Heart attack

The most significant diseases of the cardiovascular system are high blood pressure and arteriosclerosis. Both are simultaneously risk factors for heart attack.

The human heart muscle contracts about 70 to 80 times a minute to pump blood through the body. In this way, the heart supplies the organs with oxygen and important nutrients. But what if the blood supply to the heart muscle itself, or parts of it, fails? This is what happens, for example, when heart blood vessels get clogged up with blood clots. The consequence can be what is known as a myocardial infarction – a heart attack.

Most heart attacks begin slowly and are accompanied by slight pain, unease, shortness of breath, or outbreaks of sweating. Because such symptoms are not clear-cut, some people wait too long before seeking help. Yet a heart attack can be fatal. A doctor should therefore be consulted as quickly as possible. In principle, there are also ways of reducing the risk of a heart attack.

One of the main modifiable risk factors are tobacco use, poor diet as well as lack of physical activity. Besides, overweight and stress can contribute to a higher risk of suffering a heart attack.

Generally, there are several ways of reducing the risk of a heart attack. It is the World Heart Federation that illustrates ten simple steps that can easily be integrated into everybody’s daily routine. Thereby, the risk of an heart attack can be reduced significantly.

Such a vascular occlusion is also dangerous if it happens in the brain. In worst case the result can be a stroke.

The clots that cause a heart attack are frequently preceded by deposits on the walls of the blood vessels. Such deposits can in turn be caused by high blood-fat levels. If the thin layer that separates these deposits from the bloodstream rips, the blood's coagulation system is automatically activated – leading to clot formation.

Active ingredients exist that impede this clot formation by disturbing the agglomeration of the blood platelets. Taken daily, they reduce the risk of a clot forming. Bayer HealthCare offers such a product. It has been specially designed to be well tolerated by the stomach when taken on a daily basis.

Advice for patients
Every body reacts differently to medicines. Therefore it is impossible to tell which medicine works best for you. Please consult your physician.