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.

heart attack warning signs men

      You probably don’t think about your heart often, yet it continues to pump with its faithful, steady beat — carrying blood to all your organs. From the size of the heart to the timing of heart attacks, here are facts about the human heart everyone should know.

• A normal heart valve is about the size of a half dollar coin.

• The average adult heart beats 72 times a minute; 100,000 times a day; 3,600,000 times a year; and 2.5 billion times during a 70-year span.

• The pressure created in the heart during a heartbeat is enough to squirt blood a distance of thirty feet.

• Electrical impulses in the heart muscle (the myocardium) are what cause the heart to beat

• A kitchen faucet would need to be turned on all the way for at least 45 years to equal the amount of blood pumped by the heart in an average lifetime.

• The heart pumps blood to almost all of the body’s 75 trillion cells. Only the corneas receive no blood supply.

• Grab a tennis ball and squeeze it tightly: that’s how hard the beating heart works to pump blood.

• A good belly laugh can send 20% more blood flowing through your entire body. One study found that when people watched a funny movie, their blood flow increased. That’s why laughter might just be the perfect antidote to stress.

• It takes just four to six minutes after cardiac arrest before a person experiences brain death and then complete death. 

• Researchers suggest that those who stay up late may be more prone to heart disease even if they get eight hours' sleep. Also, in one study, women who slept five hours or less a night were 39% more likely to develop heart disease than women who got eight hours. All of this is possibly due to habits or events associated with late nights or short sleep hours rather than the time factors themselves

• Two-thirds of deaths from heart attacks in women occur in those who have had no history of chest pain

• Hypertension, or when the pressure in the arteries is higher than normal, increases the risk of coronary artery disease (atherosclerosis). High blood pressure usually has no symptoms and not only damages the heart, but the kidney and the brain as well

• The skin inflammation associated with psoriasis has been linked to an increased incidence of myocardial infarction or heart attack

•  Multivitamins increase the risk of cancer and heart disease, according to recent studies.

sleep disorders and symptoms

People often say that beauty is in the eyes of the beholder and the most liberating thing about beauty is realizing that you are the beholder. In order for that beauty to remain, health is the main issue that we must prioritize. When we talk about health, women’s immune system stays younger for longer than man. Researchers found that the rate of decline in certain disease-fighting and youth-preserving cells was slower in women than men. So women may have fine lines and grey hair but their cells are smoking hot from the inside. Most of our energy comes from powerhouses within our cells called mitochondria. Cells can contain hundreds to thousands of mitochondria and they are so efficient they produce 95% of our cells’ energy. Because mitochondria have their own DNA, it is theorized that it was originally a bacteria that was ingested by larger cells in the human body and has evolved into the powerhouses that energize our body today. When awake, the human brain produces enough energy to power a small 25 watt light bulb. In order to fully energize we have to get enough of sleep because lack of sleep and hunger are the two most common causes of anger and mood swings and can lead to hypertension. Besides that sleeping one extra hour a night can lower your heart attack risk by 33 percent. Teens need about 10 hours of sleep on the average, the same as young children, while adults only need eight hours a night. Women may need to sleep an hour longer than men; not getting that extra hour might keep them tired and more prone to depression. People over 65 only need an average of six hours’ sleep. Dreams can occur during any phase of sleep. People who kick and punch while they dream are known as violent sleepers. They have a 50 percent chance of developing a neurological disease such as dementia or Parkinson’s disease as they age. People who act out violent scenes in their dreams should consider neurological testing. When you don’t get enough rest, your bodies release extra cortisol, the “stress hormone.” Too much cortisol breaks down the collagen in your skin—the substance that keeps it smooth and elastic. Finally over 90% of disease are caused or complicated by stress. Watch your sleep, sleep soundly and you can save your life by reducing stress and heart problems because sleep is the golden chain that ties health and our body together.

