7/26/2009
Sunday, July 26 (Benjamin Rose Institute ) -- Cleveland, OH
Your heart is an amazing organ. It’s about the size of your fist and sits in the middle of your chest. Three times every minute the hard working heart pumps 6 quarts of blood throughout your body. Over a lifetime that’s about 1 million barrels of blood.
Most people don’t pay much attention to their heart until something goes wrong with it -- like a heart attack.
HEART DISEASE FACTS
Heart disease is a major cause of death in the United States. More than 80 percent of people who die of a heart attack are 65 or older. Older men are more likely to suffer a heart attack than older women although older women are more likely to die from it sooner than men. If you have a parent with heart disease you are at greater risk of developing heart-related illnesses yourself.
WARNING SIGNS OF A HEART ATTACK
- Common signs of heart attacks in men and women include:
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Pressure, fullness, discomfort in the center of the chest
- Pain radiating to the shoulders, back, neck, arms or jaw
- Pounding heartbeats or extra heartbeats
- Sweating, nausea, vomiting, indigestion
- Dizziness, weakness, lightheadedness
- Sudden extreme fatigue or panic
- Abdominal pain.
However women may have only a few of these symptoms and may not experience chest pain at all.
WHAT CAUSES HEART ATTACKS?
Heart attacks happen when the arteries that supply the heart with blood become blocked with fatty deposits called plaque. Over time these plaques rupture and cause blood clots to form. The clots block the artery and prevent it from supplying the heart muscle with oxygen. Without prompt treatment to remove or dissolve the clots, parts of the heart muscle begin die and are replaced by scar tissue. When a damaged heart can no longer pump blood effectively, irregular heartbeats develop that can lead to heart failure and death.
HEART DISEASE RISK FACTORS
Some heart attack risks can’t be changed although they can be reduced. At greater risk are people with a family history of heart disease, African Americans, Mexican Americans, American Indians, native Hawaiians, and some Asian Americans.
STOP A HEART ATTACK IN ITS TRACKS!
The good news is that the risk of having a heart attack can be reduced. If you older parent has a family history of heart disease both of you should have regular medical checkups to detect and treat the disease in its early stages.
Changing lifestyles and habits can significantly reduce the chances of having a heart attack for your family member – and for you. Join your older parent to:
- Stop smoking. Smokers’ risk of heart disease is 2 to 4 times greater than nonsmokers. Exposure to “second hand smoke” also increases heart attack risk.
- Lower blood cholesterol and blood pressure.
- Control diabetes by keeping blood sugar levels as normal as possible
- Get some exercise – every day. Even moderate walking can help control blood sugar and cholesterol levels, blood pressure and weight.
- Manage stress
- Reduce alcohol drinking
- Lose weight if your relative is overweight
Schedule regular appointments with your parent’s doctor to monitor your parent’s heart health, check weight and blood pressure and determine if any additional medical or lifestyle changes should be made. A variety of medications are available to reduce the risk of future heart attacks.
HEART ATTACK – IT’S A FAMILY AFFAIR
Caregivers are important helping an older relative prevent heart attack and recognizing heart attack signs and symptoms so he or she receives prompt medical attention. Families can also encourage him or her make important lifestyle changes to help prevent future heart attacks. You’ll also find that many of these prevention strategies can also benefit your own health!
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