Heart Attack and Healthy Diet
Heart-attack is a leading killer of both men and women in the United States. But fortunately, today there are excellent treatments for heart-attack that can save lives and prevent disabilities. Treatment is most effective when started within 1 hour of the beginning of symptoms. If you think you or someone you’re with is having a heart-attack, call 9–1–1 right away. Overview Heart attacks occur most often as a result of a condition called coronary artery(CAD). In CAD, a fatty material called plaque (plak) builds up over many years on the inside walls of the coronary arteries (the arteries that supply blood and oxygen to your heart). Eventually, an area of plaque can rupture, causing a blood clot to form on the surface of the plaque. If the clot becomes large enough, it can mostly or completely block the flow of oxygen-rich blood to the part of the heart muscle fed by the artery. Heart With Muscle Damage and a Blocked Artery
Figure B is a cross-section of the coronary artery with plaque buildup and a blood clot. During a heart-attack, if the blockage in the coronary artery isn’t treated quickly, the heart muscle will begin to die and be replaced by scar tissue. This heart damage may not be obvious, or it may cause severe or long-lasting problems. Severe problems linked to heart-attack can include heart failure and life-threatening arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats). Heart failure is a condition in which the heart can’t pump enough blood throughout the body. Ventricular fibrillation is a serious arrhythmia that can cause death if not treated quickly. Get Help Quickly Acting fast at the first sign of heart-attack symptoms can save your life and limit damage to your heart. Treatment is most effective when started within 1 hour of the beginning of symptoms. The most common heart-attack signs and symptoms are: •Chest discomfort or pain—uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain in the center of the chest that can be mild or strong. This discomfort or pain lasts more than a few minutes or goes away and comes back. •Upper body discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach. •Shortness of breath may occur with or before chest discomfort. •Other signs include nausea (feeling sick to your stomach), vomiting, lightheadedness or fainting, or breaking out in a cold sweat. If you think you or someone you know may be having a heart attack: •Call 911 within a few minutes—5 at the most of the start of symptoms. •If your symptoms stop completely in less than 5 minutes, still call your doctor. •Only take an ambulance to the hospital. Going in a private car can delay treatment. •Take a nitroglycerin pill if your doctor has prescribed this type of medicine. Outlook Each year, about 1.1 million people in the United States have heart attacks, and almost half of them die. CAD, which often results in a heart-attack, is the leading killer of both men and women in the United States. Many more people could recover from heart attacks if they got help faster. Of the people who die from heart attacks, about half die within an hour of the first symptoms and before they reach the hospital. What Is Heart Failure? Heart failure is a condition in which the heart can’t pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs. In some cases, the heart can’t fill with enough blood. In other cases, the heart can’t pump blood to the rest of the body with enough force. Some people have both problems. The term "heart failure" doesn’t mean that your heart has stopped or is about to stop working. However, heart failure is a serious condition that requires medical care. Overview Heart failure develops over time as the heart’s pumping action grows weaker. The condition can affect the right side of the heart only, or it can affect both sides of the heart. Most cases involve both sides of the heart. Right-side heart failure occurs if the heart can’t pump enough blood to the lungs to pick up oxygen. Left-side heart failure occurs if the heart can’t pump enough oxygen-rich blood to the rest of the body. Right-side heart failure may cause fluid to build up in the feet, ankles, legs, liver, abdomen, and the veins in the neck. Right-side and left-side heart failure also may cause shortness of breath and fatigue (tiredness). The leading causes of heart failure are diseases that damage the heart. These include coronary heart disease (CHD), also called coronary artery disease; high blood pressure; and diabetes. Outlook Heart failure is a very common condition. About 5.7 million people in the United States have heart failure, and it results in about 300,000 deaths each year. Both children and adults can have heart failure, although the symptoms and treatments differ. This article focuses on heart failure in adults. Currently, heart failure has no cure. However, treatments—such as medicines and lifestyle changes—can help people live longer and more active lives. Researchers continue to study new ways to treat heart failure and its complications.
What should you eat after a heart attack is the question very often repeated. After suffering from a heart attack the best recommendation is a diet of fruits and vegetables. Their antioxidant action reduces necrosis (cellular death) in heart muscle. The cause of this attack can also be reversed as per an investigation in California (USA). After a year of heart healthy diet, there is a 10% reduction of the narrowing of the coronary arteries.
Eat at least five portions of fresh fruits daily. Eat at least one fresh vegetable salad a day dressed with olive or seed oil. Perform physical exercise for at least 30 minutes three times a week. Eat a minimum of two or three portions of legumes a week Eat whole grain bread and pasta instead of white bread and refined pasta. Reduce salt and sugar consumption. Avoid tobacco and coffee as much as possible. NOTE: A diet based on fruits, oil-bearing nuts, vegetables, legumes and whole grains simply prepared gives the best results for heart attack prevention. Fruits and vegetables must form the base of a heart-healthy diet. This has been demonstrated by numerous studies carried out around the world. The mediterranean Cuisine is mostly recommended.
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