New Research Shows Anyone Can Have A Heart Attack

Heart attacks can strike anyone at any time no matter your age or health. While there are many things you can do to help reduce your risk of a heart attack, there are still symptoms and signs you should be aware of in case the worst should happen. Researchers in Chicago have found that white men who work out at least seven and a half hours a week are more than twice as likely to suffer from a heart diseases then those who exercise moderately. While this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t exercise to prevent risk of a heart attack, it just demonstrates that knowing what is beneficial to your heart, and what should be avoided, is vitally important to your long-term health.

Signs of a heart attack

There are many signs you may be suffering from a heart attack and some of these symptoms may be related to pre-existing medical conditions you may or may not have. Because of this, it’s better to know the signs to look out for and how they relate to you so you can better identify if you, or someone you know, is suffering from these symptoms.

·         Pain in your arm, back, neck or jaw: More common in women than men, many people do not associate a gradual or sudden pain in these areas as a warning sign of a heart attack.

·         Discomfort or pain in your chest: This symptom is one of the most well-known symptoms of a heart attack and is usually characterized by a feeling of squeezing or fullness in the chest.

·         Stomach Pain: This can be confused with heartburn, the flu or a stomach ulcer. It is said to feel like a large object sitting directly on your stomach.

There are also specific signs that only women will experience during a heart attack. These include a higher likelihood of shortness of breath, nausea and vomiting, and back pain. Women too can sometimes have heart attacks without pressure on their chest, so it’s of increased important to understand other signs. These above conditions can affect men too, but it is something women must be more aware of when looking out for symptoms.

Groups at Risk

Although heart attacks can strike a perfectly healthy person at any time in their life, there are certain groups of people who are more predisposed and are at a higher risk. Those at a high risk include:

·         Smokers

·         Individuals with high blood cholesterol

·         Those with high blood pressure

·         Suffering from diabetes or prediabetes

·         Are overweight or obese

·         An unhealthy diet

·         Other medical issues. Consult you GP for more information about specific conditions.

These groups are more likely to experience a heart attack, although these issues can be minimized by treatment and certain medications. Consult your GP if you have any specific concerns or to find out more about what you can do.