According to data published by him, cardiovascular diseases are the main cause of death in Spain. In 2020, 119,853 people died from this cause in Spain.
Of these deaths, 13,927 were due to acute myocardial infarction. And it is that this pathology is the main cause of death in men and women in most countries around the world.
Acute myocardial infarction is a myocardial necrosis that occurs when blood flow in the coronary arteries is completely blocked -lack of blood supply to the heart muscle-, which causes the death of the cells in the affected area.
It is a medical emergency that requires immediate attention because the risk of death or serious complications in the short term is high.
Heart attack risk factors
Anyone can have a heart attack, however, not everyone is at the same risk. Genetic factors, lifestyle and environmental conditions determine, to a large extent, the probability of suffering an acute myocardial infarction.
But there are also circumstances, situations or personal conditions that increase the probability of suffering a heart attack, these are the so-called risk factors.
As explained by the doctor Eduardo Joyresponsible for the Interventional Cardiology Unit of Hospital Ruber Internacional, among these risk factors are age, sex and family history.
“As age increases, the risk of having a heart attack increases. Men over the age of 45 and women over the age of 55 have a higher chance of having an acute cardiac event than younger men and women. To prevent the risk of heart attack, it is important to carry out a cardiovascular check-up from the age of 40 ”, she points out.
In addition, there are other risk factors such as:
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Consume foods rich in fat.
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Arterial hypertension.
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High cholesterol levels.
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The overweight.
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Diabetes mellitus.
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sedentary lifestyle
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According to , an avoidable cardiovascular risk factor can be identified in up to 90% of heart attacks. For this reason, Dr. Eduardo Alegría insists on the importance of changing behaviors and lifestyle to avoid it and not develop cardiovascular diseases.
And among them, the cardiologist points out how “moderate physical activity helps prevent myocardial infarction.”
“All these well-controlled factors can significantly reduce the occurrence of acute myocardial infarction”, warns Dr. Alegría.
Symptoms that I am having a heart attack
The symptoms of a heart attack appear suddenly and are the following:
• Severe chest pain that makes breathing difficult, radiating to the left arm.
• Strong pressure in the heart area.
• General discomfort.
• Dizziness.
• Nausea.
• Cold sweat.
“When the symptoms appear, the risk of death or serious complications in the short term is high and the effectiveness of the treatment will depend on the time that elapses from the start of the symptoms until it is administered,” emphasizes Dr. Eduardo Alegría.
Reviews to determine the risk of heart attack
For this expert, the reduction of the risk of cardiovascular diseases and myocardial infarction begins with an appropriate evaluation of the individual risk, the correct communication to the patient of the implications of the identified risk levels and the treatment according to the particularities of the profile. of each patient.
In this way, cardiovascular diseases can be diagnosed and treated with the most advanced techniques of modern cardiology and, thus, be able to treat those heart attacks that need urgent revascularization early, make the artery that has been clogged permeable and return to the heart. all the blood flow it needs for proper functioning.