Since heart attacks are the leading causes of death worldwide, knowing the signs could mean the difference between life and death. Contrary to some belief, heart attacks do not always have to be a “chest-grabbing” incident. Many people experiencing a heart attack actually thought it was just heart burn or chest muscle pains. And it doesn’t even have to be a one-time discomfort. You can experience recurring symptoms, which may feel mild one day and the next day severe, before an actual heart attack happens. So before you put yourself or your loved ones in serious dangers, here are some heart attack signs to look for.

The most classic heart attack sign is a feeling of discomfort in the middle of the chest. It could be a sudden dull pain that could subside after a few minutes. But remember that this kind of chest discomfort always come back. You may also feel an uncomfortable squeezing, pressure of even fullness aside from the mild to severe pain. This chest discomfort is actually because of the oxygen shortage in the heart muscle. Some pain actually spread to the left arm, lower jaw, back and stomach region.

Another heart attack sign is the sudden shortness of breath. This is because the left part of the heart has limited output, eventually damaging the heart. You will also exhibit other heart attack signs such as sweating, nausea, weakness, vomiting, light headedness and palpitations. Some persons lose consciousness when having a heart attack while others die suddenly.

In females, heart attack signs vary a little. The most common signs include weakness, dyspnea and fatigue. Sleep disturbances are also reported for a period as long as a month before an actual heart attack occurs. Not all persons with heart tissue damage will experience pain or discomfort. In fact, almost 30% of heart attack cases did not exhibit classic chest pain or other heart attack signs. It will only be confirmed after a medical investigation is done,

Individuals at risk of a heart attack are those who have a genetic disposition to it (family history), diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, high LDL levels and low HDL levels. People, who smoke, drink excessively, eat fatty foods, do not exercise and stressed, are also at risk of having a heart attack. These kinds of habits can be severely damaging to your body, and can ultimately prove to be fatal.

Heart attacks occur when one or more of the heart’s arteries are blocked.Blood flow is reduced or stopped from reaching part of the heart muscle. Prior to the attack, the artery walls usually have a buildup of fatty deposits, which can cause the artery to rupture. A blood clot forms, blocking the artery. No blood flow to the heart for only a few minutes can be fatal.

Now for the good news: prevention is possible! But you can’t just sit on your humongous hemorrhoid-ridden butt! Making a few changes in your lifestyle can help you to avoid a heart attack.

DIET

Olive oil, just a tablespoon a day, can help to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. Simply get it in a salad, sautéed vegetables or fish that has a low-mercury content. Eggs, meat, and nuts are no longer off limits. Moderation is key in each of these areas. A few eggs a week, 4 to 6- ounce cuts of lean meat and a few nuts (not the entire can) are all healthy for you. It’s when they are consumed in high quantities that they can cause health problems. Include plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains in your daily regimen. Minimize your salt and sugar intake. Eating out can be a real challenge. If you are out with a friend or your spouse, share an entrée. At home use a smaller plate. Drink water before you eat. Eat slower, to allow your body to signal to the brain that it is full, which takes about twenty minutes. Many people would be surprised to find they don’t need as much food as they are accustomed to eating.

EXERCISE

Let’s get physical! Physical! Oh yeah I can picture Olivia Newton-John right now in that headband and purple spandex. The standard seems to be at least 30 minutes of physical activity daily. Thirty minutes will definitely help to keep your heart in shape, but 60 minutes a few times a week in addition will help to maintain a healthy weight too. Walking is probably one of the most popular forms of cardiovascular exercise and the least threatening for some people. Just by doing a one-mile walk outside or on your treadmill regularly can lower your heart rate and help with muscle definition and weight loss. For the more adventurous, try swimming, kick boxing, aerobics, jogging, bicycling, racquet ball, rock climbing, kayaking, canoeing, boxing or elliptical training. Are you a busy mom? Play a game of soccer or tag with your children in the back yard! If you’re really adventurous, go to the ghetto section near you and dodge bullets. The key is to keep moving.

REST

These days, it seems we are becoming increasingly more busy to the point of sacrificing proper rest. Allowing yourself to get a good night’s rest is something simple to do for heart health. According to recent studies conducted by Dr. Thomas Lee, editor of the Harvard Health Letter, heart disease is being linked to irregular sleep patterns and lack of sleep. It’s a domino effect really. When our bodies are deprived of the proper amount of sleep, our biological clock is thrown off which in turn causes adrenaline to surge, which causes our blood pressure to go up, and then we can be a candidate for a heart attack. Going to sleep is not a sign of weakness, rather a sign of strength. So pop in that Josh Groban cd or Michael Bolton’s greatest hits and get some sleep dammit! Simply said, adopt a balanced diet, exercise daily, and get a good night’s rest, and you’ll reduce your risk of a heart attack

Unlike type 1, insulin is still produced in people with type 2 diabetes, although the body isn’t able to recognize or utilize the insulin properly. This causes a condition known as insulin-resistance, where the glucose isn’t able to enter the cells, but instead builds up in the bloodstream, leaving the cells unable to function correctly.

Causes

The exact causes for type 1 diabetes are still not known. Researchers do know that genetics may play a role, as well as being exposed to certain types of viruses that may ultimately trigger the onset of the disease.  Although not every person with type 2 diabetes is overweight, being obese and getting a lack of exercise are two of the most common causes of the disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in the U.S., these two factors together are responsible for over 90% of all cases of diabetes.

Treatment

The proper treatment, which will depend upon the type of the disease, and ongoing care are both of the utmost importance for diabetes patients. By controlling the disease, the risks of other complications are decreased. Those with type 1 diabetes will need to faithfully monitor blood sugar levels, take insulin, maintain a normal weight, and stay physically active.

The majority of those diagnosed with type 2 diabetes will need to take oral medication to control the levels of glucose within the blood. Along with the many types of medication available for treating diabetes, dietary changes and a regular exercise routine are usually most recommended for further controlling the disease.

People with type 2 diabetes will also have to monitor the level of sugar in the blood, possibly needing to check the number as often as once or twice per day, or as little as once or twice per week.

Prevention

Although type 1 diabetes cannot yet be prevented, having a close family member, such as a parent or sibling with diabetes increases your own risk of developing the disease. Scientists are continuing to test various methods of preventing or at least delaying this type of diabetes using oral insulin, and studying new ways of preserving one’s insulin production.

Making healthy lifestyle choices are the most important means of preventing type 2 diabetes. Besides eating right, staying active, and losing excess weight, there are many risk factors associated with type 2 diabetes that can be avoided or controlled to lessen the chances of getting the disease.

These risk factors include:

- Eating a high-fat diet

- Having high blood pressure

- Having high levels of blood triglycerides (fats)

- Having gestational diabetes, or giving birth to a baby larger than 9 pounds

- Consuming large amounts of alcohol

- Having a sedentary lifestyle with little or no regular exercise

- Being overweight or obese

- Ethnicity, African Americans, Native Americans, Japanese and Hispanic

Americans all have a higher risk of developing diabetes as opposed to non- Hispanic whites

- Having a family history of the disease

- Age, the risk rises after age 45, and then rises again considerably after age 65

Effects

Serious side effects from diabetes usually occur when a person’s glucose (blood sugar) level remains high for long periods of time. These problems usually include kidney damage and dialysis, vision problems, heart disease, blood and circulation problems, damaged nerve cells in any part of your body. And that may lead to amputation (especially feet and legs).