CARDIOVASCULAR disease is a major cause of death in SA, and heart disease in particular features prominently among the conditions that contributed to a significant rise in deaths from non-communicable diseases in 2015, according to Statistics SA.
But neither heart attacks nor death as the result of a heart attack are inevitable.
The majority of heart attacks can be avoided by understanding and managing the risk factors for coronary artery disease.
It is possible to survive a heart attack and regain good health by getting the right treatment fast.
Spot the risks and neutralise them
A heart attack occurs when an artery that carries oxygen to the heart becomes blocked, usually by a blood clot.
The likelihood of such a blockage increases when the arteries are narrowed by fatty cholesterol deposits or plaques.
This condition is referred to as coronary artery disease.
There are a number of factors that increase the risk of developing coronary artery disease and suffering a heart attack.
Behavioural risks
Smoking
Unhealthy diet
Obesity
Physical inactivity
Medical risks
Diabetes
Hypertension (high blood pressure)
High cholesterol
Other risk factors
Family history of heart disease
Advancing age
Giving up smoking, modifying our diets and increasing physical activity – where necessary – are all within our power as individuals.
It is critical to manage diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol under the supervision of a medical professional, with appropriate medication where necessary.
Many South Africans have uncontrolled or undiagnosed hypertension, diabetes and high cholesterol.
Recognise a heart attack
Speed of reaction is absolutely critical to surviving a heart attack and regaining good health.
In some cases, a heart attack causes virtually instant death.
But in many cases survival and recovery are perfectly possible – provided you know what to do and get to work instantly.
What does a heart attack feel like?
There is heavy pressure, tightness, unusual discomfort or crushing pain in the centre of the chest.
This may spread to the shoulders, arms, neck or jaw.
It may last more than 15 minutes and could stop or weaken and then return.
This may be accompanied by sweating, nausea, faintness or shortness of breath.
The pulse could be rapid or weak.
What to do
If unexplained chest pain lasts for more than a few minutes, do not delay, do not try and determine the cause. Call an ambulance and state that you are dealing with a suspected heart attack.
If the ambulance is delayed, access private transport to get to the emergency department of the nearest hospital.
On arrival, advise the staff this is a suspected heart attack.
If you have been trained and you are near a person who loses consciousness owing to these symptoms, perform chest compressions at a rate of about 100 per minute.
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