HYPERTENSION
ARE YOU ABOUT TO BECOME A VICTIM OF A SILENT KILLER?
HOW WOULD YOU KNOW IF YOU WERE ON ITS HIT LIST?
Most often, High Blood Pressure (Hypertension) has no symptoms. It attacks people of all ages and backgrounds. This common criminal strikes without warning and may leave death and destruction in its path. Its calling card? Stroke, heart attack, heart failure, kidney failure, blindness and more. But you can stop this silent killer -- if you catch it in time.
FACT ABOUT BLOOD PRESSURE
Blood pressure is the force created as your heart pumps blood and moves it through your blood vessels. This constant blood flow provides your body with the oxygen it needs. In short, it keeps you alive.
ANGINA
IT'S A PAINFUL OR UNCOMFORTABLE FEELING IN YOUR CHEST, BACK, ARM, NECK OR JAW. ANGINA IS NOT A HEART ATTACK, BUT CAN LEAD TO A HEART ATTACK. AN ANGINA ATTACK USUALLY LASTS A FEW MINUTES. HERE'S HOW ANGINA MIGHT FEEL:
· DISCOMFORT, HEAVINESS, TIGHTNESS, PRESSURE, OR BURNING IN OR NEAR YOUR CHEST, SHOULDERS, NECK, THROAT OR JAW AND BACK,
· NUMBNESS, ACHING OR TINGLING ON ONE OR BOTH OF YOUR ARMS, ELBOWS, OR WRISTS,
· FATIGUE, NAUSEA, SWEATING, SHORTNESS OF BREATH OR INDIGESTION.
WHAT CAUSES ANGINA?
Angina is a symptom of coronary artery disease. The lack of blood and oxygen to the heart causes angina. Coronary artery disease risk factors: your age and sex, obesity, lack of exercise, heart disease in your family, high cholesterol, diabetes, high blood pressure, stress and smoking.
WHAT CAN YOU DO ABOUT IT?
You and your doctor can work together to treat angina successfully. Medication, certain medical procedures, and lifestyle changes all can help prevent angina attacks and keep your heart disease from getting worse. Here are the most important steps you can take: Follow your treatment plan, stop smoking, get regular exercise, reduce stress, lose weight, control diabetes and high blood pressure, reduce cholesterol and eat less fat and salt.
HEART ATTACK
ALSO CALLED MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION
When the flow of oxygen rich-blood to your heart is blocked by a clot, heart muscle begins to die and the symptoms of a heart attack start. By getting to the hospital quickly, treatment can be started to help save your life and your heart muscle.
SYMPTOMS OF HEART ATTACK
A heart attack is an urgent message from your heart muscle that it's starved for oxygen and part of the muscle is starting to die. This lack of oxygen causes a variety of symptoms. You might experience only some of the symptoms, and they may not be felt as pain.
1. CHEST DISCOMFORT OR PAIN, FULLNESS OR SQUEEZING SENSATION IN THE CHEST
2. JAW PAIN OR TOOTHACHE
3. HEADACHE OR LIGHTHEADEDNESS
4. SHORTNESS OF BREATH WITH OR WITHOUT CHEST DISCOMFORT
5. BREAKING OUT IN A COLD SWEAT
6. NAUSEA,VOMITING OR ABDOMEN DISCOMFORT OR HEART BURN AND/OR INDIGESTION.
7. ARM PAIN, LEFT ARM OR EITHER ARM OR UPPER BACK PAIN
8. GENERAL MALAISE OR FEELING OF ILLNESS
9. OR NO SYMPTOMS, ABOUT ONE QUARTER OF HEART ATTACKS ARE SILENT, WITHOUT CHEST PAIN ESPECIALLY IN DIABETIC PATIENTS
TAKING ACTION: EVERY MINUTE COUNTS
YOU CAN SAVE YOUR LIFE AND LIFESTYLE
Each year about 1.5 million Americans have a heart attack - and many of them die suddenly.
But when people recognize the symptoms and act quickly, heart attacks may not be fatal.
If you know you're at risk for a heart attack, you can plan what to do when a heart attack strike.
And the more you know about why heart attacks happen, the better prepared you'll be to prevent death, minimize damage to your heart, and preserve your lifestyle