The Pulse

Welcome to The Pulse. An online health and wellness journal created to bring readers a comprehensive view into today's most important topics. We hope you enjoy The Pulse and that the informaton you find here will lead to a healthier life for you, your friends and family.

Know the signs of a heart attack so you can act fast to get treatment.

Signs of a heart attack include chest pain that may also spread to the back, shoulders, arms, neck, or jaw. You may have other symptoms such as shortness of breath, nausea, sweating, or dizziness. Symptoms vary, and some people have no symptoms.

How Can I Prevent a Heart Attack?

Most heart attacks are caused by coronary artery disease (CAD). You can help prevent a heart attack by knowing about your risk factors for CAD and heart attack and taking action to lower your risks. You can lower your risk of having a heart attack, even if you have already had a heart attack or are told that your chances of having a heart attack are high. To prevent a heart attack, you will most likely need to make lifestyle changes. You may also need to get treatment for conditions that raise your risk.

What Is a Heart Attack?

A heart attack occurs when the supply of blood and oxygen to an area of heart muscle is blocked, usually by a clot in a coronary artery. Often, this blockage leads to arrhythmias (irregular heartbeat or rhythm) that cause a severe decrease in the pumping function of the heart and may bring about sudden death. If the blockage is not treated within a few hours, the affected heart muscle will die and be replaced by scar tissue. A heart attack is a life-threatening event. Everyone should know the warning signs of a heart attack and how to get emergency help. Many people suffer permanent damage to their hearts or die because they do not get help immediately. Each year, more than a million persons in the U.S. have a heart attack and about half (515,000) of them die. About one-half of those who die do so within 1 hour of the start of symptoms and before reaching the hospital.

What Makes a Heart Attack More Likely?

Certain factors make it more likely that you will develop CAD and have a heart attack. These are called risk factors. Risk factors you cannot change include:
Your age, Men: over age 45, Women: over age 55. Having a family history of early heart disease. Heart disease diagnosed in father or brother before age 55. Heart disease diagnosed in mother or sister before age 65. Having a personal history of CAD. Angina. A previous heart attack. A surgical procedure (angioplasty, heart bypass) to increase blood flow to your heart.

Risk factors that you can change include:
Smoking. High blood pressure. High blood cholesterol Obesity. Being physically inactive. Diabetes (high blood sugar).

Making Lifestyle Changes

You can lower your risk for CAD and a heart attack by making healthy lifestyle choices:
* Eat a healthy diet to prevent or reduce high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol, and maintain a healthy weight
* If you smoke, quit
* Exercise as directed by your doctor
* Lose weight if you are overweight or obese

I found out how high my risk for a heart attack was after surviving my first heart attack 2 years ago.

All the warning signs were there for me had I known how to recognize them I could have decreased my risk. The information is readily available from reliable sources like Gold Bamboo. Don't wait until you have sharp chest pains to begin to understand what makes your heart tick.

Testing for Heart Health.

Echocardiogram. In this test, ultrasound is used to make an image of your heart that can be seen on a video monitor. It shows how well the heart is filling with blood and pumping it to the rest of the body.

Exercise stress test. This test shows how well your heart pumps at higher workloads when it needs more oxygen. EKG and blood pressure readings are taken before, during, and after exercise to see how your heart responds to exercise. The first EKG and blood pressure reading are done to get a baseline. Readings are then taken while you walk on an exercise treadmill or pedal a stationary bicycle. The test continues until you reach a heart rate set by your doctor. The exercise part is stopped if chest pain or a very sharp rise in blood pressure occurs. Monitoring continues for 10 to 15 minutes after exercise or until your heart rate returns to baseline.

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February is Heart Health month and a great opportunity to learn more about one of the most important organs in your body. We have selected articles from inside Gold Bamboo that can help you achive optimum heart health. From understanding the warning signs, family histories, and cholesterol levels to the imortance of a balanced diet and regular exercise.

Get to know your heart inside and out. Knowledge and understanding lead to better quality of life.

Education, counseling, and training to help you understand your heart condition and find ways to reduce your risk of future heart problems. The cardiac rehab team will help you learn how to cope with the stress of adjusting to a new lifestyle and to deal with your fears about the future. Select the link below for more information on cardiac rehab:
"Recovering from Heart Problems Through Cardiac Rehabilitation: Patient Guide," from the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Quality and Research.

Coronary heart disease

Coronary heart disease (CHD), also called coronary artery disease (CAD) and atherosclerotic heart disease, is the end result of the accumulation of atheromatous plaques within the walls of the arteries that supply the myocardium (the muscle of the heart). While the symptoms and signs of coronary heart disease are noted in the advanced state of disease, most individuals with coronary heart disease.

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