The study of the Northwestern University shows that women have a higher risk of having a stroke than men but a lower risk of having a heart attack. For 45-year-old women without any serious risk factors, the chance of having a heart attack or stroke in their lifetimes is 4.1% while having 2 or more risk factors boost it to 30.7%. The reasons may be very different: from emotional distress to cold weather and bad air quality.
Bright Side has collected several factors that can lead to a heart attack in order to prevent the possible negative consequences.
1. Emotional distress
Researchers at McMaster University in Canada analyzed data from 12,461 patients (average age 58) participating in Interheart, a study consisting of patients with first-ever heart attacks across 52 countries. Participants completed a questionnaire about whether they experienced any of the triggers in the hour before their heart attack. They were also asked if they had experienced any of the triggers in the same one hour period on the day before their heart attack. As a result, they found out that these triggers can be the reason for a heart attack but they are not about age, bad habits, or extra weight.
The author of the study Andrew Smyth said that extreme emotional and physical triggers are thought to have similar effects on the body. They change the blood flow and decrease the blood supply to the heart. Patients are recommended to avoid stressful situations.
2. Bad air quality
The study of more than 16,000 patients by researchers at the Intermountain Medical Center in Salt Lake City examined patients who had suffered 3 types of heart attacks. They tried to determine which type of heart attack is the most popular in the days when the air was really dirty.
As a result, the researchers found a connection between bad air quality and the most dangerous type of heart attacks. Scientists recommend going out of town as often as possible.
3. Divorce
A study at the Carolina Institute showed that divorce is very much linked to a high risk of having a heart attack. Divorced patients have an 18% higher risk than those who are married.
The author of the research, Joel Omm, said that single or widowed men have a higher risk of having a heart attack than women of the same status. It’s better to solve problems in a peaceful way and not make the situation critical.
4. Pregnancy
A test conducted by the University of Southern California showed that the changes caused by pregnancy (including hormonal disbalance and the increase in the amount of blood that goes through the body) can increase the risk of a heart attack both during pregnancy and 12 weeks later after having a child.
Heart attacks during pregnancy are usually very severe and lead to a lot of complications. Most of the time, it’s impossible to use a standard treatment approach because every patient is unique. Pregnant women should take very good care of their hearts and have them regularly checked by doctors.
5. Anger
The study conducted at the University of Sydney reveals that the risk of a heart attack is 8.5 times higher in the 2 hours following a burst of intense anger. Dr. Thomas Buckley said that the triggers are arguments with family members (29%) and other people (42%), and also irritation at work (14%) and while driving (14%).
Anger and anxiety are connected with the increase of a person’s heartbeat, arterial pressure, and blood coagulation. All these things eventually lead to a heart attack. In such situations, doctors recommend taking sedatives to decrease the load on the heart.
6. Drinking too much alcohol
Drinking too much alcohol increases the risk of a heart attack, heart fibrillation, and heart failure, as was determined by scientists from the University of California. They analyzed the information from a database of patients who were 21 years and older who had a heart attack.
As a result, they found that almost 268,000 people were addicted to alcohol. After reviewing all other factors, they realized that drinking alcohol can double the risk of having a heart attack. It’s better to give up bad habits and have a healthy lifestyle.
7. Cold weather
A 6-year study at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Canada found that each 10°C drop in temperature was associated with a 7% increased risk of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), the most severe form of heart attack. The scientists found out that cold weather can be the reason for a heart attack. People who are susceptible to heart conditions should avoid sudden temperature changes and being outside in freezing weather.
8. Insomnia
The results of the study conducted at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology showed that the risk of having a heart attack if you have insomnia is 45% higher than if you sleep well.
Doctor Lars Erik Laugsand says that sleep problems are common and fairly easy to treat, so it’s important that people are aware of this connection between insomnia and heart attack and talk to their doctor if they’re having symptoms. People who want to fall asleep faster should drink herbal teas with chamomile, valerian, and hops.
9. Smoking
Scientists from the Tel Aviv Medical Center have linked smoking to the risk of having a heart attack. In general, the analysis showed that smokers are 3 times more likely to have a heart attack than people who used to smoke and who don’t smoke combined.
Smokers over 50 years old have a higher risk of having a heart attack and they also have other dangerous factors, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes.
The earlier a person gives up this bad habit, the better their heart will function.
Don’t try to diagnose yourself. If you notice any deviations, you should see a doctor to get all the necessary recommendations.
How do you take care of your heart? Tell us in the comment section below!
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