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Most heart attacks arise due to the blockage of one or more coronary arteries. Coronary arteries are vital as they transport both oxygen and blood to the heart. Lack of sufficient blood flow to the heart due to blockage could cause a heart attack or myocardial infarction.

Warning Signs of a Heart Attack

Symptoms and signs could include angina or chest pain, a lingering, unexplained cough, skin color turning blue or cyanosis, coughing up of blood, fainting, palpitations or increased heart rate, persistent exhaustion or feeling of illness, shortness of breath, or swelling of the legs.

Preventing Heart Attacks

There are certain factors that put you at a greater risk of heart disease. These factors may not always be alterable, but there are certain steps on how to prevent a heart attack. These steps can help minimize the likelihood of a heart attack. Here are 10 ways to prevent heart attacks.

1. Control diabetes: Diabetic patients need to be cautious as they are two to four times more prone to developing cardiovascular disease. Since diabetes increases bad cholesterol or LDL levels, maintaining a healthy diet and exercising could help you control your diabetes and decrease bad cholesterol levels.
2. Decrease high blood pressure: High blood pressure levels are the main risk factor for a stroke. Keeping a close watch on your salt intake and exercising everyday should help. In certain cases, your physician may give you prescription drugs to flush out surplus sodium and water, thereby decreasing blood pressure levels.
3. Exercise: Make sure that you exercise for at least half an hour to an hour everyday to maintain your weight, decrease blood pressure, and decrease cholesterol levels. Exercise is one of the best ways to prevent a heart attack.
4. Good diet: Eat healthy foods with nutritional benefits and those that are rich in antioxidants. Keep away from foods with excess salt, fatty foods, and red meats.
5. Limit alcohol consumption: Drinking lots of alcohol could lead to increased blood pressure levels that could lead to a heart failure or stroke.
6. Lower cholesterol levels: High cholesterol is one of the leading causes of heart failure and leads to the arteries becoming clogged. Exercise and eat healthy to decrease cholesterol levels. If your condition does not improve, your doctor may prescribe medication to help.
7. Reduce stress levels: According to research, there is a direct connection between stress and heart disease. Reducing stress by taking up activities that you enjoy or yoga and meditation can help.
8. Sustain a healthy weight: Make sure that your check your Body Mass Index (BMI) as it will indicate an appropriate weight for your height and weight. Maintaining a healthy BMI is one way to keep heart attacks at bay.
9. Quit smoking: Smoking contributes to heart failure, so stop smoking if you do and try to avoid passive smoking.
10. Use medication: Your doctor could prescribe medication to lower cholesterol or blood pressure levels take them according to instructions.

References

• http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/heartattack/
• http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/heartattack/signs.html
• http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/heartattack/causes.html
• http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/hd/prevent.html