

  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Jaw, neck or upper back pain
  • Squeezing chest pressure or pain
  • Shortness of breath

Heart attack symptom in Women

  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Jaw, neck or upper back pain
  • Chest pain, but not always
  • Pain or pressure in the lower chest or upper abdomen
  • Shortness of breath
  • Fainting
  • Indigestion
  • Extreme fatigue

Heart Attack Risk Factors

  • Smoking
  • High blood pressure
  • Diabetes
  • Physical inactivity
  • High blood cholesterol
  • Family history
  • Age
  • Gender

Click here to download (Heart Attack symptoms: Men vs Women)

Ways to Avoid or Reduce the Risk of Having a Heart Attack

  • Avoid smoking and avoid second-hand smoking
  • Seek medical help for high blood pressure
  • Consume food that are low in saturated fat, trans fats, sodium (salt) and processed sugar
  • Be physically active
  • Maintain a healthy weight
  • Manage blood sugar for diabetic patients
  • Get regular medical check-ups
  • Take medication as prescribed

A Heart Attack Can Happen At Any Time To Anyone. If You Suspect a Heart Attack Don’t Delay Call 998

Click Here to Download (Heart Attack Risk Factors and Prevention)

What to Do If You or Someone Is Having a Heart Attack

  • Call 998 for an ambulance
  • Sit and rest until the ambulance arrives
  • Chew and swallow an aspirin while waiting for the emergency response service to arrive. Aspirin helps keep your blood from clotting. When taken during a heart attack, it could reduce heart damage. Don’t take aspirin if you are allergic to it or have been told by your doctor never to take aspirin.

Remember: Time is Muscle; the faster someone having a heart attack receives treatment, the less damage there will be to the heart muscle, which deteriorates the longer the blood flow is interrupted. It is important to know the warning symptoms of a heart attack and to act fast.