Prevention of myocardial infarction is the main topic of this article. What is included in such prevention, its types, who need to be carried out. What options for prevention exist, their effectiveness in the violation of blood flow in the heart tissue.
- Medical examinations
- Smoking cessation
- Weight normalization and nutrition
- Moderate alcohol consumption
- Physical activity
- Normalization of work-rest mode
- Psychotherapy
- Drug prevention
- Forecast
Prevention is a complex of various measures aimed at reducing the riskthe onset of the disease or its complications.
Medical prophylaxis for any pathology, including infarction, is traditionally divided into several types:
| Kind | Main principles |
|---|---|
| Primary | It is aimed at preventing the onset of the disease and identifying the risk factors for its development It is mandatory for everyone who is at risk for the disease Recommendedany people to maintain their own health Rarely includes medicines |
| Secondary | Is aimed at preventing re-development of pa Always includes the medicinal component |
| Non-pharmacological | Action on managed risk factors for the disease Increase of the general stability of all body systems to the external environment |
| Medicinal | Influence on existing health problems that may worsen oreven cause a cardiac pathology |
Based on the classification, we can conclude that primary prevention is recommendedbut for everyone, but for people at risk for developing myocardial infarction, it is mandatory.
Secondary preventive measures are the second after the medicinal method of therapy of the diseased, without them there is no possibility of curing or improving the condition.
The effectiveness of all types of prevention directly depends on:
- The initial state of health( a large number of diseases reduces effectiveness).
- Age category( after 75 years, the risk of serious cardiac complications increases every year against the background of regular aging of cells and tissues).
- Personal interest of a person( lack of motivation, regularity of application or following not all points can reduce the result to zero).
No preventive actions can render 100% of the result and completely exclude the possibility of developing a violation of blood flow to the cardiac tissue. But their implementation, depending on the number of risk factors, can reduce this possibility by tens of percent.
The main elements of non-drug prevention as they are important - from the most effective to less important, but still influencing:
- regular full-fledged medical examinations;
- complete quitting;
- weight loss to achieve a body mass index( BMI) of less than 25 while maintaining adequate nutrition;
- moderate consumption of alcohol-containing products;
- physical activity in the open air;
- normalization of regimes of rest and work;
- adequate response to psychoemotional stress.
Click on the image to enlarge Drug prevention includes the impact on possible causes of the disease in people at high risk and( or) in the absence of the effect of other preventive measures.
Any person can get information from the therapist about the types of medical prophylaxis, the methods and the need for it.
Patients with existing physical illnesses usually receive advice from a cardiologist or endocrinologist.
Further in the article the expanded information on each of points of the actions directed on the prevention of disease of a cardiac tissue is given. They are the same for each type of prevention, but with small features, depending on the initial level of health.
1. Medical examinations
The main element of timely detection of risks for the onset of a heart attack is a regular( at least once in 1-2 years) medical examination. Its objectives:
- to obtain complete information about the diseases of the blood vessels and heart in the family;
- assessment of the general condition;
- identification of risk factors and concomitant diseases;
- recommendations for correction.
Without such examinations it is impossible to establish whether a person belongs to the high-risk group for the development of the disease, and in time to carry out preventive actions.
2. Smoking cessation
Nicotine is the main of the managed risk factors for the development of vascular and heart disease in general, and the infarction in particular.
There is no safe threshold for tobacco smoking - even a few cigarettes a day increase the possibility of an infringement of blood flow in the tissues of the heart muscle in healthy people twice as compared with non-smokers.
For patients with existing cardiac problems, this risk increases to 3-4.
After a heart attack, the possibility of a second occurrence, as well as the likelihood of a fatal outcome, is two times higher among smokers.
After completely abandoning nicotine use in any form, risks are reduced during the first two years, compared to those of non-smokers.
If you can not get rid of dependence independently, existing medications increase the success rate by 20-30%.Specialized medicines for smokers are prescribed by the doctor, taking into account existing contraindications for use.
Click on photo to enlarge 3. Weight normalization and nutrition
Full nutrition and allowable body weight reduce the possibility of developing heart disease by 25%.
Healthy consider such weight at which the body mass index is within the limits of 19-25.Excessive leanness is harmful, as is excess weight.
To achieve the normal values of the indicator you need to gradually, without hunger strikes and significant restrictions in food. The maximum permissible weight loss during the month is 2-4 kg, higher figures increase the risk of heart disease and the probability of a rapid return of weight.
