Ballywho News

Although many factors that increase your heart attack risk (such as age, gender, family history, and ethnicity) are out of your control, most risk factors rest on lifestyle choices you make every day. Even small changes toward better overall health can improve your heart health—and help stave off a heart attack.

• Lower your cholesterol: Over time, cholesterol collects in the arteries of the heart, causing blockage and restricting blood flow. Cholesterol over 240 raises the risk for heart attack, and the higher the number, the higher a patient’s risk. Diet significantly contributes to cholesterol, so talk to a nutritionist or dietitian about ways to reduce cholesterol in your diet.
• Give your heart a break: High blood pressure makes your heart work harder all the time. As a result the muscles of the heart eventually begin to thicken and get rigid. The heart then pumps less efficiently, making heart attack more likely. In conjunction with other factors like diabetes or obesity, high blood pressure increases the risk for heart attack several times over. The right diet and exercise routine can help maintain healthy blood pressure.
• Don’t forget that your heart is a muscle: Just as you work the other muscles in your body, you also need to give your heart a workout. That’s the purpose of “cardio,” which refers to cardiovascular exercise. Even starting a short walk every day can lower heart attack risk. Swimming, cycling, and jogging are all also excellent options. Let your doctor help you start a safe exercise routine, and enjoy lowered heart attack risk. Exercise usually also helps to lower blood pressure, cholesterol, and weight.
• Stay away from tobacco smoke: Smoking at least doubles a person’s risk of heart attack, in addition to increasing risk for other health complications like lung and breast cancer. Those exposed to secondhand smoke also face elevated chance of heart attack. Get help kicking the habit, and ask smokers to take it outside, so that the house is a smoke-free zone. If you or someone in your family smokes, look into community-based smoking cessation classes at your local hospital. The extra support can make all the difference in a patient’s ability to completely kick the habit.
• Regulate your reaction to stress: All of us face stress every day, but the way you handle it can significantly impact health. Failure to manage stress in a healthy way can raise blood pressure and heart rate. Look for ways to incorporate stress-busting habits into your daily routine, and take time to relax each day, even if only for a few minutes.
• Maintain healthy weight: Extra weight puts extra stress on every part of the body, from joints to the heart. Meanwhile extra weight, especially carried around the abdomen, has been correlated to increased risk of heart attack. Losing even ten pounds can decrease risk of heart attack.

Exceptional Treatment is Key

Even people who do everything they can to reduce their risk may still suffer a heart attack. When that happens, getting the right care is critical; when it comes to heart attack diagnosis and treatment, not all hospitals are equal. If you or someone in your family is at risk for heart attack, do a little research. Find out which hospitals in your area have specialized cardiac care. The hospitals of HCA West Florida offer patients outstanding heart attack care. Every hospital in the division has earned accreditation as Certified Chest Pain Center:

Central Florida
Central Florida Regional Hospital
Osceola Regional Hospital

Hernando, Pasco & Citrus Counties
Oak Hill Hospital
Community Hospital
Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point

Hillsborough County
Brandon Regional Hospital
South Bay Hospital

Manatee, Sarasota & Charlotte Counties
Blake Medical Center
Doctors Hospital of Sarasota
Englewood Community Hospital
Fawcett Memorial Hospital

Pinellas County
Edward White Hospital
Largo Medical Center
Northside Hospital
St. Petersburg General Hospital

If you have questions about heart attack prevention and treatment, please contact us at HCA West Florida. Visit us online or call Consult-a-Nurse® at 1-877-442-2362 for answers to your questions and free physician referrals.