Heart attack
The heart is like the engine of the human body. Just like a car
loses mechanical power to move when the engine is switched off, the same
happens to the body when the heart shuts down, and death occurs within
minutes as oxygen is cut off from cells and tissues. From the moment the
heart of a foetus in the womb begins to beat, it continues to do so for
life, even if the person lives as long as Methuselah. But in some
instances, the heart can suddenly stop beating as a result of what
doctors call heart attack.
A heart attack happens when the flow of oxygenated blood (i.e.
blood rich in oxygen) to a section of heart muscle suddenly becomes
blocked and the heart can’t get oxygen. If blood flow isn’t restored
quickly, the section of heart muscle begins to die.
In most cases, what causes heart attack is coronary heart disease
(CHD). It is also called coronary artery disease. CHD is a condition in
which a waxy substance called plaque builds up inside the coronary
arteries, leading to a condition called atherosclerosis. These arteries
supply oxygenated blood to the heart. The buildup of plaque occurs over
many years.
Eventually, an area of plaque can rupture (break open) inside of an
artery. This causes a blood clot to form on the plaque’s surface. If
the clot becomes large enough, it can mostly or completely block blood
flow through a coronary artery.
If the blockage isn’t treated quickly, the portion of heart muscle
fed by the artery begins to die. Healthy heart tissue is replaced with
scar tissue. This heart damage may not be obvious, or it may cause
severe or long-lasting problems.
Heart attack is a life a life-threatening emergency that has often
resulted in death. It all too often happens so fast without prior
warning or at best the person may feel an early sign, which the victim
terribly misinterprets and dismisses as a minor transient incident.
Surprisingly, a number of ordinary things have been identified as possible causes of heart attack. Please on…
1. Lack of sleep
You’ll feel grumpy and tired if you don’t get enough sleep on a
regular basis, but it can raise your risk of a heart attack, too. In one
study, researchers found that people who usually slept fewer than 6
hours a night were twice as likely to have a heart attack as those who
slept 6 to 8. Doctors aren’t sure exactly why this is, but they do know
that losing sleep can raise your blood pressure and lead to
inflammation. Neither of those is good for your heart.
2. Migraine headaches
People who get these are more likely to have a heart attack later
in life than those who don’t. And ones that include auras – strange
sights, sounds, or feelings that start before the headache hits – seem
to have a stronger link to heart problems.
3. Cold weather
It’s a shock to the system. Being outside in the winter months can
cause your arteries to narrow, making it harder for blood to reach your
heart. On top of that, your heart has to work harder to keep your body
warm. If you’re concerned about it, play it smart in cold temperatures,
and limit heavy physical activity, like snow shoveling.
4. Air pollution and car exhaust
Heart attacks are more common when air pollution levels are high.
People who breathe dirty air on a regular basis are more likely to have
clogged arteries and heart disease. Sitting in traffic may be especially
dangerous, because it can combine car fumes with anger or frustration.
5. A big, heavy meal
Think twice before going back for seconds or thirds – it may hurt
more than your waistline. When you eat large amounts of food in one
sitting, it leads to higher levels of the stress hormone norepinephrine
in your body. That can raise your blood pressure and heart rate, and it
may trigger heart attacks in some people. Very fatty meals can also
cause a sud- den jump in a kind of fat in your blood, and that may
temporarily damage some blood vessels as well.
6. Strong emotions, whether negative or positive
Anger, grief, and stress are known triggers of heart problems, but
joyful events can sometimes lead to a heart attack as well. It can be
triggered by the kind of emotions that go along with a surprise birthday
party, a wedding, or the birth of a grandchild.
7. Sudden or intense exertion
Getting in shape will protect your heart in the long run, but doing
too much could be dangerous. About six per cent of heart attacks are
triggered by extreme physical effort. And while you’ve probably heard
that exercise is a good way to relieve stress, it’s especially important
not to overdo it when you’re angry or upset.
8. A cold or the flu
When your immune system fights off a bug, it can cause inflammation
that can damage your heart and arteries. In one study, people with
respiratory infections were twice as likely to have a heart attack. But
their risk level went back to normal after they’d been clear of the
infection a few weeks. Heart attack rates are also higher during flu
outbreaks – another good reason to get your flu shot.
9. Asthma
Your chances of having a heart attack go up about 70 per cent if
you have this lung disease. Even if you use an inhaler to keep it under
control, your risk is still higher than normal. Because of your asthma,
you also may tend to ignore chest tightness, which can be an early sign
of a heart attack. Doctors don’t know if breathing problems trigger
heart attacks or if they simply have a common cause: inflammation.
10. Getting out of bed in the morning
Heart attacks are more common in the morning. Your brain floods
your body with hormones to help you wake up, and that puts some extra
stress on your heart. You may also be dehydrated after a long sleep,
which can make your heart work harder, too.
11. Natural or manmade disasters
Studies have shown that heart attack rates go up after major
disasters like earthquakes or terrorist attacks. And not just
immediately following them, but even up to a few years later. You may
not be able to avoid these kinds of situations, but you can do things to
manage your stress afterward, like make sure you get enough rest and
exercise.
12. S*x
Like many forms of exercise, s*xual activity has been linked to an
increase in heart attack risk. But it’s a very small one, especially if
you’re physically fit and in good health. For most people, s*x can and
should be an important – and healthy – part of life. But talk to your
doctor if you have concerns.
13. Spectator sports
Playing sports can possibly trigger a heart attack – and watching
them can, too. In 2006, heart attacks in Germany spiked during the
national team’s World Cup soccer games. And after the 1980 Super Bowl,
fatal heart attacks were up in Los Angeles after the Rams lost. But they
were down after the 1984 Super Bowl, when the L.A. Raiders won.
Again, on September 12, 2009, at the Dan Anyiam Stadium in Owerri,
the Imo State capital, a staunch fan of Heartland Football Club, (name
withheld by us) suffered heart attack when the club scored a goal just
before the end of the match. The tension-soaked match between the
beloved home team and T.P Mazembe Club was so important for Heartland FC
as a loss would have knocked it out of the chase for the continental
trophy.To make matters worse, TP Mazembe scored first early in the
match, thus cancelling the away goal scored against it by Heartland in
the first encounter. So Heartland fans were on edge as their team fought
hard to forestall more goals by the hard-fighting Mazembe team. So when
Heartland scored at the last minute and thereby knocked out the
opponents on points aggregate, the fan screamed “goooaaal…”, then he
slumped. It took more than 30 minutes to get him out of the overcrowded
stadium and another 45 minutes or more before doctors at the Federal
Medical Centre, Owerri could attend to him. By then he was already in
coma. He died three days later.
14. Alcohol
A drink a day seems to help protect your heart against disease, but
heavy drinking may do just the opposite. Over time, that can raise your
blood pressure, increase certain kinds of bad cholesterol, and lead to
weight gain – all of which can hurt your heart. There also can be
short-term consequences: A single night of binge drinking can raise your
risk of heart attack over the next week, according to one study.
15. Coffee
Just like alcohol, coffee has its pluses and minuses. Caffeine
makes your blood pressure go up for a short time, and that can trigger
an attack, especially if you don’t drink it regularly or are at risk for
other reasons. Overall, though, coffee seems to be good for your heart.
People who have 3 to 5 cups a day tend to have less plaque in their
arteries – and that’s a good thing.
***
Source: Sun News
0 comments:
Post a Comment