Heart Disease Signs and Symptoms in Men

Heart disease increases the risk of life-threatening cardiac emergencies like a cardiac arrest or heart attack. The major risk factors include high cholesterol and high blood pressure. Adopting healthy lifestyle measures, such as regular exercise and eating a healthy diet can keep these risk factors in check. Heart disease also is one of the most common health problems faced by people, particularly men. They can reduce their risk of developing serious complications, such as a heart attack by knowing some signs and symptoms.

Heart disease refers to a range of health issues including coronary artery disease, arrhythmias, heart failure, angina and other ticker-related irregularities, infections, and birth abnormalities. The American Heart Association estimates more than 1 in 3 men in the United States get affected by heart disease. A person may have evident, recognizable signs in some cases, it is as possible to develop the disease without experiencing any noticeable symptoms.

Heart Disease Signs in Men:

A man may notice a heart attack or another severe heart-related event as the earliest sign of cardiovascular disease. However, there are often earlier signs and symptoms that one can look for that may help prevent a heart attack, stroke, or other complications of cardiovascular disease.

Arrhythmia Symptoms- Arrhythmias occur when the ticker beats irregularly, or too quickly or slowly. Look for symptoms like fainting or dizziness, heart racing sensation, or ticker beating too slowly or irregularly; chest discomfort or pressure, difficulty catching the breath particularly after moderate exercise such as climbing up stairs; unexplained pain in the jaw, neck or torso.

Symptoms associated with Blood Vessel Problems- Over a period of time, blood vessels can narrow or constrict which can make it difficult for blood to pass through the veins and arteries thus putting greater strain on the ticker when it pumps. Shortness of breath, an irregular heartbeat, chest pain or angina, extreme fatigue and a feeling of pain, numbness, swelling, tingling, coldness, or weakness in the outer extremities are some of the symptoms of narrowing blood vessels.

Heart Attack (Myocardial Infarction) Symptoms- Symptoms include chest pain, a sensation of chest pressure or fullness, unexplained excessive sweating, shortness of breath, nausea, lightheadedness and pain in the arm, neck, jaw, or back. When having an MI, men generally experience a combination of these symptoms.

Difference in Symptoms between Men and Women:

For cardiovascular disease and a myocardial infarction, men and women share many of the same symptoms. But men are more likely to experience the well-known MI symptoms such as crushing chest pain, cold sweat, shortness of breath, pain in the arm, jaw, or back, squeezing or discomfort in the chest and nausea. Talking about women, they are less likely to experience a crushing chest pain and have a higher chance of having symptoms like feeling faint or lightheaded, squeezing on the upper back, pressure or squeezing in the center of the chest and pain in the jaw, neck, or chest. This causes women to ignore their cardiac symptoms as they are less obvious that they relate particularly to the ticker.

Prevention Tips:

1.      Quit smoking

2.      Eat a diet low in processed sugars

3.      Perform at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic exercise a week.

4.      Maintain a healthy weight

5.      Increase the amount of fruits, fiber and vegetables intake

6.      Reduce salt consumption

You cannot predict the occurrence of a sudden cardiac arrest. All you can do is to stay prepared to face such emergencies efficiently. Contribute towards the safety of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest victims by getting CPR trained today. At CPR Louisville, you can either register for a course online or call on 502-804-6132 to sign up

Natural Treatments for Atrial Fibrillation and to Reduce the Symptoms

The heart’s upper chambers can quiver out of rhythm in atrial fibrillation (A-fib) which normally beat in a regular, coordinated rhythm with the heart’s lower chambers that results in an irregular heart rhythm causing symptoms, such as shortness of breath, heart palpitations, weakness, and sometimes a heart murmur. The treatments for A-fib vary based on the symptoms that people experience. When it comes A-fib treatments, always follow your doctor’s advice.

There are several natural treatments and activities that may help to reduce the symptoms and effects of A-fib including yoga, getting adequate sleep, acupuncture and reducing stress. Fatigue, air pollution, caffeine and some over-the-counter, prescription, and recreational drugs are some of the triggers for Atrial Fibrillation.

Yoga- According to a study, yoga practice on a regular basis for 1 hour, 3 days a week has been shown to reduce the number of A-fib episodes. According to researchers, yoga reduces stress and inflammation that damages the ticker as well as reduce a person’s resting heart rate.

