How to avoid a heart attack

Ahmed Raza

Written by Amanda Menard, LPN, a practical nurse since 2005 with experience in ICU, cardiac care, and case management. She is pursuing her MSN for Family Nurse Practitioner and is a former Military Medic with the Louisiana National Guard.

A myocardial infarction, commonly referred to as a heart attack, is a life-threatening event that can happen to anyone. It is typically associated with some form of underlying heart disease that disrupts the flow of blood to the heart. Heart disease can also be the culprit in other deadly conditions such as stroke. In the US, approximately 400,000 people die annually from coronary heart disease and related problems.

The symptoms of myocardial infarction include, but are not limited to, epigastralgia, which is an oppressive pain in the upper abdomen, pain in the left arm, jaw, and back. Shortness of breath, profuse sweating, and feeling of “dying” are also very common.

Can heart disease be prevented?

Heart disease and heart attack can be prevented or delayed. In order to do this, we must know the risk factors so that we can recognize them and take preventive steps to correct them.

Risk factors for a heart attack

Everyone should take steps to prevent heart disease. However, certain people are at a greater risk than others. Risk factors for heart attack and stroke depend on one’s lifestyle, habits, and health conditions. For example, obesity increases the risk of a heart attack. People who are obese often develop conditions such as high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes. Both of these conditions can cause heart problems. Being overweight or obese can lead to coronary heart disease even if diabetes or high blood pressure is not present. Lifestyle habits can also affect your heart. Smoking, for example, can damage arteries, elevate blood pressure, limit the amount of oxygen delivered to body tissues, and increase the risk of blood clots.

Lack of exercise or physical activity and a poor diet can contribute to heart disease. People who eat unhealthy foods may have elevated cholesterol levels that can lead to heart and vessel problems. Physical activity can counter the ill effects of other conditions such as obesity, high blood pressure, and diabetes.

Other risk factors for a heart attack include age, family history of heart disease, and stress. Men 45 years or older, and women who are older than 55 are at the greatest risk. The risk is also increased if a family member such as a parent, grandparent, or sibling has had a heart attack. Excessive stress, and how a person’s body responds to it, is another factor.

Steps to eliminate risk factors

Recognizing the risk factors for heart disease is half the battle when it comes to avoiding a heart attack. The next thing to do is to take steps to eliminate those risk factors. Since many of the risk factors stem from how people live their lives, they must be willing to make some significant lifestyle changes. For example, quitting smoking, increasing physical activity, losing weight, and eating heart-healthy foods. A healthy diet consists of vegetables, lean meats, fish, poultry, fruits, nuts, and beans. In addition to watching what one eats, a person should contact their healthcare provider to discuss an effective weight loss plan. Exercise, even half an hour of walking, should become a part of one’s daily routine. Reducing the amount of stress in life is also an important change to make, but not always an easy or doable one. Even if people are unable to resolve all issues that cause stress in their lives, they should learn methods to better cope with it.

The greater the number of risk factors an individual has, the greater their chances of having a heart attack. This makes it crucial that these factors are promptly identified and managed. Regular checkups with a medical professional are important in detecting and controlling such risk factors. Checkups can also reveal any underlying conditions that are otherwise not symptomatic yet. Any such conditions should be treated accordingly.

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Did you get it?

Question 1. What is the primary characteristic of a myocardial infarction (heart attack)?

It is a life-threatening event typically associated with underlying heart disease that disrupts blood flow to the heart.
It is a minor chest discomfort that resolves with rest.
It is always caused by direct physical injury to the chest.
It only affects individuals over the age of 60.

Question 2. Which of the following is NOT listed as a common symptom of myocardial infarction?

Joint pain in the knees.
Pain in the left arm.
Profuse sweating.
Epigastralgia (oppressive pain in the upper abdomen).

Question 3. How does smoking contribute to the risk of a heart attack?

It can damage arteries, elevate blood pressure, limit oxygen delivery, and increase blood clots.
It improves the elasticity of blood vessels.
It reduces overall stress levels, which benefits the heart.
It helps lower blood cholesterol levels.

Question 4. What is recommended as a part of one's daily routine to help prevent heart disease?

At least half an hour of walking.
Consuming a diet high in processed foods.
Avoiding all forms of physical activity.
Ignoring regular checkups with a medical professional.

Question 5. What is one of the "halves of the battle" when it comes to avoiding a heart attack?

Recognizing the risk factors for heart disease.
Undergoing bypass surgery proactively.
Eating unlimited amounts of red meat.
Avoiding all medical checkups.

How we reviewed this article

Our experts continually monitor the medical science space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available.