Listen to your Family Doctor on HEART ATTACK

        It is the number one killer in the world. By 2020, India would be the largest affected with this ruthless assassin. Today, 1/5th of all deaths are because of Heart attack and by the year 2020, the figure would be 1/3rd. In addition to that, heart diseases in India occur at a very young age, when compared to the west. About 4.5 crore patients suffer from Heart Attacks in India.
       Heart attack is a situation when a part of the heart muscle is damaged or dies because it isn’t receiving oxygen. Oxygen is carried to the heart by arteries (blood vessels) and most Heart attacks are caused by a blockage in these arteries. But in certain cases they are also caused by a blood clot that gets stuck in a narrow part of an artery to the heart.

How would you know it?
      Some Heart attacks are sudden and intense, the typical “movie Heart attacks”. But most Heart attacks start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort. Often people affected aren’t sure what’s wrong and wait too long before getting help. Here are a few signs that can mean a Heart attack is imminent.

• Chest discomfort: Most Heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest which lasts for more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.
• Discomfort in other areas of the upper body: Pain or Discomfort in one or both arms, back, neck, jaw or stomach.
• Shortness of breath: May occur with or without chest discomfort.
• Others: may include cold sweat, nausea or light headedness.

Who’s at risk?
            Anyone who has the following is at risk of having a Heart Attack:

• Smoking
• Diabetes
• High cholesterol level
• High Blood Pressure
• Family History of Heart attack
• Atherosclerosis (Hardening of the arteries)
• Lack of exercise
• Obesity

How would you prevent it?
            The only way to do it is to control the risk factors.

• Quit smoking if you are a chimney (Don’t start, if you don’t smoke)
• Eat a healthy diet to lower cholesterol and blood pressure
• Control your blood sugar if you have diabetes.
• Regular exercise (atleast 30 minutes for 5 days a week)
• Lose weight if you are obese.
• Control your blood pressure to avoid hypertension.

Any more doubts? You can talk to Medwin, your family doctor.

        Medwin is one of the leading health care centers in the state. With 15 years of unmatched expertise, backed by advanced technology and continous research. Medwin has given health care in the state a new dimension. Today, it offers world-class medical services with personalized care, just like your family doctor.

• 40 departments of medicine
• State-of-the-art infrastructure
• 24 hr availability of specialists
• 24 hr emergency services
• Critical Care Management