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Heart Attack: Are you risk?

You feel a slight chest pain, which you can only describe as a pain or heavy sensation in the centre of the chest. It disappears after a few minutes. Is it indigestion, angina, or a sign of a heart attack coming? If you are middle aged person and have experienced such symptoms, or have any reason to suspect heart disease, consult a doctor as soon as possible.

Every year, heart attack strikes down close to 1,500 Singaporeans, and 30% to 40% of them die before reaching a hospital from heart arrhythmias or severe heart damage. Many of these victims are struck down at the rime of their lives. When a heart attack strikes it becomes a race against time to save life and limit progressive and irreversible damage to heart muscle. Heart muscle cannot be regenerated any loss is permanent and results in a weak heart. Survivors of heart attacks may hence suffer from disabling heart failure.

Persons with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, diabetes mellitus, obesity, stress and a sedentary lifestyle are high risk individuals for heart attacks. These risk factors cause atherosclerosis and progressive blockage of the coronary arteries. A heart attack occurs if a blood clot develops in any of the diseased arteries. To prevent a heart attack you need to have a thorough assessment.

Professional Diagnosis and Assessment

The universal advice is to assess your health as soon as possible so that preventive measures can be instituted early in life. By the time you begin to have chest pain, heart disease may already be far advanced.

Assessment for risk of heart attacks can be done at specialist cardiology clinics and hospitals, using a wide range of tests such as ECG, Exercise Stress Testing, Multi-slice CT scanning, and for some, Coronary Angiography.

Heart disease is a highly preventable and treatable condition. Excellent medicines are available to prevent, slow down and even partially reverse atherosclerosis. Many patients are also suitable for Coronary Balloonplasty and Coronary Stenting. If the disease is too far advanced, Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery can be done.

Prevention is a must

The old age adage, “Prevention is better than cure”, is highly applicable to coronary heart disease. Excess body weight strains the heart and leads to complications. Fried foods, starchy or sweet desserts and alcohol are all bad for the heart. Smoking initiates and aggravates heart disease. Regular aerobic exercise such as brisk walking, slow jogging, swimming or cycling are extremely beneficial in cutting the changes of getting heart disease.

Prevention also means regular check-ups for blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels. Effective medical therapy is available for all these conditions. Consult a doctor or specialist today if you are concerned about your heart. You owe it to yourself and your family.