Sunday marks World Heart Day, and we at United Family want to promote positive heart health. Every year, there are 600,000 new cases of myocardial infarction in our country, with only 5% of patients receiving timely treatment. Even in first-tier cities with higher medical standards, timely treatment of myocardial infarction patients cannot be guaranteed.
◎ Traffic Congestion
If a patient experiences a sudden heart attack during the morning or evening rush hour, the difficulty of travel during this time can be imagined.◎ Hesitation
Most people who are not medical professionals do not have a clear understanding of the treatment for a heart attack. Therefore, when something happens, they often have to call acquaintances or friends for advice or search on Baidu, wasting precious time.
◎ Misdiagnosis
Some symptoms of a heart attack are atypical, such as stomach pain, toothache, neck pain, arm pain, back pain, and even headaches, making it difficult for patients and their families to determine.
Treatment of a heart attack can be summed up in one word：FAST！
Once a myocardial infarction is confirmed, emergency coronary angiography and interventional treatment (balloon expansion and/or stent implantation) should be carried out as soon as possible. If conditions do not permit this, intravenous thrombolysis should be administered promptly.
Picture source: Bigstock
The best doctor prevents illness before it occurs. Wouldn't it be great if we didn't have heart attacks at all?
Based on our experience in cardiology, the following six points are the secrets to preventing heart attacks.
1
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Adult men
No matter how good you feel, if you're an adult male, you should go to the hospital for a treadmill test annually.
Heart attacks are becoming common in people increasingly younger, so don't ignore heart health just because you are young. There are many people in their 20s who die suddenly from heart attacks.
A treadmill test can detect any issues. Most heart attacks can be avoided if problems are found and treated in time.
2
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Menopausal and post-menopausal women
Menopausal or post-menopausal women, regardless of whether they have symptoms, should consult with a cardiologist and undergo heart health checkups.
Estrogen in women acts as a protective umbrella for the heart and blood vessels, so women with regular menstruation rarely suffer from heart attacks. However, once the protection of estrogen is lost, the probability of having a heart attack can be even higher than that of men of the same age.
3
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Smokers
Smokers, whether they are smoking cigarettes, cigars, e-cigarettes, or consuming other tobacco-like products, are theoretically some of the most likely to suffer heart attacks.
If you can't quit smoking but want to avoid heart attacks, go to the Cardiology Department for a thorough heart examination every year.
4
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Metabolic syndrome
People who have a mix of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and/or high blood sugar need to control their levels strictly.
Picture source：Bigstock
Metabolic syndrome is the main culprit behind heart attacks. It's important to take any medication or receive any injections that are needed. Keep metabolic syndrome under control, and heart attacks will stay away.
5
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Weight management
Being overweight or obese is an important risk factor for heart attacks. It's essential to try and maintain a healthy weight and diet.
6
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Lifestyle factors
Irritability + Staying up late + Lack of exercise is an equation for heart issues. Make sure to get enough sleep, don't ignore your mental health, and get regular exercise to avoid heart attacks.
Picture source：Bigstock
Many people think that heart attacks occur suddenly, but in fact, they do not. Heart attacks are the result of a gradual accumulation of issues. Quantitative changes lead to qualitative changes; there are no symptoms during the quantitative phase, but the qualitative change happens instantly.
Love yourself; start from the heart!
Chair of the Cardiovascular Center, Cardiologist
