Preventing a Heart Attack

The prevalence of coronary heart disease is high and the incidence is increasing, especially in the early thirties and forties, the peak life period of achievement. The increasing incidence indicates that the causes are largely man-made, and therefore, preventable. The risk factors include over caloric diet, high blood cholesterol, emotional tempo and stress, lack of exercise, smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure and heredity.

The seeds of this disease are sown before the age of twenty, when habits of eating, exercise and smoking are formed. The ever flowing blood fat during circulation starts depositing on the inner wall of the artery. This grows gradually, till it reaches a stage where it is severe enough to produce symptoms of heart trouble.

In order to prevent these deposits from forming, you must start early. This is called primary prevention. The important factors are diet, exercise and avoidance of smoking. Heredity and other factors cannot be remedied, but can be minimized by taking care of these factors.

Secondary prevention is the best. These are important to stall the deterioration once some layers have started to form. These include modifying the tempo and strain of living, stoppage of smoking, proper treatment of blood pressure and diabetes, control of obesity, control of blood pressure if high, regular, but light to moderate exercise.

You must remember that too much physical strain might not be good for the heart, since it may not be able to cope with it. This may even precipitate a heart attack.

You should also care for the risk factors. General care for these include maintaining the body weight at a near ideal level by following rules for dieting. Smoking and tobacco in all forms must be stopped. Avoid sudden forms of exertion, but engage in regular exercise.

Learn to relax and moderate everything. This is most important, since people who are given such advice tend to believe that they have to abstain from everything and will have no pleasures left in life. The key is being able to balance everything. Once you start living a quality life, you will then realise that there is, in fact, much more to enjoy.