The holiday season is also a time when the number of patients who have a recurrence of heart disease increases significantly. People are more likely to overeat during the holidays, where high-fat and high-salt foods, as well as large amounts of alcohol, can put more pressure on the heart, causing patients to have higher blood pressure and faster heart rates, etc.
A, the four signs of a heart attack
1, indigestion
Some people have suffered from stomach problems, so it is easy to confuse stomach problems with stomach discomfort caused by heart disease. Unlike general gastric disease, stomach pain caused by heart disease is rarely colic and severe pain, and pressure pain is not often present, but only a feeling of suffocation and fullness, sometimes accompanied by dull pain, hot burning sensation and nausea and vomiting, although there will be some relief after a bowel movement, but the discomfort will not disappear completely.
2. Forearm and shoulder pain
Although the left arm and left shoulder are most commonly affected, it can also radiate to the right arm in severe cases, although it is extremely common to have pain on only one side of the right arm. Although the pain is not too severe, it is difficult to raise the arm. The pain is usually dull and does not spread to the wrist or fingers, and is usually limited to the inner forearm, which should be distinguished from cervical spondylosis.
3. Shortness of breath
In addition to the common symptoms, some heart patients also experience shortness of breath and breathlessness, which is often referred to as “lack of breath”. After sitting still for a few minutes, breathing seems to return to normal, but when the patient resumes walking, the shortness of breath begins again. This wheezing is often overlooked, especially in elderly people with lung disease.
4. Severe fatigue
Fatigue that is not limited to a certain part of the body is likely to occur during the holiday season. If you feel unprecedented generalized severe fatigue, you should immediately go to the hospital for examination.
Second, the prevention of heart disease during the holidays
1.Be careful of outdoor activities
Heart disease patients and people at risk should be careful about outdoor activities in winter. Cold weather can cause blood vessels to constrict, increasing the risk of heart disease. A study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control in the 1970s found that heart-related deaths in Massachusetts increased by 22 percent after a snowstorm.
2, avoid excessive alcohol consumption
Moderate alcohol consumption is good for the heart, while heavy drinking can harm it. The long-term harm of excessive alcohol consumption is to lead to increased blood pressure, short-term harm is to induce atrial fibrillation, resulting in weakness, dizziness and chest tightness.
3, eat salt and fat to be careful
Avoid consuming too much salt and pay attention to the intake of unsaturated fatty acids, such as the use of corn oil in cooking in moderation.
4, do not confuse with acid reflux
Candy, alcohol and greasy food can lead to acid reflux (acid reflux or heartburn) and chest pain. Some heart patients initially mistake chest discomfort for acid reflux, but it is actually the early stages of a holiday heart attack. If you can’t recognize it, you should seek medical examination in time.
5, timely medical consultation and treatment
During the holidays, many people insist on not seeing an emergency doctor even though they feel chest tightness or chest pain, hoping to get through it without ruining the holiday atmosphere. Therefore, there will be a climax of medical consultation after the holidays. However, for heart attack cases, the more timely the emergency room visit, the less risk of death of the heart muscle cells due to lack of blood supply.
We wish you all a happy and prosperous new year free from holiday heart disease and a smile on your face.