Be Heart Healthy

By Medical Expert Team

Apr 09 , 2014 | 1 min read

Every 36 seconds, one person dies from heart disease. Therefore, it's imperative to learn all you can about heart health. What causes a heart attack? It occurs when the blood flow to a part of the heart is blocked, often by a blood clot.

This happens because coronary arteries that supply the heart with blood slowly become thicker and harder from a build-up of fat, cholesterol and other substances called plaque.

If the plaque breaks open and a blood clot is formed that blocks the blood flow, a heart attack occurs. Here are some of the symptoms of a heart attack: Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, or pain in the centre of your chest. It lasts more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back.Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, your back, neck, jaw or stomach Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort You or someone you know has chest discomfort, especially with one or more of the above signs, don't wait more than five minutes before calling for help. Call the emergency medical services (EMS) in your area or get to a hospital immediately. Check out the best heart hospital in Delhi.

How can I recover from it? You may only be in the hospital for a few days but your recovery involves making changes in your daily life. Start by modifying your lifestyle to reduce your risk of having another heart attack.

Don't smoke, and avoid inhaling second hand smoke as well Maintain a healthy diet that's low in saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol and salt Exercise at least 30 minutes on most or all days of the week. Aim to keep your weight in the normal range Take your medicines as prescribed and control your blood sugar if you have diabetes Talk with your doctor about what physical activity you should be indulging in and avoiding altogether Joining a cardiac rehabilitation programme can help too.