A cardiac specialist has revealed four essential strategies to prevent a potentially lethal health emergency. A heart attack represents a severe and life-threatening event caused by the interruption of blood supply to the heart.
This shortage of blood flow can cause significant damage to the heart and could be fatal.
With this concern in mind, a healthcare professional took to social media to highlight the most effective ways to lower your heart attack risk.
He acknowledged that some factors contributing to a heart attack are beyond our control, such as our genetics.
However, he revealed that there are some lifestyle changes we can all make to improve our heart health.
Speaking on TikTok, cardiac doctor Mohammed Alo said: “Top ways to prevent a heart attack.”
He detailed practical steps we can take, which comprise:
- Enhancing your diet
- Stopping smoking
- Achieving your optimal body weight
- Boosting physical exercise
Diet
Concerning nutrition, Dr Alo suggested: “You can improve your diet.” He specifically championed adopting a Mediterranean diet.
He explained: “More fruits and vegetables, more soluble fibre. More fish in your diet. More olive oil in your diet, especially when you substitute out saturated fats for olive oil.”
The Mediterranean dietary pattern, rich in healthy fats, wholemeal grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts and seeds, has been demonstrated through studies to improve heart health, lower diabetes risk, dementia and arthritis, whilst assisting with weight control objectives. Smoking.
Smoking
The British Heart Foundation (BHF) backs his guidance on smoking, stating that the habit is “very harmful” to the heart.
“It seriously increases your risk of developing heart and circulatory diseases,” it says.
Weight
Dr Alo advises achieving as close to your optimal body weight as possible to lower your chances of suffering a heart attack.
While there’s no universal standard for what someone should weigh owing to different factors, the NHS BMI checker online can provide a general indication.
Physical activity
The NHS recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity per week for maintaining good health. Dr Alo added: “Those are all the kinds of things you can do to improve your health and your risk despite your genetics. Obviously, we can’t change your genetics.”
Anyone worried about their cardiovascular health should seek advice from their GP.