Key Facts of Heart Health – 8 Things you Must Know

November 23, 2021 Team 0 Comments

Do you know that heart disease is the number one killer in the world today? The most common cause of heart disease is known as coronary artery disease. Prevention is always better then the cure, even if it is at the Dr Rudd Cardiology. We all know about the golden rules that keep our heart healthy, namely eating right, read eat a fiber-full diet low on saturated fat, no smoking, getting regular exercise and maintaining optimum weight levels. Well, you know all that, but what are the points you do not know? It is time for you to find out and take stock of your health. Let us delve deep into some interesting facts of heart health.

  1. The death rates from Heart Diseases are actually dropping.

The past 40 years have seen a remarkable change in the health scenario with raising awareness the deaths from heart disease has dropped by 60%. Yes, increased awareness has got something to do with it and also the treatment options are so much better now. People now know all about the lifestyle changes they ought to make to prevent the onset of chronic diseases such as heart disease, people are less into smoking, they are adding the right foods into their diet and exercising a lot more, in other words, they are taking steps to get out of the sedentary mold. However, it is still the number one cause for death and people should continue to be vigilant of the tell-tale signs of heart disease and also know how we can keep our heart strong.

  1. The warning signs of heart disease, most people are unaware of that.

The consequence of heart disease is preventable if we are only aware of some of the symptoms. Most people consider chest pain as the only sign of heart disease. But there are other symptoms too such as the following,

  • Shortness of breath
  • Breaking into a cold sweat
  • Nausea
  • Experience of pain in the stomach, jaw, neck, arms or back.

Remember if you spot the signs, in you or someone else, you must be extremely proactive and call an emergency at the Dr Rudd Cardiology or wherever you reside with immediate effect. There is a particular section of people who are more susceptible to heart diseases such as the elderly, diabetics, and women. They can experience symptoms such as sudden weakness, shortness of breath, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting and heart palpitations and all these without the signs of any chest discomfort.

  1. Aspirin at the right time can keep the heart clots away

It’s a fact! If you swallow an aspirin at the beginning of a heart attack, it can help prevent further damage. If you feel any of the symptoms mentioned above call the doctor first or heart hospital or other cities and the next thing you can do is chew one 325-milligram aspirin as you wait for medical help to come to your aid. Most heart attacks result from a clot formation when the plaque breaks off in an artery that supplies blood to your heart. Aspirin helps with the clots. Some studies show that chewing the pill is more effective than swallowing the pill.

  1. Beware of Monday Mornings

Heart attacks have a penchant of happening at specific times and you’ll be surprised to know they are more common on Monday mornings. Also, it is more common in the fall and winter. This fact is mentioned in the journal Circulation Research published in 2010. The study also found that the incidence of morning heart attacks is more prevalent and it is definitely very serious. Researchers reiterate that the period of sleeping and waking up is the most crucial. It is said that the Circadian rhythm or the body’s internal clock, has a significant role to play in this.

  1. Healthy blood vessels are important for a healthy heart

Have you heard about a condition called Atherosclerosis? This is a condition where the arteries harden and become narrow with time. An elevated lipid profile, especially high cholesterol and plaque formation owing to fatty substances build-up has a key role to play. High blood pressure may also affect the arteries, which leads to atherosclerosis. The two ways of combating the same are reducing your cholesterol levels and bringing your blood pressure levels to an optimal range.

  1. Salt is particularly bad for your heart

Salt
Too much salt is bad for your heart health as it has the tendency to increase your blood pressure levels. Ideally, adults must consume no more than 6 g of salt per day and that is why we must steer clear of packaged foods that contain way too much salt for our good. Also, ensure you exercise caution while you add salt to your everyday home-cooked meals as well. Avoid packaged foods such as bread, cereal, chips, and other ready-made stuff.

  1. Uncontrolled diabetes can lead to an unhealthy heart

Controlling your diabetes levels can thus help in preventing heart disease. When your sugar levels go haywire it leads to the thickening of the arteries and restricts the blood flow to the heart. It may not always be easy to lower your risk of developing diabetes, as it is linked to genetic factors. However, in the case of type 2 diabetes, you can significantly reduce your risk by maintaining an optimum weight.

  1. Quality Exercise can prevent heart disease

How to guard against heart disease? The best way to do so is certainly to incorporate a regular exercise regime. Exercise is instrumental in lowering your blood pressure and cholesterol levels and boosts the health of your circulatory system.

According to the NHS, adults must ideally aim for 150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercises such as walking, jogging, and running and so on. Also, strength training for at least two or more days a week plays a significant role in maintaining heart health. The idea is to move more and sit less which we forget to do as we mostly have desk-bound jobs, nowadays.

Key Facts of Heart Health – 8 Things you Must Know was last modified: November 23rd, 2021 by Team