World Heart Day was first introduced in 1999, on September 19. Since then, it is celebrated every year. This Heart Day aims to spread awareness and inform people from all over the world about cardiovascular disease or CVD. World Heart Day promotes different preventative initiatives and lifestyle changes that reduce heart problems symptoms and bring down the risk of cardiovascular diseases such as stroke, heart attack, heart failure, and other heart-related problems.
This year, the World Heart Federation has engaged with online health corporations to celebrate World Heart Day.
Read on to find out what is heart failure, what causes heart attacks, the different heart problems symptoms to watch out for, and a great supplement to keep your heart in good shape.
What is Heart Failure?
Heart failure is a medical condition where the heart fails to pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs. It can occur due to various reasons, such as damage to the heart muscle, high blood pressure, or heart valve problems. For those wanting to understand what is heart failure it is vital to have an insight into the symptoms to expect.
What are the Symptoms of a Heart Attack?
Heart disease or heart problems symptoms include:
- Running out of breath while doing an activity or while lying down
- Weakness and fatigue
- Swollen ankles, legs, and feet
- Irregular or rapid heartbeat
- Rapid weight gain is also one of the heart problems symptoms
Why Do Youngsters Suffer from Heart Attacks?
A few years back, heart attack was a health issue usually faced by older people. Back then, it was extremely rare for people under 40 to experience a heart attack. In recent days, however, one in five patients with heart problems is under 40.
The growth in heart problems amongst youngsters was first noticed in 2000. It began to grow by two percent every year till 2016. So what causes heart attacks, especially in youngsters?
Well, this is mostly because of the changed lifestyle. Just because you are younger, it does not mean that you might not face heart health problems or heart problems symptoms. In fact, youngsters face the same issues as older patients.
On the occasion of World Heart Day, we are sharing some of the most common factors that lead to problems like heart attacks:
1. Vaping or Smoking
Smoking cigarettes is one of the top dangerous factors that can cause heart problems in youngsters. The risk of having a heart attack grows with every cigarette you smoke. Consuming one pack every day can double the risk of having a heart attack.
In recent days, vaping has become a trend for young adults, including teenagers. E-cigarettes like vape pens, e-cigs, etc., contain nicotine and some other toxic compounds. This can increase the heart rate and blood pressure, which contributes to heart attack-related symptoms.
2. Substance Abuse
Using substances can increase the risk of experiencing a heart attack at a young age. For example, cocaine and marijuana make your heart rate faster, tighten the blood vessels, and increase blood pressure, which in turn damages your heart health.
3. Stress
You might not have thought about it ever, but stress can be a risk factor for issues like heart attacks. Some research has shown that there is a close relationship between stress and coronary heart problems.
Stress can also intensify the other factors of heart attacks. For instance, people who are stressed a lot might end up overeating, smoking, and consuming substances like marijuana to release their stress. These things would, in turn, increase the risk of a heart attack.
4. Alcohol
Consuming alcohol too much could increase blood pressure and raise the chances of stroke, cardiomyopathy, cancer, etc. It could also lead to issues like irregular heartbeats and high triglycerides, which may cause fatty liver disease. Excessive consumption of alcohol can also lead to obesity, suicide, accidents, and alcoholism. However, consuming one or two drinks every day might not lead to such issues.
5. Unhealthy Diet
One is exposed to the risk of heart attack if your diet contains trans fat, cholesterol, or saturated fats. Moreover, consuming too much salt can increase the risk of high blood pressure.
Having a healthy diet is the best weapon for fighting against the issues related to heart attacks. What you are eating every day can impact the factors that help in improving heart health, such as blood pressure, being overweight, diabetes, and cholesterol.
How to Prevent a Heart Attack?
There are several ways to make your heart healthy and avoid developing heart problems symptoms. This World Heart Day let us pledge to make our heart healthy and strong through conscious choices:
1. Eat Healthy
You must add foods filled with nutrition like vitamins, fibers, minerals, etc. These compounds are low in calories. Consuming sugar-sweetened products can make you gain weight. Thus, make sure to consume fewer sweets or beverages that are sweetened with sugar. Add whole grains, fruits, as vegetables to your diet.
2. Be Active
Doing exercise regularly while maintaining a good diet is the most effective way to control your weight. Once you start to maintain your weight, it decreases the risk of high blood pressure. Exercising every day would make the blood circulation and heart system healthier, reduce cholesterol levels, help to balance your blood pressure and keep stress at bay.
This can also decrease the risk of having a heart attack. Like all of the body muscles, the heart also benefits from regular exercise. A healthy person could pump more blood than before with minimum effort. Any kind of aerobic exercise like swimming, dancing as well as walking can help keep your heart healthy.
3. Maintain Your Blood Pressure
You can maintain a healthy blood pressure [ less than 120/80 mmHg] by consuming a healthy diet, exercising every day, and, if necessary, taking medicines. The targeted blood pressure needs to be under 140/90mmHg for patients with cardiovascular disease or chronic kidney disease.
4. Stop smoking
If you want to reduce the risk of heart attack, then this World Heart Day the very first thing you need to do is stop smoking. If you are unable to control your smoking habit, then you can go for solutions like Nicotine gums or patches.
5. Stop Consuming Alcohol Excessively
If you wonder what causes heart attacks and are consuming alcohol daily, then you have your answer right there in your glass. Alcohol is very bad for your heart as well as your entire health. You must limit your alcohol consumption. One should not drink more than fourteen units a week. However, if you drink occasionally or once a week, then it won’t be harmful to your health.
Krill Oil By TrueBasics
If you want to make your heart health a priority this World Heart Day, then switching to healthier supplements is only a natural choice. One such great option is the Krill Oil by TrueBasics. It is a premium supplement that harnesses the power of Omega-3 fatty acids. Sourced from pristine Antarctic waters, this high-quality supplement ensures purity and sustainability.
What sets TrueBasics Krill Oil apart is its superior bioavailability compared to other sources of Omega-3s.
- The Omega-3 fatty acids in Krill Oil are in a phospholipid form, allowing for easier absorption by the body, maximizing their health benefits.
- TrueBasics Krill Oil contains astaxanthin, a potent antioxidant that protects cells from oxidative stress.
The benefits of TrueBasics Krill Oil are numerous.
- It supports heart health by reducing triglyceride levels, lowering blood pressure, and maintaining healthy cholesterol levels.
- Omega-3s also play a crucial role in brain function and mental health, supporting memory, focus, and alleviating symptoms of depression and anxiety.
- The anti-inflammatory properties of Krill Oil benefit joint health, reducing pain and stiffness.
- Astaxanthin in Krill Oil contributes to skin health, protecting against aging and promoting a youthful complexion.
- DHA, an Omega-3 fatty acid in Krill Oil, supports eye health, protecting against age-related macular degeneration and other eye conditions.
Conclusion
On the occasion of World Heart Day, let’s all pledge to start taking steps towards achieving better heart health. All you need to do is follow these above-mentioned steps to avoid symptoms associated with heart issues.
Several factors can contribute to damaging your heart health, including smoking, alcoholism, high blood pressure, etc. If you notice any heart problems symptoms, then you can easily prevent them and enjoy your young adulthood healthily by following the above-mentioned steps.
