Healthy life, healthy heart

It can happen in a heartbeat... literally.  Heart disease is one of the biggest killers in South Africa and it does not discriminate.

Heart disease was once almost exclusively the affliction of white men, but thanks to a largely sedentary lifestyle, bad diet and the stress of modern living, it can strike anybody at any age.

The primary cause of heart disease is arterosclerosis, where a fatty deposit builds up on the inside of the arteries.  This results in the vessels narrowing, thus restricting the flow of oxygen-rich blood to the heart.  When they become too narrow or a clot forms a heart attack occurs, which actually damages a section of the heart.

Who is at risk?  Anyone with:

•  A family or personal history of heart disease
•  High cholesterol (>3mmol/L)
•  High blood glucose levels (>100mg/dL)
•  High blood pressure (>130mmHg)
•  High levels of triglycerides (>1.7mmol/L)
•  Abdominal obesity (>102cm for men and >88cm for women)
•  Insulin resistance
•  Physical inactivity
•  Smoking

What are the signs of a heart attack?

•  Heavy pressure, tightness, crushing pain or unusual discomfort in the centre of the chest.
•  A discomfort that feels similar to indigestion that lasts for 15 minutes or longer, fades and then returns at a later stage.
•  Pain in the shoulders, arms, neck or even the jaw.
•  Sweating, nausea, faintness or shortness of breath.
•  There may be a rapid, weak pulse.

The good news is that the heart starts to heal almost immediately after the attack and although there will be scar tissue on the damaged area you can minimise the chances of it happening agan by making some important lifestyle changes:

•  Following a healthy eating plan, which is low in saturated fats and high in grains, fruit and vegetables and lean protein.
•  Know your numbers.  Have regular tests to check your waist circumference, blood pressure, blood glucose, cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
•  Stop smoking.
•  Remember your heart is a muscle and it needs exercise to stay healthy.  So moderate physical activity at least three to four times a week is advised.

We support National Heart and Stroke Month during September.

Enquire at your Medi-Clinic hospital about free cholesterol and blood pressure tests during National Heart and Stroke Month.  Because we care about you today and tomorrow.

For our hospital information click here.