| You've been feeling some tightness and pain in | | | | think you're having a heart attack or know |
| your chest and you think it may be heartburn. | | | | someone that is, call 911 quickly even if they |
| Was it those spicy burritos you had for lunch or | | | | deny they're having one. Have them sit (it may |
| something far worse? Sometimes the signs of a | | | | be easier for them to breathe) and rest. Ask |
| heart attack are unassuming. You may think: "I'm | | | | when the pain started, where it's located, if they |
| too young to have a heart attack" but what if it | | | | have a heart condition and if they're on |
| is a heart attack? Who gets them and what are | | | | medication. Keep calm and talk in a reassuring |
| the signs? | | | | voice-you want them to remain as calm as they |
| According to the American Red Cross, an | | | | can. |
| estimated 70 million Americans have some form | | | | As stated before, getting help quickly is |
| of cardiovascular disease with about 1 million of | | | | imperative. If the heart stops beating completely, |
| those dying each year. About half of that 1 million | | | | causing cardiac arrest, you should be prepared to |
| have heart attacks. The good news is heart | | | | administer CPR to get some oxygen flowing to |
| attack-related deaths have decreased by over | | | | their brain. CPR is a short-term solution until |
| 30% in the past 20 years. This dramatic drop is | | | | professional medical treatment arrives. |
| due, in part, to the constant awareness to make | | | | Making healthy life choices to prevent the heart |
| heart-healthy life changes such as eating better | | | | disease that can lead to heart ailments is the |
| foods, exercising regularly and quitting smoking. | | | | smartest gift we can give ourselves. As we all |
| The heart is the organ that pumps oxygen-rich | | | | know, smoking restricts blood flow, as does |
| blood throughout your body. So, when the heart | | | | cholesterol from "junk foods". Regular exercise |
| is diseased and can't function properly, it can beat | | | | can combat the damage done by smoking and |
| irregularly or stop beating altogether. This causes | | | | unhealthy foods. It helps increase blood circulation |
| oxygen depletion, which, to the outside observer, | | | | and can actually help the heart develop more |
| shows the victim breathing fast and turning bluish | | | | channels for the blood to travel. Exercise also |
| or pale. The stress put on the body from the | | | | reduces body fat, which, if excessive, can |
| malfunctioning heart can also cause the person to | | | | contribute to high blood pressure and heart |
| sweat and their pulse to race. | | | | disease. |
| How do you know if you're having a heart | | | | Keeping your blood pressure in check by |
| attack? The best indicator is if you've had | | | | exercising, eating right, and, if necessary, taking |
| constant chest pain (pain can range from | | | | medication can greatly reduce your chances of |
| discomfort to a crushing sensation). If the chest | | | | having a heart attack. Make time for exercise; it |
| pain doesn't lessen by changing positions and | | | | can reduce stress, combat infections, allow you to |
| hasn't gone away in 10 minutes; Indigestion will | | | | sleep better, lose weight, and just generally make |
| dissipate, a heart attack won't | | | | you feel better about yourself. If you have a |
| Believe it or not, most who die from a heart | | | | heart condition, you should check with your |
| attack do so within 2 hours after the first signs | | | | doctor to see what exercise regiment is best for |
| appear. Getting help quickly is crucial! Those who | | | | you. |
| hearts have stopped and been resuscitated have | | | | Begin making heart-wise life changes today to |
| less of chance of survival than those who sought | | | | have a happier, healthier tomorrow! |
| early treatment at the first warning signs. If you | | | | |