Acupuncture- It is the ancient Chinese practice of inserting needles in specific points on the body to manipulate the flow of energy, it may help individuals with A-fib control their heart rates. Although the acupuncture point is associated with controlling heart rhythm abnormalities, but more research is required.

Lifestyle Tips- A condition called sleep apnea is very common in people with A-fib with the most common form being obstructive sleep apnea that causes an individual to stop breathing for brief periods while asleep. It tends to weaken the ticker as the heart has to work harder to compensate for the lost oxygen when a person stops breathing. Snoring, waking up at night with snoring or irregular breathing and having excessive daytime sleepiness are symptoms that suggest that a person could be experiencing sleep apnea. Such an individual should immediately see a doctor or a sleep medicine specialist.

Exercise regularly, eat a healthy diet comprising plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains, avoid alcohol and caffeine intakes in excess, manage and keep your blood pressure in check and manage long-term conditions (high blood pressure, sleep apnea, diabetes, thyroid disease and chronic lung disease) that could contribute to or worsen A-fib.

Avoid these Substances:

1.      Caffeine- Consuming excess amounts of caffeine can potentially trigger episodes of A-fib. About 400 milligrams of caffeine on a daily basis is a safe upper limit for adults which is roughly equivalent to four brewed cups of coffee.

2.      Alcohol- No more than 1 to 2 alcoholic drinks for a man each day and no more than 1 drink per day for women is recommended. No more than 1 alcohol drink per day is recommended for people over 65 years of age.

3.      Do not eat more than four servings of "dark" fish per week which can actually increase the risk for A-fib.

4.      Quit smoking.

Talk to your doctor if you notice that eating certain food or drink is increasing the incidence of irregular heart rhythms.

According to the American Heart Association, individuals with A-fib are five times more likely to have a stroke than someone who does not have a history of heart disease. So, work towards preventing cardiac complications to live a healthy life with A-fib.

Join a CPR course at AHA certified CPR Louisville and contribute towards the safety of cardiac arrest victims. Call CPR Louisville on 502-804-6132 to learn more.

Ensure Good Health of your Ticker with a Plant-based Diet

A plant-based diet can prove to be extremely beneficial for your ticker. You may significantly reduce your odds of getting heart disease/cardiovascular disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes if you’re eating mostly or only fruits, vegetables, nuts, beans, whole grains, and meat substitutes like soy in comparison to a diet that includes a lot more meat.

The three most common types of plant-based diets include Vegan (no animal products such as meat, eggs, or dairy products), Lacto-vegetarian (dairy products are fine, but no meat or eggs), Lacto-ovo-vegetarian (dairy products and eggs are fine, but no meat). You might hear people calling themselves "flexitarians" or "semi-vegetarians," meaning that they occasionally eat meat, poultry, pork, or fish, you might also hear terms like "pescatarian," which means they eat a plant-based diet plus fish.

Tips to Make a Switch:

Switching to a completely new form of diet can be difficult. You can begin by eating more fruits. Cut back on animal products, or completely cut them out depending upon how far you wish to take it. Consult with a dietitian to make sure you are getting the nutrients that you need. Do check on whether you are getting enough iron, calcium, and zinc. Read the label to see how much calcium and Vitamin D you are getting if you decide to switch dairy products with rice milk, nut milk, soy milk, or other plant-based alternatives. Eat beans, lentils, nuts, seeds, quinoa, or tofu to get enough protein without meat. It’s advisable to adhere to your doctor's guidelines about fat, calories, sugar, and salt as it’s possible to get too much of those whether you eat animal products or not.

If you have made up your mind to eat more plant-based foods, rushing to the store and loading all that produce into your cart isn’t the answer as they’ll probably be spoiling in your fridge a week later. When it comes to preparation, get creative- steam, broil, roast, blend, saute. You can either mix up a smoothie, simmer some soup or toss a salad- everything counts. Improve your ticker health by sneaking in extra veggies into salads, soups and casseroles; adding berries and other fruit to whole-grain breakfast cereals, salads and snacks, etc.

According to researchers, eating more fruits, vegetables and whole grains wins.

High Blood Pressure- According to a study, individuals who ate more fruits had a lower risk of developing hypertension. Eating blueberries, apples, pears, raisins and grapes particularly had a beneficial impact on blood pressure.

