The news of a heart attack claiming the life of cricket legend Shane Warne at only 52 years of age has shocked many. His sudden passing has sparked an important conversation around men’s habits and their impact on cardiovascular health.
But according to Nicole Jennings, spokesperson for Pharma Dynamics, heart attacks are no longer just linked to the aged, as one in five heart attack patients are now younger than 40. “What many don’t realise is there are usually no signs or symptoms of high blood pressure (hypertension) or high cholesterol, yet both increase risk of a heart attack and stroke,” she related.
After HIV/Aids, heart disease is the leading cause of death in South Africa, where every hour five people suffer a heart attack. But heart disease is preventable, added Jennings. “The earlier you start to look after your health, the better for your heart. The first place to start is to recognise the risk factors for heart disease.”
These include: . Smoking, which damages blood vessels and contributes to heart disease. In fact, smokers are twice as likely to have a heart attack or stroke than non-smokers. Quitting at any age is beneficial, but the earlier the better. . Unhealthy eating leads to excess weight gain and obesity, which both cause cardiovascular disease. It also raises LDL (bad) cholesterol levels, which blocks the walls of blood vessels and increases blood pressure. . Excessive salt intake leads to water retention. This increases blood pressure and puts strain on blood vessels, the heart and other organs. The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends no more than 5 g per person of salt per day. To reduce your salt consumption, try to limit the amount of processed food and cut back on the amount of salt you add. . Physical inactivity heightens your risk of developing high blood pressure by 30 to 50% as well as other diseases like obesity and type 2 diabetes. Just 30 to 60 minutes of aerobic exercise (brisk walking, running, cycling or swimming) three to four times a week will help to keep your waistline in check, while improving cardiac functioning. . Heavy drinking can also lead to hypertension and heart failure as it contributes to cardiomyopathy – a disorder that impairs the heart muscle. . Stress, especially long-term stress increases cortisol (stress hormone) levels, which raises blood cholesterol, blood sugar and blood pressure – all common risk factors for heart disease. Chronic stress could also trigger unhealthy coping mechanisms, such as drinking, smoking and other substance abuse, which are all bad for your heart.
Small changes to a diet by eating more fruit, vegetables and whole grains and reducing salt consumption is a safe way to lose weight, than resorting to extreme dieting, Jennings explained.
“Proactive, preventative care is the best approach to reduce heart attack deaths among middle aged men,” she says. “We urge men 40 years and older to have regular heart checks done. Your doctor will also test for diabetes, another cause of heart disease and needs to be managed carefully.”
Chest pain and/or discomfort in arms, neck, jaw or back, dizziness, nausea, indigestion, sweating or shortness of breath are warning signs.
. If you experience any of these symptoms, contact national ambulance response on 10177, Netcare911 on 082 911 or ER24 on 084 124.
