World Heart Day is celebrated every year on 29 September to remind us that at least 80% of premature deaths from cardiovascular disease (CVD) could be avoided if the four main risk factors – tobacco use, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity and the harmful use of alcohol – are controlled.

Other risk factors for CVD include high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, stress, high cholesterol or being born with a heart condition.

Any disease of the heart, vascular disease of the brain or disease of the blood vessels is known as a cardiovascular disease. The most prevalent cardiovascular diseases include coronary heart disease (eg heart attack) and cerebrovascular disease (eg stroke).

Heart attack warning signs

Some heart attacks are sudden and intense — the “movie heart attack,” where no one doubts what’s happening. But most heart attacks start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort. Often people affected aren’t sure what’s wrong and wait too long before getting help. Here are signs that can mean you’re having a heart attack:

    • Chest discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the centre of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain
    • Discomfort in other areas of the upper body. Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, your back, neck, jaw or stomach
    • Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort
    • Other signs may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or light-headedness.

Heart attacks often manifest differently in women than in men. As with men, women’s most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort, but women are more likely than men to experience some of the other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea or vomiting and back or jaw pain.

The best way to survive a heart attack is to get to hospital within one to four hours, and (provided you’re not on blood-thinner medication) chew (not swallow) an aspirin while waiting.

Stroke warning signs

A stroke is a medical emergency. If experiencing any of these signs, which could come and go, seek medical attention immediately:

    • Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body. Smile to check for one-sided facial weakness; raise both arms to check if both are the same height to check for muscle weakness; say something such as “don’t cry over spilled milk” to check for slurring of speech
    • Sudden confusion
    • Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
    • Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
    • Sudden severe headache with no known cause.

Treatment

An early diagnosis and treatment of CVD can improve the quality and length of your life. Treatment usually involves taking medications, reducing sodium in your diet and being physically active for at least 30 minutes every day. Monitor your symptoms each day so that you can discuss these symptoms with your doctor.

 

Sources
www.cdc.gov
www.webmd
www.world-heart-federation.org