early warnings of a heart attack

The heart is an amazing organ. It is located under the rib cage, to the left of the breastbone (sternum) and between the lungs.  It pumps oxygen and nutrient-rich blood throughout the body to sustain life. This fist-sized powerhouse beats (expands and contracts) 100,000 times per day, pumping five or six quarts of blood each minute, or about 2,000 gallons per day. As the heart beats, it pumps blood through a system of blood vessels, called the circulatory system. The vessels are elastic, muscular tubes that carry blood to every part of the body. There are three main types of blood vessels; Arteries, Capillaries, and Veins. This vast system of blood vessels -- arteries, veins, and capillaries -- is over 60,000 miles long. We can travel around the world twice with that length.

Heart attacks are a leading killer of both men and women in the United States. The good news is that excellent treatments are available for heart attacks. How does a heart attack occur? A heart attack happens when the flow of oxygen-rich blood to a section of heart muscle suddenly becomes blocked and the heart blocks the oxygen and as a result the heart is starved of oxygen and heart cells die. This happen when plaque in the coronary artery breaks and a blood clot forms in the artery. Plaque is a build-up of cholesterol, white blood cells, calcium, and other substances in the walls of arteries. Over time, plaque narrows the artery and the artery hardens (atherosclerosis). This condition is called coronary artery disease. Sometimes a blood clot that forms over a ruptured plaque may not completely block the artery. But the clot may block blood flow enough to cause unstable angina. Unstable angina is a sign that a heart attack may soon follow, because the blood clot can quickly grow and block the artery. If the blood clot dissolves and an immediate heart attack are avoided, the body will try again over time to repair the tear on the surface of the plaque. But this newly repaired plaque can also be very unstable. It is more likely to rupture again, putting you at even greater risk of a heart attack.

A new study has linked air pollution to irregular heartbeat and lung blood clots. "Some 400,000 heart attacks recorded in MINAP; more than [two] million emergency admissions for cardiovascular problems; and 600,000 deaths from a heart attack [or] stroke were linked to average levels of air pollutants over a period of 5 days using data from the monitoring station nearest to the place of residence," the news release reported. Air pollutants included carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), sulphur dioxide, and ozone. Air pollution is mainly responsible for respiratory related health problems that include dry cough, hay fever, allergies, bronchitis, wheezing, asthma, chest discomfort reduced lung function. It can also lead to heart disease, lung cancer, COPD, etc. and researches have linked it to developmental and mental disorders as well. Only Nitrogen Dioxide was found to be linked to a higher rate of hospital admissions for cardiovascular disease. About three million people across the globe are believed to die from pollution-related conditions every year. These are usually caused by heart attack or stroke.

Many people aren't sure what's wrong when they are having symptoms of a heart attack. Some of the most common warning symptoms of a heart attack for both men and women are:

• Chest pain or discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the centre or left side of the chest. The discomfort usually lasts more than a few minutes or goes away and comes back. It can feel like pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain. It also can feel like heartburn or indigestion.

• Upper body discomfort. You may feel pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, shoulders, neck, jaw, or upper part of the stomach (above the belly button).

• Shortness of breath. This may be your only symptom, or it may occur before or along with chest pain or discomfort. It can occur when you are resting or doing a little bit of physical activity.

Other possible symptoms of a heart attack include:

• Breaking out in a cold sweat

• Feeling unusually tired for no reason, sometimes for days (especially if you are a woman)

• Nausea (feeling sick to the stomach) and vomiting

• Light-headedness or sudden dizziness

• Any sudden, new symptom or a change in the pattern of symptoms you already have (for example, if your symptoms become stronger or last longer than usual)

Not all heart attacks begin with the sudden, crushing chest pain that often is shown on TV or in the movies, or other common symptoms such as chest discomfort. The symptoms of a heart attack can vary from person to person. Some people can have few symptoms and are surprised to learn they've had a heart attack. If you've already had a heart attack, your symptoms may not be the same for another one. Even though heart disease is the number one killer and you lack the power to change some risk factors — such as family history, sex or age  there are some key heart disease prevention steps you can take; don’t smoke or use tobacco, Exercise for 30 minutes on most days of the week and eat a heart-healthy diet. Heart-healthy eating isn't all about cutting back, though. Healthy fats from plant-based sources, such as avocado, nuts, olives and olive oil, help your heart by lowering the bad type of cholesterol. Most people need to add more fruits and vegetables to their diet — with a goal of five to 10 servings a day. Eating that many fruits and vegetables can not only help prevent heart disease but also may help prevent cancer and improve diabetes. Eating several servings a week of certain fish, such as salmon and mackerel, may decrease your risk of heart attack.

The connection between moderate drinking and lower risk of cardiovascular disease has been observed in men and women. The idea that moderate drinking protects against cardiovascular disease makes sense biologically and scientifically. Moderate amounts of alcohol raise levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL, or “good” cholesterol), and higher HDL levels are associated with greater protection against heart disease. Moderate alcohol consumption has also been linked with beneficial changes ranging from better sensitivity to insulin to improvements in factors that influence blood clotting, such as tissue type plasminogen activator, fibrinogen, clotting factor VII, and von Willebrand factor. Such changes would tend to prevent the formation of small blood clots that can block arteries in the heart, neck, and brain, the ultimate cause of many heart attacks and the most common kind of stroke. Be kind to your heart, you only get one!! Treat it well with exercise and a healthy diet.