nutritional labels for foods

Time and health are two precious assets that we don’t recognize and appreciate until they have been depleted. Just because you’re not sick doesn't mean you’re healthy. Today, more than 95% of all chronic disease is also caused by food choice, toxic food ingredients, nutritional deficiencies and lack of physical exercise. An unhealthy diet leads to diseases like diabetes, hypertension, certain cancers, and obesity and micro nutrient deficiencies. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day because it feeds your body and mind with the necessary nutrients and energy to function through the day. One of the easiest ways to stay healthy is to eat plenty of fruit and vegetables. Aim to eat a variety of at least 5 serves of vegetables and 2 serves of fruit every day. Fruit and vegetables contain lots of fiber, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Getting in your fruits and veggies can help the body produce its own form of Aspirin. Taking fruit and vegetables containing benzoic acid could produce their own salicylic acid. This is the main ingredient in aspirin that makes aspirin an anti-inflammatory pain reliever. For those with asthma broccoli should be eaten every day because it has antioxidant properties that will help to open up the airway in the lungs. Eating healthy eating includes consuming high-quality proteins, carbohydrates, heart-healthy fats, vitamins, minerals and water in the foods you take in while minimizing processed foods, saturated fats and alcohol. Eating in this manner helps you maintain your body’s everyday functions, promote optimal body weight and can assist in disease prevention. The nutrients in the foods you eat support the activities of day-to-day living, protect your cells from environmental damage and repair any cellular damage that might occur. Protein rebuilds injured tissue and promotes a healthy immune system. Both carbohydrates and fats fuel your body, while vitamins and minerals function throughout your body in support of your body’s processes. Vitamins A, C and E, for example, act as antioxidants to protect your cells against toxins, and B vitamins help you extract energy from the foods you eat. Calcium and phosphorus keep your bones strong, while sodium and potassium help to transmit nerve signals. Without a healthy diet, you might compromise any of these essential functions. Take care of your body. It’s the only place you have to live.

Asthma is a condition in which airways narrow and swell and produce extra mucus. This can make breathing difficult and trigger coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath. The coughing often occurs at night or early in the morning. The airways are tubes that carry air into and out of our lungs. When asthma attack occurs, usually the patient’s airways are inflamed and swollen. When this happens, the muscled around them tighten and narrow the airways blocking air to flow into the lungs. Cells in the airways then produce mucus which is thick and further narrows the airways. Asthma results from complex interactions between an individual's inherited genetic make-up and their interactions with the environment. Other risk factors are family history of allergic conditions, hay fever, exposure to cigarette smoke, dust, polluted air, cold air etc. The most commonly used asthma medications include:

• Short-acting bronchodilators [Proventil, Ventolin, ProAir, Maxair, Xopenex] provide quick relief and can be used in conjunction for exercise-induced symptoms.

• Inhaled steroids are first-line anti-inflammatory therapy.

• Long-acting bronchodilators (salmeterol, formoterol) can be added to ICS as additive therapy. LABAs should never be used alone for the treatment of asthma.

• Leukotriene modifiers (montelukast, zarirlukast) can also serve as anti-inflammatory agents.

• Anticholinergic agents (ipratropium, tiotropium) can help decrease sputum production.

asthmatic treatment

Asthma, whether mild, moderate, or severe, allergic or non-allergic, can be managed. Every patient with asthma should see a doctor to be sure another cause of wheezing is not present and, if asthma is diagnosed, to develop a therapeutic program for managing the disorder. In addition to working with your doctor, you can use home remedies to help control your asthma. Fortunately, home remedies can help prevent asthma attacks and treat symptoms like wheezing and coughing as below;

• Ginger can help reduce airway inflammation and inhibit airway contraction. Plus, studies indicate that it has compounds that may enhance the muscle relaxant effects of certain asthma drugs.

• Decrease protein to 10 percent of daily caloric intake. Replace animal protein as much as possible with plant protein

• Eliminate milk and milk products, substituting other calcium sources.

• Use extra-virgin olive oil as your main fat.

• Increase intake of omega-3 fatty acids.

• The caffeine in regular coffee can help control asthma attacks because it acts as a bronchodilator. Hot coffee also will relax and clear the airways to help you to breathe easier.

• Pure eucalyptus oil is an effective treatment for asthma symptoms because of its decongestant properties. Research indicates that it has a chemical called eucalyptol which can help break up mucus.

• Broccoli helps to open up the airways and regulate air flow to the lungs.