A heart attack strikes many people out of the blue. But coronary heart disease (CHD) is often behind it. This is a narrowing of the coronary arteries due to deposits of lime and fat. As a result, the heart muscle can no longer be adequately supplied with oxygen-rich blood. If the blood flow is interrupted, a heart attack occurs, in which parts of the heart muscle can die – a life-threatening situation.
The four biggest dangers to the heart
According to the German Heart Foundation, over six million people in Germany alone suffer from coronary heart disease. The dangerous thing about it: It is an insidious disease that often goes unnoticed for a long time and is caused by an unhealthy lifestyle. Four often unnoticed factors in particular cause the greatest damage to the heart:
high blood pressure
high blood lipid levels
Diabetes
Smoke
According to Stephan Eddicks, head of cardiology at the Median Rehab Center Bernkastel-Kues, these are so-called “silent killers” who hardly cause any problems over the years. What is particularly risky is that these factors do not add up, but rather increase: “You quickly have an extremely high risk of a heart attack,” warns the doctor at “Bild.de”.
How to protect your heart
But the good thing is that the risk of a heart attack can be minimized through a healthy lifestyle. This primarily includes:
Sport: Endurance sports such as cycling, jogging and swimming at least three times a week for 45 minutes each.
Healthy eating: It’s best to eat a Mediterranean diet with lots of vegetables, salad, legumes, fish and little meat.
No nicotine: Smoking damages blood vessels and promotes calcification.
Stress management: Be sure to reduce stress and relax regularly. Exercise, yoga, autogenic training and other relaxation techniques help.
Warning signs of a heart attack in men and women
As a rule, there is severe pain behind the breastbone as well as a feeling of tightness and pressure in the chest area. According to the Professional Association of German Internists (BDI), this pain often radiates into the arms – especially on the left side. The lower jaw, the shoulder area and the upper abdomen could also be affected by this radiation pain. In addition, those affected often suffer from shortness of breath, severe anxiety, vomiting and great restlessness.
However, a heart attack can manifest itself differently in women: they often suffer from upper abdominal pain as well as nausea and vomiting. According to the BDI, sometimes severe shortness of breath can occur. Some heart attacks are also silent, that is, without symptoms.
Men aged 50 and over and women aged around 60 and over are particularly at risk of suffering a heart attack.
First aid for a heart attack – call emergency services quickly
According to the German Red Cross (DRK), if in doubt, bystanders should immediately call emergency number
drop. In the event of cardiac arrest, cardiopulmonary resuscitation should also be started immediately. If the person is still conscious, it is best to open tight clothing and carefully elevate the upper body to relieve the strain on the heart. The circuit should be monitored until emergency services arrive.