Do You Know If you Are Having a Heart Attack?

How to know if you are having a heart attack

To know for sure if you are having a heart attack you need access to devices only available in hospitals and in doctors' offices. However, some symptoms should alert and drive you to the emergency room.

The typical symptoms of a heart attack are described as "angor". Angor is a feeling behind your sternum that something is pressing hard, as if someone was crushing your heart. This pain may seem to travel up to your jaw, neck or left arm and you may feel your heart beating faster than usual and feel dizzy.

However, if you are an elderly person or if you have diabetes, a heart attack may not give you any angor. Instead, you should be alert when you feel nausea, faintness, sweating, discomfort in your chest, or breathlessness.

What to do if you are having a heart attack

If you or someone next to you is feeling any of the above, you should immediately dial 911 or go to the nearest hospital. The most important thing (after that) is not panicking.

Meanwhile, the person having the heart attack can take an aspirin or, if you have it, nitroglycerin. Just remember to tell the paramedics what you gave the person and if you are in doubt don't give anything at all.

If the person drops to the floor, lay them on their back and make sure nothing is obstructing their airways (check if their tongue isn't doing it). Listen to check if they are breathing and also check their pulse.

If they are not breathing or have no pulse, start CPR and call 911 again. Otherwise, raise their legs to make sure the brain gets enough blood.

Remember again not to panic and all will go well.

Here are 5 Ways to Care for Your Heart

*Eat a Healthy Diet

Your diet is perhaps the most important thing in taking care of you heart. You want to aim for (1) less saturated and tans fat, (2) less salt, (3) less sugar, and (enough with the "lesses") (4) more fiber.

Your diet will reduce all kinds of risk factors that can work havoc in your heart. The most important of those is atherosclerosis or clogging of the arteries.

*Exercise

Your next step to a healthier heart is exercising. Any form of cardiovascular exercise is great, but the preferred method is walking. It's cheap and easy.

Start with 30 minutes of light walking 5 times per week. Increase the intensity and the duration to 60 minutes over a few months and soon your heart will be good as new.

*Check Yourself

Pay attention to your body and do regular checkups. You want to look for three things: blood cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar..

*Relax

Stress is a major cause of heart attacks. When you stress out your heart will beat like hell and your arteries just won't be able to supply it enough oxygen. So, relax. Take deep breaths, meditate, use your imagination, dream, learn to see things in a positive light.

*Stop smoking

If you decide you just want to do one thing to protect your heart, stop smoking. Smoking increases heart attacks, stroke, cancer, inflammatory diseases and overall risk of dying from any disease.
About the Author

For more information on how to maintain a healthy strong heart and how to prevent heart disease now,please visit my free website full of free contents,tips,advice and solution at:
http://www.PreventHeartDiseaseNow.com