A heart attack is a life-threatening condition that occurs when the blood flow to a part of the heart muscle is reduced or blocked, usually due to a buildup of plaque in the coronary arteries. This blockage makes it difficult for the heart muscle to receive enough amounts of oxygen and nutrients, causing damage and eventually a heart attack.
The good news is that about 90% of people survive a heart attack. However, the number can vary based on factors like age, severity of the attack, and how quickly the treatment is given. If you're someone who has survived a heart attack, remember, the battle is not over. It is always crucial to maintain healthy habits to prevent another attack. Here's what a cardiologist recommends.
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Key Factors That Play A Role In Surviving A Heart Attack
Several factors influence survival after a heart attack. The most important one is timely medical intervention. This includes early recognition of symptoms, followed by prompt diagnosis and treatment.
Common signs of a heart attack are chest pain or discomfort, shortness of breath, and pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach. Other than that, patients may also experience cold sweats, nausea, lightheadedness, and feeling faint.
Moreover, lifestyle choices like maintaining a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and managing conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure significantly improve outcomes.
Lifestyle Habits That Can Prevent Another Heart Attack
According to Dr Saurabh Deshpande, Consultant, Cardiology and Cardiac Electrophysiology (Heart Rhythm Specialist), Jaslok Hospital & Research Centre, Mumbai, to reduce the risk of a repeat attack, the main focus should be on adopting a healthy lifestyle. The word includes “life’s essential 8” – as per the latest guidelines. These 8 habits are:
Eat better: Healthy eating patterns like consuming whole grains, lots of fruits and vegetables, lean protein, nuts, and seeds can reduce the risk of a second heart attack. Dr Deshpande says, "There are a lot of different types of diets, but the common points that should be kept in mind while following any of these diets are maintaining a healthy diet pattern, rather than focusing on individual nutrients; adding plenty and a variety of colourful and fresh fruits and vegetables; avoiding canned/preserved forms of these foods; and incorporating healthy sources of protein like legumes and nuts, soybeans and soy products, eggs, and non-fried fish and seafood.
In addition, avoid trans-fatty acids completely, reduce sweets and sugar-sweetened beverage intake, limit alcohol consumption to moderate intake, under guidance of your doctor, and control the portion sizes and avoid overeating.
Be more active: Dr Deshpande recommends 150 minutes of moderate-intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous physical activity per week. “It’s called ‘cardiac rehabilitation’,” he says, explaining, “The term includes various types of activities that one can undertake to improve heart health. Carrying out moderate exercise is at the centre of that. One should always start slowly after heart illness and gradually increase one’s activity as per the advice of your healthcare professional.”
Quit tobacco: Any type of nicotine ingestion, like cigarettes, e-cigarettes, vaping, etc., is harmful towards heart problems. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), every year, 10.9 lakh people succumb to tobacco-induced heart disease.
Get healthy sleep: At least 7-9 hours of sleep each night is recommended for heart health. Over time, sleep issues can cause sleep conditions like sleep apnoea and insomnia, which can take a toll on your heart. Sleep apnoea occurs when the airway gets blocked repeatedly during sleep, causing you to stop breathing for short amounts of time. Insomnia, on the other hand, refers to trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or both.
Manage and keep a healthy weight: According to Dr Deshpande, keeping an optimal Body Mass Index (BMI) of <25 kg/m² is also crucial for heart health. Obesity significantly increases the risk of heart attack and other cardiovascular diseases. Carrying excess weight puts extra strain on the heart in more ways than one. It can directly affect how well your heart functions and also raise the risk of conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes, both of which make heart disease more likely.
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Control cholesterol: It is also important to monitor and keep different types of cholesterol in check with the help of your health professional. Cholesterol actually is a waxy, fat-like substance that is important for various bodily functions. However, high levels of certain types of cholesterol, like Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, in the blood can lead to a buildup of plaque in arteries, a condition called atherosclerosis, which can increase the risk of heart disease. On the other hand, High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol can reduce the risk of heart diseases.
Manage blood sugars: Routine testing of sugars like HbA1c and keeping them under control is very important to reduce and prevent the risk of heart diseases like heart attacks.
Manage Blood Pressure: High blood pressure is one of the leading risk factors for a heart attack. Dr Deshpande advises keeping blood pressure in the normal range, which generally varies with the age groups. “In general, keeping it below 130 mmHg systolic (upper number) and 90 mmHg diastolic (lower number) should be targeted, unless your healthcare professional has advised some other range based on some other illness,” he recommends.
Importance Of Medication Adherence
For people who have survived a heart attack, it's very important to maintain a healthy lifestyle. But it is as important to adhere to the medications prescribed by the doctors. This includes regular use of medications for keeping blood sugars, pressure, cholesterol, etc. in check.
“In addition to that, depending upon the type of treatment one has received at the time of heart attack, a few other medications are added, like blood thinners, supportive medications for heart pumping, etc., which are required to be taken for a long period,” says Dr Deshpande. “All these medications shouldn’t be stopped or altered unless advised by your healthcare professional.”
Conclusion
Surviving a heart attack is a relief for both the patient and their family. However, it is only the beginning of your heart health journey. To prevent another attack, it’s crucial to adopt healthy lifestyle habits, like eating well, staying active, managing weight, getting enough sleep, and keeping conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol under control. Just as important is taking your medications exactly as prescribed and staying in regular touch with your healthcare provider. With consistency and care, you can significantly reduce the risk of another heart event and lead a healthier, longer life.