1. Does your heart stops beating during an heart attack?
- During a heart attack, blood supply to heart tissue is blocked, leading to tissue death. When your heart suddenly stops functioning as a result of abnormal heart rhythms, it's called "cardiac arrest." A heart attack can cause cardiac arrest, but they are not the same.
2. What is the most common sign of heart attack?
- Although the most common sign of a heart attack is chest pain or discomfort, it's not always one of the symptoms. Other symptoms might include shortness of breath, nausea, sweating, feeling lightheaded, and/or pain or discomfort in other parts of the upper body, such as the back, stomach, neck, or jaw.
3. What is the most common cause of heart attack?
- According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 39.5% of Americans are at risk for heart disease because of inactivity. The percentages of U.S. adults with other key risk factors are: obesity, 33.9%; high blood pressure, 30.5%; cigarette smoking, 20.8%; high cholesterol, 15.6%; and diabetes, 10.1%.
4. Which is the best diet to prevent heart attacks?
- In 2009, a study of American women found that women whose diets most closely matched a Mediterranean diet had a 29% reduction in heart disease risk compared with women whose diets least resembled it. Other studies also show a beneficial effect on risk factors for heart disease, such as blood pressure and cholesterol. A Mediterranean diet features olive oil as an important fat source, wine in low to moderate amounts, and large amounts of fruits, vegetables, bread, potatoes, beans, nuts, and seeds. It calls for little red meat and low to moderate amounts of dairy products, fish, and poultry.
5. Does this mean that a healthy diet can prevent the risk of heart attack?
- A survey of U.S. adults who had been told by a doctor that they had heart disease found that 56.6% engaged in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity at least three times a week and 38.6% maintained a healthy body weight. While proper diet and exercise can lower your risk for heart disease, you may still be at risk.
High-sodium diets have been tied to increased blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke, according to the American Heart Association. The AHA recommends less than 1,500 mg sodium per day.
Vitamin E and folate have both been shown to be important for heart health, but studies have cast doubt on the usefulness of vitamin E supplements, and the National Institutes of Health says it's "premature" to recommend folic acid supplements for heart disease. It's best to get both nutrients from dietary sources. more