February is the American Heart Month during which families and health professionals can work together to fight against heart diseases and stroke. This is the precise time to spread awareness about preventing heart disease and encouraging people to opt for a heart healthy lifestyle. As per the statistics, the main reason of death among men and women residing in the United States is heart disease. However, making healthy choices and managing health conditions can help people prevent it. This February raise awareness about heart disease and spread knowledge about how to stay healthy. People have a tendency to get a false sense of security about the risk revolving around heart attack and stroke. Let’s check out the different ways for preventing heart diseases including heart attack and stroke.
There are numerous factors that can lead to heart diseases. The most common cause of heart attack is high cholesterol levels. This serves as a major warning sign for men and women to brace themselves and get their health on track. People who have a high cholesterol level need to talk to their doctor. It has been noticed that about 80 percent people who suffered a heart attack have high cholesterol levels. Also, a study has shown that in the United States, at least one person gets a heart attack every 34 seconds.
Family history is considered as another risk factor for heart diseases. So, if an individual’s parent or sibling has experienced heart disease at an early age then the chances for that person to get it may increase, as well. People who have a family history of early heart disease need to notify their doctor about it. This can help in assessing the overall risk of suffering from a heart attack.
Are you at risk?
In most cases, heart attack strikes people who are middle-aged or older. So, the average age for getting the first attack is 66 years for men while it is 70 years for women. However, people in their 20’s and 30’s can also experience heart attacks. The chance of getting a heart attack increases after 45 years for men and 55 years for women.
Common risk factors
Many factors contribute in increasing the chance of having a heart attack or stroke. A few of these risk factors are beyond control while others can be managed with the help of a doctor. Let’s check the multiple uncontrollable and controllable factors associated with heart diseases.
- Uncontrollable risk factors
- Age – mostly above 45 to 50 years
- Family history of early heart disease
- Controllable risk factors
- High LDL or bad cholesterol
- Low HDL or good cholesterol
- High triglycerides
- High blood pressure
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- Smoking
What are the ideal levels of cholesterol?
There are numerous risk factors of heart disease or stroke that influence the levels of the recommended LDL or bad cholesterol. Visit a doctor and ask about the cholesterol numbers that a person should aim for depending on the risk factors. The recommended LDL level changes based on the different combinations of risk factors. However, if the risk factors are more than it multiplies then the risk of getting a heart disease is high. The cholesterol levels and risk factors for heart disease can be managed with appropriate treatment recommended by a certified doctor.
When does the heart attack strike?
It has been noticed that most heart attacks occur during the mornings when the platelets in the blood are sticky and prone to form clots. A study has proved that people who take aspirin may lessen their chances of getting heart disease. Aspirin is known to help in keeping the platelets from sticking together. It is essential to discuss with a certified doctor before taking any medication for heart attack or stroke.
Beating the odds
The odds of people to get a heart attack diminishes significantly with the various advanced treatment methods such as diagnosis, medication and lifesaving technology. There are multiple symptoms of a heart attack such as chest pain, anxiety, abnormal breathing, loss of responsiveness, etc. However, proper treatment and medication can help in preventing a heart attack. Visit a certified cardiologist and buy the prescribed medicines from an online chemist. AllDayChemist is a well-known online pharmacy that provide an extensive range of high quality drugs and medicines for treating heart diseases.
Most cardiologists are optimistic about treating heart diseases with cardiac care. If appropriate measures are taken then, it is possible to recover from heart diseases. However, it is necessary to find out the different risk factors and take efforts to diminish them. Consult a certified doctor and talk about the different ways that can help in reducing the risks related to heart diseases.