Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death worldwide. Knowing the symptoms of a heart attack and adopting healthy habits can significantly reduce your risk.
The heart, the tireless engine of the human body, beats about 100,000 times a day to keep us alive. However, despite its vital importance, cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of death worldwide.
Faced with this situation, specialists warn that knowing the symptoms of a heart attack and adopting preventive habits can mean the difference between life and death.
Different symptoms in men and women
The specialist pointed out that heart attacks do not manifest themselves the same way in all patients.
In men, the most common symptoms include severe chest pain radiating to the left arm, difficulty breathing, and profuse sweating.
In women, however, more discreet signs may appear, such as extreme tiredness, dizziness, nausea, and pain in the upper back or neck.
These differences mean that heart attacks in women sometimes go undetected. The American Heart Association (AHA) warns that women are 50% more likely than men to not receive a correct diagnosis during a cardiac event.
Age as a risk factor
Although a heart attack can occur at any time in life, there are more vulnerable age groups:
- Men: From the age of 45-50, the risk increases considerably.
- Women: after menopause, usually between 55 and 60 years of age.
- Children: Cases are very rare, but certain congenital heart diseases increase the risk from an early age.
Prevention: The Key to a Healthy Heart
Dr. Merino emphasized that more than 80% of heart disease cases could be prevented with regular medical checkups and a healthy lifestyle. Some of the most effective recommendations are:
- Follow the DASH diet, rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains and low in salt.
- Maintain daily physical activity of at least 30 minutes with exercises such as walking, swimming, or cycling.
- Control stress with techniques such as meditation, yoga, or deep breathing.
- Avoid tobacco and excessive alcohol consumption.
- Have regular medical checkups to detect high blood pressure or high cholesterol.
“Taking care of your heart isn’t just a medical issue; it’s an investment in your quality of life,” the cardiologist emphasized.