High Cholesterol- Researchers after reviewing 11 different studies came to the conclusion that plant-based diets helped people significantly improve both their cholesterol level and weight.

Cardiovascular Disease- Researchers after compiling the findings of 95 different studies concluded that eating more fruits and vegetables daily reduces the risk of heart disease.

Chronic Heart Disease- A large study conducted by researchers found that individuals who ate more vegetables had a smaller risk of chronic heart disease; in fact, the more veggies they ate, the more their risk went down.

According to the American Heart Association, cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 killer of Americans. Use the natural preventive power of plant-based foods to protect your ticker from hurt. Heart disease also increases the risk of heart attack or cardiac arrest. Get CPR trained to efficiently handle cardiac emergencies.

CPR Louisville conducts CPR classes for healthcare as well as non-healthcare providers. For more information, call on 502-804-6132.

Facts about Coronary Artery Disease and Heart Attack Symptoms in Women

A heart attack is a serious cardiac event during which, blood flow to the heart muscle is blocked, which is most commonly due to coronary artery disease. It is coronary artery disease (CAD), also called atherosclerosis that causes most heart attacks (myocardial infarction- MI). Atherosclerosis is when gradual build-up of fatty streaks (plaque) form in the coronary arteries that deliver oxygenated blood to the heart muscle which narrows the arteries that stiffens over time. It becomes more difficult for oxygenated blood to reach the heart muscle with narrowing of the arteries, sometimes causing pain and discomfort known as angina. There may be formation of a blood clot if a piece of plaque cracks, which can block a coronary artery thus cutting off the blood supply to a part of the heart muscle leading to a heart attack.

CAD Cause:

Our coronary arteries usually have smooth healthy walls when we are young. As we grow old, the inner lining of our coronary arteries comes under attack from risk factors like toxins from cigarette smoke, mechanical injury from high blood pressure, high cholesterol or blood sugar from a diet high in saturated fats and sugars, and lack of exercise which start a chain of events that lead to the build-up of fatty streaks in our coronary arteries.

Risk Factors of CAD:

There are modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors that are known to increase our risk of CAD with some non-modifiable risk factors being age, ethnicity, gender, personal or family history of heart attack or stroke. Modifiable risk factors include smoking, high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure, obesity, physical inactivity, poor nutrition and poor mental health and wellbeing.

Recurrence of Heart Attack:

You are at risk of having another one if you’ve already experienced a heart attack. Many individuals do not recognize their next heart attack as it may seem a bit different to the first one. If you think you may be having a myocardial infarction and you’ve already had one:

1.      Just stop and take rest.

2.      Take angina medication. Even after that if the symptoms haven’t been relieved within 10 minutes or if the symptoms are severe and worsening, dial 911 and ask for an ambulance. Take an aspirin if instructed and is available.

Preventing Another Heart Attack:

Making a few healthy choices can lower your risk of having another event. Some risk factors of CAD are within your power to change like smoking, high cholesterol, diabetes, high blood pressure, etc. Making changes to your risk factors can slow or stop the damage to your arteries and lower your risk of having another life-threatening event. Quit smoking, take your medications as prescribed, make heart healthy eating choices, exercise regularly and maintain a healthy weight.

Heart Attacks in Women:

Although heart attacks are often perceived to be a man's problem, but women are as susceptible. The causes of MI in women is the same as it is in men. Myocardial infarction symptoms in women may not be the crushing chest pain as with men as they are more likely than men to experience a heart attack without chest pain or discomfort. Being a woman, if you experience any of these symptoms, you may be having a heart attack:

1.      Heaviness, tightness, pressure, discomfort/pain in chest, shoulder, jaw, arm, neck, upper back, abdominal.

2.      You may also experience sweating, nausea, vomiting, or indigestion, shortness of breath, dizziness, pain that comes and goes and unusual fatigue.

It’s important to remember that everyone experiences different MI symptoms (not only male or female), symptoms of a subsequent MI may be different from the first. The treatment for MI in women is the same as it is for men.

To sign up for a CPR course at CPR Louisville, either register online or call on 502-804-6132. Contribute towards the safety of cardiac arrest victims by learning the life-saving CPR procedure.