The most common symptoms of heart attack in both males and females remain similar i.e. chest pain or discomfort.
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The American Heart Association has created a list called “Life’s Essential 8”, a set of guidelines that can help you maintain a healthy heart. These essential 8 includes “eat better, quit tobacco, get healthy sleep, be more active, control cholesterol, and manage weight, blood sugar, and blood pressure.”
Women are likely to develop risks of heart attack even with reduced levels of plaque deposition in the arteries. Women have lower amounts of artery-clogging plaque when compared with men but it does not help their heart health, observed a new study. They have approximately the similar risk of death, heart attack, and chest pain as males. "Our findings underscore that women are not 'protected' from coronary events despite having lower plaque volumes," said senior author Borek Foldyna, an assistant professor of radiology at Harvard Medical School.
"Because women have smaller coronary arteries, a small amount of plaque can have a bigger impact. Moderate increases in plaque burden appear to have disproportionate risk in women, suggesting that standard definitions of high risk may underestimate risk in women," added Foldyna.
The American Heart Association has created a list called “Life’s Essential 8”, a set of guidelines that can help you maintain a healthy heart. These essential 8 includes “eat better, quit tobacco, get healthy sleep, be more active, control cholesterol, and manage weight, blood sugar, and blood pressure.”
A heart attack or myocardial infarction can take place when blood flow to the part of heart gets blocked, generally due to a blood cot formed on ruptured plaque in the coronary artery. It will cut off oxygen rich blood that will cause the part of heart muscle to start dying that will require instant emergency care.
1. Chest Pain: The most common symptoms of heart attack in both males and females remain similar i.e. chest pain or discomfort. It is worth noting that women may get heart attack without experiencing any chest discomfort. Women may describe it as pressure, squeezing, aching, and tightness.
2. Unusual Fatigue: Several women experience extreme or unusual fatigue in the weeks leading up to heart attack. A person can experience fatigue just before the event happens. Women may feel tired even with simple activities that do not require much efforts.
3. Weakness: They may feel weak or shaky which is a key symptom of heart attack in women. The weakness in women can be accompanied by dizziness, fainting, anxiety, or feeling lightheaded.
4. Shortness of Breath: According to report featured in Medical News Today, women may experience shortness of breath or heavy breathing without any exhaustion. If the situation is accompanied by chest pain or fatigue, it indicates heart issues. Some females may undergo short of breath while lying down with the symptoms easing while sitting upright.
5. Upper Body Pain: Women may experience upper body pain in neck, jaw, or upper back or either arm. The pain may begin in one area and slowly move to others or it may appear suddenly.
6. Sweating: If there is excessive sweating without any apparent reason, it is yet another potential heart attack symptom in women. Experiencing cold can be yet another indicator of potential heart issue.
7. Disturbance in Sleep: Nearly half of the women found sleep issues in the weeks before they had a heart attack, as per a 2003 study as reported by Medical News Today. These disturbances may include difficulty getting sleep, unexplained waking throughout the night, and feeling exhausted despite getting adequate sleep.
8. Stomach Issues: Some women may undergo pain or pressure in the stomach area before a heart attack. The other digestion related issues linked to heart attack causes may include nausea, indigestion, and vomiting.
A heart-healthy diet is crucial to keep away cardiovascular diseases. Key nutrients from green leafy veggies, berries, avocados can help manage cholesterol, oxidative stress, and inflammation. While exercise and lifestyle choices matter, foods rich in antioxidants, vitamins and healthy fats too play a vital role maintaining a strong heart and overall well-being. Check them out below.
It is significant to take adequate amount of green leafy vegetables for a sound and healthy heart. These may include spinach, kale, lettuce, collard greens, microgreens, etc. They are an excellent source of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. These vegetables contain crucial vitamin K that can save your arteries and boost effective blood clotting. They are also rich in dietary nitrates that may bring down blood pressure, decline arterial stiffness, and enhance cell functioning lining blood vessels.
Consumption of berries such as strawberries, blackberries, blueberries can boost your heart health like never before. Berries are a powerful source of antioxidants such as anthocyanins that can offer strong protection against oxidative stress and inflammation that may lead to surge in the risk of heart diseases. Increased intake of anthocyanin may decrease coronary artery disease risk that may include hypertension and heart attack.
“We have to eat high fiber foods with low sugar index in them so that the sugar spikes do not occur. Wild, natural berries are high in antioxidants and are very healthy for the heart. You have to try and avoid saturated fat and seed oils. Natural oils are okay to a certain extent. Fish and oils from the walnuts contain a few essential fatty acids which are good for the heart,” says Dr. Srinivas Dinesh Kudva, Lilavati Hospital, Mumbai.
3. Avocados
Avocados are rich source of monosaturated fats that may lead to declined cholesterol levels and bring down risk of heart diseases. Avocados may help in improving LDL (bad) cholesterol levels. As the fruits is an excellent source of potassium, it can help in reducing blood pressure.
You should include fatty fish such as sardines, salmon to your diet as they contain Omega-3 fatty acid that offers benefits to your heart health. If you are unable to eat adequate amount of seafood, you may take fish oil for receiving your daily dose of Omega-3 fatty acids.
They have emerged a key source of fibre and other micronutrients such as copper and manganese. The dry fruit may reduce LDL (bad) and total cholesterol.
Disclaimer: This content is for general informational purposes only and should not replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider with any questions about your health or treatment options.
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