Today (September 29) is World Heart Day. The heart, as the most diligent organ in the human body, beats about 100,000 times a day and delivers blood and oxygen to the whole body. However, it is also easily "dagged" by bad living habits.
What are the common categories of heart diseases?
Heart disease is not a "single disease", but a collective term for diseases covering many aspects such as heart structure, blood vessels, and rhythm. Common types mainly fall into the following four categories:
Coronary heart disease (coronary artery disease): The most common heart disease is caused by coronary atherosclerosis, which causes blood vessels to become narrowed or blocked, resulting in insufficient blood supply to the heart.
Arrhythmia: abnormal heart beating frequency or rhythm, divided into "too fast heartbeat", "too slow heartbeat" and "irregular heartbeat".
Structural heart disease: including congenital heart disease and acquired heart disease. This type of disease can cause heart valve damage, ventricular enlargement and other problems, affecting the heart's "pumping function" and may lead to heart failure in the long term.
Heart failure (heart failure): the "end stage" of various heart diseases, in which the heart's systolic or diastolic function is reduced and cannot meet the body's blood supply needs.
alert!
These factors are "hurting" your heart
No matter what kind of heart disease it is, its occurrence is closely related to "controllable risks" and "uncontrollable risks", of which controllable risks account for more than 70% and are the key to prevention:
Controllable risks
High blood pressure, high blood sugar, and high blood lipids (the "three highs") can directly damage blood vessels and the heart;
Smoking damages blood vessel endothelium and increases the risk of blood clots;
Excessive drinking can increase the load on the heart and induce arrhythmia;
Obesity and lack of exercise will keep the heart in a state of "overload" for a long time;
Long-term anxiety and staying up late can cause blood pressure to rise sharply and accelerate heart disease.
Uncontrollable risks
Age (the risk is significantly higher for people over 50 years old);
Gender (men are more likely to be affected than women, and women are at increased risk after menopause);
Family genetic history (if an immediate relative suffers from cardiovascular disease, your risk increases by 2-3 times).
What should I do if I have a sudden heart attack?
Call emergency number immediately
If you feel sudden heart discomfort, please call 120 as soon as possible!
Do not allow patients to go to the hospital on their own. Once the condition worsens or sudden death occurs on the way, they will not be able to respond in time.
Professional emergency personnel in the local area can conduct on-site assessment, preliminary treatment, stabilize the condition, and send the patient directly to a hospital capable of treating the patient through a green channel, which is far safer and faster than seeking medical treatment by car.
Comfort the patient and remain still
Ask the patient to stop all activities immediately, rest quietly in the most comfortable position (usually semi-recumbent position), and reduce any unnecessary movement.
If there is any medication prescribed by your doctor, use it immediately
If the patient has been diagnosed with angina pectoris in the past and has been prescribed nitroglycerin by a doctor, he or she can take 1 tablet (0.5mg) sublingually immediately if the blood pressure is not low. If the pain is not relieved after 5 minutes, you can take another 1 tablet, up to 3 tablets.
⚠️If you experience dizziness or significant drop in blood pressure after taking it, you should stop using it immediately.
In addition, please have the patient's key medical information ready and observe the patient closely. If loss of consciousness or breathing stops, perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation immediately. And maintain open communication with 120 and report changes in condition at any time.
It’s not difficult to protect your heart
Do these four things well
Medical staff suggest that starting from four aspects can effectively protect the heart.
Healthy diet: In your daily diet, you should ensure adequate intake of fruits and vegetables, choose more unprocessed grains, lean meats, fish and beans, and be sure to limit the intake of salt, sugar and fat. Drinking should also be done in moderation, the less the better.
Move your body regularly: Regular physical activity for at least 30 minutes every day can help maintain cardiovascular health.
Avoid tobacco use: Once you stop using tobacco products, your risk of heart attack and stroke begins to decrease immediately and drops to half of your original risk after one year.
Check and control the overall risk of cardiovascular disease: take the initiative to understand your blood pressure, blood lipids and blood sugar levels, and intervene promptly if problems arise.
The editor reminds us that protecting the heart is no small matter. Control the "three highs", quit smoking and limit alcohol, exercise regularly, and eat healthily. None of them should be missing. If you experience sudden chest pain and tightness, call 120 immediately and seek medical treatment immediately.
