Avoid the Risk of Heart Attack

Heart attack risk can be lowered or avoided completely. A little over a million Americans will have a heart attack this year, and only about half of them will survive.

Heart disease is caused from the gradual buildup of plaque within the walls of the arteries. Plaque is pimple like lesion that can eventually pop open, then a blood forms to seal the lesion. It is these blood clots that block the arteries resulting in a heart attack.

Since there is no way to predict where an artery-blocking clot will originate, adding a stent will not necessarily prevent a heart attack.

The best method of prevention is to slow the growth of plaque and prevent the lesions from bursting.

*Peter Libby, M.D., stated "keep your weight down, make physical activity a part of your life and stop smoking if you smoke." In addition, keep your blood pressure and cholesterol under control, using medication if necessary.

Consult your doctor about which risk factors you need to focus on to lower your risk of heart disease and you can significantly reduce the odds of suffering from a heart attack.

Cholesterol

Following the proper diet is the best way to control your cholesterol levels. .If dieting is not helping to lower your cholesterol, there are cholesterol lowering drugs called "statins" that can reduce your LDL enough to prevent heart attacks. Twenty years of testing shows that "statins" are safe for almost everyone.

Exercise

To keep a healthy heart it is recommended to engage in at least 30 minutes of exercise several times a week. Walking is the easiest and safest exercise for most people.

Blood Pressure

High blood pressure damages artery walls, causing them to become narrow and stiff. Exercise and diet can help you lower your blood pressure. For some it may be necessary to use medication to lower blood pressure.

Weight

If you are overweight or obese, your chances of having high cholesterol, high blood pressure and high blood sugar are also much greater.

Smoking

If you smoke your risk of dying from heart disease is two to three times greater than that of non-smokers. Smoking raises blood pressure, lowers HDL (good cholesterol), and injuries your blood vessels.

Blood Sugar

High blood sugar may promote the growth of artery clogging plaque. Your doctor should check your blood sugar during annual exams.

Study further the risk factors of heart disease and consider changing your lifestyle to avoid a potentially fatal heart attack.

Sources: *Peter Libby, M.D., Chief of Cardiovascular medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston.....AARP The Magazine