To obtain a long-term result without harm to the body, it is necessary to calculate the individual daily amount of calories. To reduce weight limit them to 500-600 per day or to maintain the mass does not go beyond the amount received.
In addition, it is important to adhere to the general requirements for healthy nutrition:
- Increase the frequency of intake by reducing the amount of food.
- Eat foods in the "right" combination of carbohydrates, proteins and fats.
- Do not abuse salt.
- Avoid fried foods, especially on animal fats.
- Is only at the table, without being distracted by conversations and external irritants( TV, books, radio).
For more information on healthy nutrition, consult your doctor or appropriate sources.
4. Moderate alcohol consumption
With alcohol-containing foods, the situation is such that they increase the risk of cardiac arrhythmias in both extreme variants:
- of total withdrawal;
- excessive use.
The recommended amount for human health in terms of ethanol is a day:
- 30 grams for men;
- 20 grams for women.
Do not use carbonated options for alcoholic beverages, even within acceptable daily limits. And speaking of prevention, it is worth switching to strong and quality alcohol or dry red wine.
5. Physical Exercises in the Open Air
Any kind of physical exercise trains the heart system and helps maintain the vascular elasticity necessary for normal blood flow. In order for the loads to bring only benefit, you need to adhere to the basic rules:
- Gradual increase in intensity.
- No excessive activity.
- Required regular classes.
For the heart muscle, walking is ideal for outdoor activities. On average, it is recommended to pass about 3.5-4 km at least 3 times a week. The step speed determines the initial state of health:
- in the presence of cardiac pathology, the rate is slow;
- healthy myocardium and blood vessels - fast.
When carrying out any load, it is necessary to follow the rule: the acceleration of the heartbeat should not exceed 90% of the maximum allowable pulse( "220 minus age"), and it is better to keep the frequency within 50-60% of the upper limit.
If there are somatic and cardiological diseases, then the intensity of physical exercises is selected by the doctor, based on the data of the heart examination( cardiogram with the loads).
Performing moderate and regular exercise, you can reduce the risk of heart attack by 20-25%.But in case of a break for more than 2-3 weeks, the effect will no longer be.
6. Normalization of the labor-rest regime
Without sufficient rest in the body, multiple pathological changes occur:
- excessive activation of the adrenal cortex, which eventually leads to hypertension, atherosclerosis and infarction;
- a change in the cerebral blood flow toward the gain, while a high content of renal hormones often leads to spasms and secondary disturbances of blood supply;
- a violation of the hormonal status in all systems, threatening multiple disorders from digestion to sexual function.
All together - a common cause of acute disruption of blood flow to the heart tissue. Therefore, recommend a minimum of 8 hours of night sleep for men and 9 - for women. With intensive workloads - breaks every 2 hours for 10-15 minutes using them for small physical workouts.
Click on the picture to enlarge 7. Psychotherapy
Any stress and reaction to the body creates the prerequisites for changing blood pressure upward, which is one of the main causes of blood flow in the heart.
During the medical examination, assessing a person's psychological status is an important stage of prevention. Depending on the degree of reaction changes, the following is shown:
- of home auto-training;
- individual and joint training with a psychologist;
- drug support.
Constant psycho-emotional stress increases the risk of cardiac changes by 20-30% and is the main cause of unexpected cardiac death at a young age.
8. Drug prevention
Used as an additional mechanism to prevent myocardial infarction, mainly in patients at risk and already having cardiac pathology.
Medication support includes a number of medications:
| Drugs | When prescribed |
|---|---|
| Statins | High numbers of cholesterol fractions and low response to non-medicinal types of exposure Atherosclerotic changes in vascular walls Transferred disturbance of blood flow in cardiac tissue |
| Acetylsalicylic acid | Any form of tachyarrhythmia Propensity to form vascular clots or a history of thrombosis Pathology of the valve apparatusand heart high risk of developing heart disease |
| Hormones replacement therapy in women after the menstrual function in the absence of contraindications( neoplastic processes of reproductive system, blood clots, impaired hepatic function) |
9. Forecast
Prophylaxis of myocardial infarction, carried out regularly and in full, allows to reduce the risk of its development by 80%, and also to increase the life expectancy up to 8-10 years.
Secondary preventive measures reduce the possibility of repeated violation of blood flow and development of fatal complications by 30-40% in comparison with a group of patients who refused to follow recommendations.