A heart attack also called a myocardial infarction is one of the most dangerous health emergencies in the world. It is a medical condition that occurs when certain barriers block the coronary artery, making it narrow, thereby impeding the free flow of blood into the heart. When this happens, the affected heart would be unable to get an adequate supply of oxygen, triggering a heart attack. According to Havard Medical School, fewer than 10% of heart attacks are fatal.
So what exactly causes the blockade of the coronary artery that leads to heart attacks? The barriers are usually in the form of accumulated fat, cholesterol and a host of other substances which form a plaque in the coronary arteries. There are times when the plaque would rupture and form a clot that might also impede the free flow of blood into the heart, with such interruption capable of disrupting the constant supply of oxygen-rich blood to the heart, damaging parts of the heart muscle.
At this point, it must be stated that there are certain warning signs that the body would give to signal an impending heart attack. Let’s quickly highlight about five (5) of them below:
1. Shortness of breath;
2. Pain or discomfort in the centre of the chest;
3. Lightheadedness, nausea or vomiting;
4. Fast and/or irregular heart rate
5. Persistent fatigue
Since the accumulation of fat, cholesterol and other substances cause the blockade of the artery that feeds the heart with oxygen-rich food, it is fair to say our diets can play crucial roles in avoiding heart attacks. This is because there are certain foods that we eat that are harmful to our hearts because of their unhealthy fat and cholesterol content. With that in mind, below are five (5) foods that anyone who is experiencing the aforementioned symptoms must avoid for the sake of the health of their heart:
1. Red Meat
Red meats such as beef, lamb, and pork are all high in unhealthy unsaturated fat which boosts body level of cholesterol, increasing the risk of a heart attack. Alternatively, you can go for lean protein sources such as fish in your diet.
2. Butter
Butter has an unbelievably high level of saturated fat, which has been linked to increased cholesterol levels in the body. It is therefore important to altogether avoid it for the sake of your heart or use it sparingly. Better still, you can get healthier alternatives.
3. Fried Chicken
When chickens are deep-fried in oil, calories, fat, and sodium are added in unhealthy magnitude to the food. Fried foods are linked with type 2 diabetes, obesity, and high blood pressure — all of which raise your odds of heart failure, it is, therefore, better to avoid deep frying your chicken.
4. Potato Chips
Potato chips have a high level of saturated fat and sodium. These two constituents of potato chips make potato chips an unhealthy food choice for anyone trying to avoid a heart attack.
5. Ice Cream
Foods that are high in sugar, calories, and saturated fat often aids unhealthy weight gain. They are also known to boost triglycerides levels in the body, causing a heart attack.
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