Knowing these could save your life

As lives and careers become more hectic and people across the world work at faster paces, incidences of heart attacks, strokes and other lifestyle related diseases are increasing everyday and everywhere. It is now tough to know and recognize when and where a person might suffer a heart attack or a stroke.

At such a time, it is necessary to keep in mind certain simple indicators to have a better chance of surviving such an attack. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Federal Citizen Information Center have recently published a free package of publications – ‘Life Savers’ that provide detailed information about the symptoms of these diseases and ways in which risks can be lowered. Acquiring a copy would be a really wise thing to do.

One of most important steps towards saving your life could be a simple blood pressure check. High blood pressure plays a major role in causing both heart disease and stroke and controlling it and knowing the warning signs of these diseases could be the only difference between life and death. Heart disease is today one of the leading causes of death across the world. Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the US and also a major cause of fatalities across the world.

When veins and arteries become clogged, they force the heart to work harder to pump blood and this leads to heart disease. Strokes happen when brain cells start dying due to cutting off of the brain’s blood supply due to extreme blood pressure, a blood clot or a ruptured artery. Risk factors for both stroke and heart disease are the same and can be brought under control be leading a proper life style. Some ways of doing so include leading an active life, eating the right food, keeping diabetes under control and staying away from smoking. But most important is making sure at regular intervals that your blood pressure is under control.

Having knowledge of some symptoms of these two conditions can be the difference between saving your own life or the life of a loved one and losing it. For example, chest pain isn't the only sign of heart disease. Women can be in trouble even if they find trouble breathing, feel pain in the back between the shoulders, or have an ache in the chest. Another important and perhaps the most dangerous sign is constant, extreme tiredness, even after getting enough sleep.

When it comes to strokes, men and women have the same symptoms. These include a feeling of numbness in the face or a limb, sight-loss in either or both eyes, unexpected dizziness and falling, or suddenly finding yourself confused and having trouble speaking and understanding.

If you find any of these symptoms in you or your loved ones, it’s time to call for immediate, emergency medical help. Today medications are available that can arrest the onset of a heart attack and reduce the long-term effects of a stroke. But most of these medications work only if administered on time.

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