Asian News from UK

Tag: Heart attack

  • 3 Minutes of Activity Cuts Heart Attack Risk by 51%

    3 Minutes of Activity Cuts Heart Attack Risk by 51%

    Female participants who averaged 3.4 minutes of VILPA daily were 51 per cent less likely to suffer a heart attack and 67 per cent less likely to develop heart failure than those who did no VILPA…reports Asian Lite News

    Australian research has found that short daily bursts of intense physical activity could reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events among middle-aged women by almost half.

    The research, which was published on Wednesday by the University of Sydney, found that an average of four minutes of vigorous intermittent lifestyle physical activity (VILPA) a day significantly reduces the risk of major cardiovascular events, including heart attacks, for middle aged women, Xinhua news agency reported.

    It found that women aged 40-79 who did not engage in regular structured exercise but averaged 3.4 minutes of VILPA daily were 45 per cent less likely to experience a major cardiovascular event than those who did no VILPA.

    Emmanuel Stamatakis, lead author of the study, said that daily incidental vigorous activity completed in short bursts lasting up to one minute was shown to improve heart health outcomes in middle-aged women.

    “Making short bursts of vigorous physical activity a lifestyle habit could be a promising option for women who are not keen on structured exercise or are unable to do it for any reason,” he said in a media release.

    “As a starting point, it could be as simple as incorporating throughout the day a few minutes of activities like stair climbing, carrying shopping, uphill walking, playing tag with a child or pet, or either uphill or power walking.”

    The study drew on data from 22,368 participants in the United Kingdom (UK) Biobank study who wore physical activity trackers between 2013 and 2015.

    Cardiovascular health was monitored through hospital and mortality records until November 2022.

    Female participants who averaged 3.4 minutes of VILPA daily were 51 per cent less likely to suffer a heart attack and 67 per cent less likely to develop heart failure than those who did no VILPA.

    A minimum of 1.2 minutes of VILPA per day was associated with a 30 per cent lower risk of total major cardiovascular events, a 33 per cent lower risk of heart attack, and a 40 per cent lower risk of heart failure.

    Men were found to experience fewer health benefits from VILPA. Those who averaged 5.6 minutes daily were only 16 per cent less likely to experience a major cardiovascular event than those who did none.

    ALSO READ-Long-Term Heart Risks Vital in Hypertension Treatment

  • Heatstroke is predictable and preventable

    Heatstroke is predictable and preventable

    This test is done to check your core body temperature. Rectal temperature is more accurate than mouth or forehead temperatures. It is the most accurate way of determining your core body temperature…writes Dr Sunita Kapoor

    Extreme temperatures can increase health risks for people with chronic conditions, including problems with the heart, brain, kidneys, and muscles. With the mercury soaring day by day in summer, our bodies tend to overheat, leading to heatstroke, which usually happens because of prolonged exposure to or physical exertion in high temperatures. This condition is most common in the summer months. 

    Cases of heart failure, heart attacks, and strokes rise in the hot weather. Heart attacks and strokes occur due to interruptions in the normal flow of blood to the heart or brain—the two most vital organs. According to research, patients with heart diseases may be particularly vulnerable to heat injury. This means that you can be at greater risk if you have a heart condition.

    How does hot weather affect the heart and brain?

    Exposure to high temperatures can not only increase the risk of heat stroke and heat exhaustion but also put the heart at risk. Heat can put stress on the cardiovascular system, making the heart work harder. Hot weather also means that your whole body has to work harder to keep its core temperature to normal levels. This puts extra strain on your heart, lungs, and kidneys. 

    In the absence of a quick response to a lower body temperature, heatstroke can cause the brain and other vital organs to swell, possibly resulting in permanent damage. So, heatstroke can be fatal, without prompt and adequate treatment. 

    Heatstroke symptoms 

    Heatstroke signs and symptoms may include a high body temperature, altered mental state or behavior, nausea and vomiting, dizziness, fainting, muscle cramps, shallow and fast breathing, a heat rash, an alteration in sweating, and a headache. In addition, flushed skin, and edema (swelling) in the ankles are also some of the symptoms. The main sign of heatstroke is a core body temperature of 104 F (40 C) or higher, obtained with a rectal thermometer. 

