HEART ATTACK & PREVENTION

What is a heart attack?

A heart attack happens when the flow of blood that brings oxygen to the heart muscle is significantly reduced or cut off completely. This is often a result of atherosclerosis, a process whereby the arteries narrow due to a buildup of plaque (fat, cholesterol, and other substances). Sometimes these plaques can break off, and blood clots can form around them. The clots in the coronary arteries then block blood flow to the heart, starving it of oxygen and nutrients (ischemia), causing damage or death to heart muscle. This damage to the heart muscle is a heart attack. Heart attack is medically termed myocardial infarction (MI). 

Smyptoms of a heart attack include:-

• Chest discomfort or pain that may feel like pressure or tightness
• Squeezing, or fullness discomfort in one or both arms
• Back, neck, jaw or stomach pain
• Shortness of breath, which may or may not be accompanied by chest discomfort
• Nausea
• Palpitations
• Lightheadedness

Heart Disease Symptoms in Women

Heart disease is the leading cause of death among women, and heart attack symptoms and signs can be different for women than for men, for example:

• Chest tightness.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Fatigue.
• Lightheadedness.
•  Sweating.

Disease  Prevention &  Awareness

If you've made it this far in life, chances are strong that you may live into your 80s or even 90s. But will you be living well?  "We probably can't extend life much beyond what we already have done," says William Hart, PhD, MPH, associate professor of nutrition and dietetics at the St. Louis University Doisy School of Allied Health Professions. "But we can help make those last five to 10 years of life more enjoyable. Living longer isn't much fun if you're not healthy enough to enjoy it. "So what's the secret to staying healthy as you get older? Exercise, of course. Also, the right food. To get started, add these five nutrients to your diet. Soy to Manage Your Cholesterol

"No, adding soy to your diet does not mean pouring more soy sauce on your Chinese food," says Leslie Bonci, MPH, RD, LDN, director of sports nutrition at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. It does mean adding soy foods such as tofu, soy milk, soy nuts, or the green soybeans called edamame by the Japanese.

Soy has an impressive resume, along with some inevitable controversy. Adding soy to your diet has been shown to significantly lower cholesterol, which can reduce your risk of heart disease. Plus, soy is high in iron, which many women need. Some women also say that soy helps them manage hot flashes and other symptoms of menopause, although those benefits have not been proven by long-term clinical studies. Still, its cholesterol-lowering benefits are powerful enough. Indeed, the right diet can lower cholesterol as much as medication, according to a study reported July 2003 inThe Journal of the American Medical Association. That four-week study found that a diet of soy fiber, protein from oats and barley, almonds, and margarine from plant sterols lowered cholesterol as much as statins, the most widely prescribed cholesterol medicine. Soybeans themselves provide high-quality protein, are low in saturated fat, and contain no cholesterol, making them an ideal heart-healthy food. To lower your cholesterol, the American Heart Association suggests you look for products that provide 10 grams of soy protein per serving, and try to eat three or more servings per day. 

Diet  recommended by the American Heart Association?

The American Heart Association recommends a diet comprised of whole foods such as vegetables, fruits and whole grains. Poultry, fish, low-fat dairy products and nuts are good sources of protein. Red meat and sugar should be limited or eliminated.

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