Preventive measures against heart attack

The core of prevention of sudden heart disease has never been "first aid tips when the disease occurs", but the combination of "long-term management and control of daily risks, proactive avoidance of high-risk scenarios, and pre-preparation of emergency plans." There is no universal prescription, and there is no unified standard that suits everyone. Any talk of prevention that is divorced from individual physical conditions is a hoax.

When I was helping in the emergency department of cardiology two years ago, one of the most unfortunate cases I encountered was a 36-year-old programmer. A physical examination six months ago revealed that his low-density lipoprotein was three times higher than the standard. The doctor asked him to take medicine to control it. He felt that he was young and had no other problems except being a little fat. He stayed up late every day to catch up on projects and drank iced Coke. He worked overtime until three in the morning and suddenly hit his keyboard with his hands on his chest. By the time his colleagues called 120, it was already too late. Currently, there are actually two different schools of thought in academic circles regarding intervention for young and high-risk groups. One group advocates that as long as there are two or more high-risk factors (such as family history, hyperlipidemia, smoking, and obesity), medication should be taken in advance to lower the indicators to the lower limit of normal and nip the risk in the bud. The other group believes that drugs have side effects, and it is priority to rely on diet and exercise adjustments, and there is no need to take drugs too early. Several directors I have followed tend to "treat it in layers". If it has been found that there are tiny plaques in the coronary arteries, or if a direct relative has a history of myocardial infarction before the age of 50, don't worry about the possible side effects. Just listen to the doctor and take medicine. It is better than anything else. If you really get sick, the impact will not be a problem at all.

Don't tell me, many people usually control their indicators well, but why do they suddenly fall ill? Last month, I met a 62-year-old aunt. Her blood pressure and blood sugar were usually stable. But during the Chinese New Year, she had an argument with her children. She was so angry that she fell on the sofa, clutching her chest. She was diagnosed with acute myocardial infarction. A previous study by the American Heart Association showed that within 2 hours after a severe mood swing, the risk of acute myocardial infarction is 4.7 times higher than usual. In addition, going out for morning exercise in a low temperature environment in the early morning of winter, straining to defecate after eating a heavy meal, and strenuous exercise after staying up late for several days are all triggering scenarios that we have seen in clinical practice. Don't think that just because you are in good health, you will be fine. I have seen young men who run marathons every day. After staying up all night for two nights, they went to run a half-marathon and fainted just after running 5 kilometers. If there were not first aid personnel on the sidelines, I really can't imagine the consequences.

Having said all this, no one can guarantee that they will not be infected 100%, so we must take practical precautions and make first aid preparations in advance. Many families now prepare nitroglycerin, but most people don't know how to use it. There is also a saying on the Internet that "chew 3 aspirin immediately when you feel sick", which has deceived many people. There has been a case before where the patient had chest pain and chewed aspirin at home. He was sent to the hospital to be diagnosed with aortic dissection. The bleeding was already very dangerous, but taking aspirin to prevent blood coagulation only worsened the condition. Therefore, if you really experience chest tightness, compressive chest pain, or pain in your left shoulder and back, call 120 as soon as possible. Don’t take medicine blindly. The operator will ask you about your situation and guide you in taking medicine, which is much more reliable than blindly searching for folk remedies on the Internet. I have a small first aid kit posted on the door of the refrigerator at home. It contains nitroglycerin for my parents, the antihypertensive drugs they often take, and a small card with their basic diseases, allergies, and my contact number. If something happens to them at home, whether it is a neighbor or an emergency personnel, they can just pick it up and read it. It saves a lot of time in asking for medical history. Every minute saved during first aid is worth it. Also, when you go to shopping malls, office buildings, or subway stations, pay more attention to the location of the AED. That thing can really save lives. There will be voice guidance when you turn it on. Even if you have never touched it, just follow the instructions. Don't be afraid to use it.

In the final analysis, there is really no complicated truth about preventing sudden heart disease. Don’t believe in the IQ tax that patting the elbow socket and drinking salvia tea can open blood vessels. Don’t stay up late eating and drinking all the time. Annual physical examinations check blood lipids, blood pressure, and blood sugar. If you have problems, don’t insist on not going to the hospital. It’s better than anything else. Oh, by the way, don’t think that this is something that only the elderly need to worry about. Almost 20% of the myocardial infarction patients admitted to our department are under 30 years old. If you really wait until you have chest pain before you think about prevention, it will be too late.