Olorun ma je : Heart attack
- p31health
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
Heart attack - also known as Myocardial Infarction
What is it?
The heart is basically a pump (a very important pump).
It is made of muscle and that muscle also needs its own good supply of blood to be able to work well. In a heart attack, something has happened to block part of this blood supply and the heart muscle starts to be affected and parts of the muscle can die.
How to recognise it?
The symptoms can vary from person to person but some typical ones are:
• Chest pain, usually felt in the centre of the chest or maybe to the left side
• The pain may spread up into the jaw or down the arm (typically the left arm)
• Palpitations - feeling like your heart if thumping or beating irregularly
• Shortness of breath
• Feeling like something very bad is about to happen - some call it the 'feeling of impending doom'.
What to do?
Get emergency help. Do not drive yourself anywhere. Call for emergency services if available or if not, someone to take you straight to hospital. Time is of the essence, the longer you leave it, the more chance more heart muscle will die and the more chance of poorer recovery. A heart attack can also lead to cardiac arrest.
How to prevent it
Yes, we can do something to help ourselves and lower the risk of having an MI.
Don't smoke. If you are smoking, STOP!
Having a healthy weight
Exercise - at least 150 minutes of moderate activity exercise a week.
Cut down on alcohol
Healthy diet - low salt, at least 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day (more about this in another post!)
If you have Diabetes, - try ensure this is well controlled
If you have Hypertension - try ensure this is well controlled.
I hope to go into more detail about general healthy lifestyle in another post, so, watch this space.
Useful resources
Disclaimer: All my posts aim to provide general health information and are not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult a healthcare provider for personal health concerns.