    Diagnosis

    Usually, heatstroke is apparent to the doctors, if you have it, but laboratory tests can also confirm the diagnosis, besides ruling out other causes of your symptoms and assessing organ damage. Diagnostic tests include:

    Body temperature: This test is done to check your core body temperature. Rectal temperature is more accurate than mouth or forehead temperatures. It is the most accurate way of determining your core body temperature.

    Blood test: This test is done to check your blood kidney function, serum electrolyte levels, and the content of arterial gases in your blood. 

    Urine test: It is done to check the colour, specific gravity, and microscopic contents of urine, which can be affected by heat stroke.

    In addition to these tests, we must perform an ECG and echocardiography to evaluate and diagnose heart failure. Also, CT or MRI of the brain is done if we suspect stroke in any patient, of which MRI is the investigation of choice.

    Heart attack.(Photo:Pixabay.com)

    Treatment

    Treatment for heatstroke is focused on cooling down your body to regain its normal temperature. This is done to prevent further damage to your heart, brain, and other vital organs. In that direction, your doctor may take the following steps:

    Immerse yourself in cold water

    Use evaporation cooling techniques

    Pack you with ice and cooling blankets

    Give medications to stop your shivering

    If you have signs or symptoms of heatstroke, then home treatment isn’t enough. You should seek immediate or emergency medical help. However, in case of a lesser heat emergency, such as heat exhaustion or heat cramps, the affected person can get to a shady or air-conditioned place, cool off with damp sheets and a fan, take a cool shower or bath, and rehydrate with fluids and ORS. Make sure you don’t drink sugary or alcoholic beverages to rehydrate. 

    If you think a person might be experiencing heat stroke, take immediate action and get him/her emergency treatment. While waiting for help, you can get the person into the shade or indoors, remove excess clothing, and cool the patient with whatever means are available. The good thing is that heatstroke is predictable and preventable. Those with heart conditions can follow some basic strategies for staying cool, like monitoring weather forecasts, drinking water every 20 minutes when outside, avoiding soda or fruit juice, limiting alcohol, and protecting their skin.

    (Dr. Sunita Kapoor, is a Director, and Consultant Pathologist at City X-ray & Scan Clinic)

    ALSO READ-Yoga and natural diet to nourish body

  • Dial 999: Save Your Heart

    Dial 999: Save Your Heart

    New NHS lifesaving campaign aims to raise awareness of lesser-known symptoms and encourage people to dial 999 without delay #HelpUsHelpYou

    A new life saving campaign from the NHS is raising awareness of the early signs of a heart attack in at risk communities following new research commissioned by Census wide which finds just 38% South Asians know squeezing across the chest is a symptom, compared to 58% of the wider public. This is despite the fact that South Asians are more likely to experience a heart attack in their lifetime.

    Neha Sekhri, Consultant Cardiologist at Barts Health NHS Trust

    The new survey finds that the public as a whole is widely misinformed on heart attacks, with 75% of respondents wrongly believing a heart attack is the same as a cardiac arrest.

    • A heart attack happens when the supply of blood to the heart gets blocked, starving the heart muscle of oxygen. A person having a heart attack will probably be conscious and breathing.
    • A cardiac arrest is different, it usually occurs suddenly and without warning with the person quickly losing consciousness. Their heart stops, they will have no pulse and sadly people experiencing a cardiac arrest will usually die within minutes if they do not receive treatment

    The survey also revealed that less than half of respondents would dial 999 if they or a loved one experienced lesser-known symptoms of a heart attack. Lesser-known symptoms of heart attacks include tightness or squeezing across the chest, a general sense of unease, sweating and shortness of breath. Anyone experiencing these symptoms should call 999 without delay, as rapid treatment increases the chance of a positive outcome.

    Whilst the symptoms of a heart attack may not initially feel severe, the longer it goes untreated the more damage to the heart tissue and can also lead to cardiac arrest which is why the NHS is urging people to dial 999.

    Neha Sekhri, Consultant Cardiologist at Barts Health NHS Trust, says “Heart and circulatory disease, also known as cardiovascular disease, causes a quarter of all deaths in the UK and is the largest cause of premature mortality in deprived areas. This is one of the biggest areas where the NHS can save lives over the next 10 years. It can be easy to dismiss early warning signs as they don’t always feel painful, but if in doubt call 999 and describe your symptoms to the operator – the sooner you act, the better your chance of a full recovery.”

    Heart disease is the leading cause of premature death in deprived areas, but many of these deaths could be prevented through greater awareness and fast action.

    For more information, visit nhs.uk/heartattack