Heart attacks are a sudden and potentially fatal complication. They are triggered when the heart is starved of blood and oxygen, often due to a buildup of cholesterol – a waxy substance that can clog up your arteries. Delaying a heart attack may prove fatal so acting on the warning signs if and when they appear is essential.
According to the NHS, other signs that your shortness of breath is serious include:
- It’s lasted for longer than a month
- It gets worse when you have been active
- It gets worse when you lie down
- You have been coughing for three weeks or more
- You have swollen ankles
What to do in the event of a heart attack
According to the British Heart Foundation (BHF), it’s essential to dial 999 if you have symptoms that could be a heart attack, or if your heart symptoms get worse.
“Don’t worry if you’re not completely sure whether your symptoms are a heart attack, it’s really important that you seek medical attention regardless as quickly as possible,” explains the BHF.
Next, you should:
- Sit down and rest
- Take a 300mg aspirin if you have one within arm’s reach
- Stay calm and wait for the paramedics.
LDL cholesterol is often branded the “bad” cholesterol because it sticks to your artery walls, hiking your risk of heart disease.
Foods high in saturated fat include:
- Pies
- Fried foods
- Sausages and fatty cuts of meat
- Butter
- Ghee (a type of butter often used in Indian cooking)
- Lard
- Cream
- Hard cheese
- Cakes and biscuits
- Foods that contain coconut or palm oil
Physical activity can also help reduce your risk of heart and circulatory disease, notes the BHF.
“It can also help you control your weight, reduce blood pressure and cholesterol and improve your mental health,” adds the health body.