The heart is a vital organ that pumps blood throughout the body. A heart attack occurs when blood flow to the heart is blocked, usually due to a buildup of fat, cholesterol, and other substances in the coronary arteries. This condition can cause permanent damage to the heart muscle, or even death.
Heart Attack Symptoms to Watch Out For
Recognizing the symptoms of a heart attack is essential to getting medical attention as soon as possible. Some common symptoms to watch out for include:
- Chest pain: Discomfort, pressure, or pain in the chest that may spread to the arms, shoulders, neck, or jaw.
- Shortness of breath: Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, even at rest.
- Cold sweats: Excessive sweating for no apparent reason.
- Nausea and vomiting: Feeling nauseous or vomiting for no apparent reason.
- Dizziness or fainting: Feeling dizzy, lightheaded, or losing consciousness.
- Heart palpitations: Heart beats that are irregular or feel fast.
- Anxiety: Feeling anxious or restless for no apparent reason.
Heart Attack Risk Factors
Some risk factors that can increase a person's chances of having a heart attack include:
- Age: Risk increases with age.
- Gender: Men have a higher risk than women.
- Family history: Having a family member with a history of heart disease.
- Smoking: Smoking damages blood vessels and increases the risk of blood clots.
- High blood pressure: High blood pressure can damage arteries.
- High cholesterol: High cholesterol levels can cause plaque buildup in the arteries.
- Diabetes: Diabetes increases the risk of heart disease.
- Obesity: Being overweight increases the workload on the heart.
- Unhealthy lifestyle: Lack of exercise and unhealthy diet.
The Importance of Heart Health Awareness
Heart attacks can happen anytime and to anyone. Therefore, it is important to raise awareness of heart health. Some steps that can be taken include:
- Adopt a healthy lifestyle: Regular exercise, healthy diet, and avoid smoking.
- Managing risk factors: Control blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar.
- Have regular heart health checks.
- EMC Grha Kedoya Hospital has a Cardiovascular Center service that is ready to serve the community who have heart health complaints.
By raising awareness and taking precautions, we can reduce the risk of heart attacks and maintain our heart health. If you feel the same way, it is not wrong for you to check your condition with our Cardiovascular Center Team. Or you can consult and check our doctor's schedule at www.emc.id
Article written by Dr. Med. dr. Yanto S Tjang, SpBTKV, Subsp. VE(K), PhD (Thoracic, Cardiac and Vascular Surgery Specialist, Vascular Endovascular Subspecialist, EMC Grha Kedoya Hospital).