The loss of a loved one is always difficult and painful. But the sudden loss of a healthy, young person, even a complete stranger, feels unfair and tragic. Yet, every year, a heart failure robs the lives of at least a quarter of Singaporeans.
This illness, often associated with the elderly and diabetic, doesn’t spare anyone. Like a vulture hovering above, it springs on the most appealing target, sudden and deadly, where even the fittest may fall victim. Remember the incomprehensible tragedy of scuba-diving instructor Carlson Victor Lee, known for his strength in countering oncoming currents while others fled for their lives, who died during one of his diving escapades because of a heart attack? Or the 20-year-old national serviceman recruit, Andrew Cheah Wei Siong, who died after fainting during training at Pulau Tekong? When news of these cases broke out, a wave of uncertainty and helplessness drowned most of our thoughts. ‘If it can happen to the fittest, surely it can happen to us too’, was probably what went on in our heads at the time, or at least mine.
However, all’s not lost. There are ways we can avoid it as far as possible, and that is by knowing the signs and symptoms of a heart attack, or even a sudden cardiac arrest.
Classic & Common Symptoms:
• Chest discomfort - Also widely known as the “elephant sitting on the chest” symptom, this pain usually occurs in the middle of the chest, and lasts for several minutes. Usually feels like pressure or squeezing.
• Shortness of breath
• Palpitations
• Fainting spells
• Nausea, dizziness, cold sweat, anxiety
• Discomfort in other parts of the body – jaws, back, arms, neck, stomach
Sometimes, these symptoms are vague and often ignored, mainly because they seems insignificant or totally unrelated to a heart problem. However, symptoms aren’t always what you expect them to be. They can come in the mildest of fashions, and attack mercilessly.
So what do we do then? Instead of just waiting around for one of these signs to pop by and gamble with our life, we should try as hard as possible to immune ourselves from this fatality.
Unfortunately, some of us are born with greater vulnerability to an attack than others because of our genes. If family members, immediate or distant, previously had a heart condition, the chances are, we might too. Whether or not we’ve been genetically “labeled”, we need to be as aware as ever and take precautions, because a heart attack isn’t going to pass you, just because.
Furthermore, some people insist that they can eat anything they want, as long as they exercise. Yes, the truth is, you can, but in moderation. If you were to run a marathon weekly, and treat yourself to a feast of fried chicken, char kway teow, fast food, or sugar-pounding desserts every time you do so, it would merely defeat the purpose of burning all those pounds. Worse still, the arteries you made room for, will now be blocked by fats, and everytime you free the pipe up for them, the devil of the fats will choke it up again. So eat healthy. If you really need to cave in and indulge in some good old burgers and fries, limit yourself. All it takes is a little bit of practice to eat right, and eventually you’ll be amazed at how naturally you push away those sinful buggers.
Stress also often contributes to the weakening of the heart. Sometimes the daily pressures of life can be worrying and taxing. We spend hours just thinking about the what-ifs and picturing the worst scenarios. Instead, take a breather. Do what you can, and leave the rest to take care of itself. After all, what use would a few hours of worrying do? A few extra wrinkles, a little more gray hair and a weaker heart perhaps.
In fact, it really is our lifestyle choice that plays a huge part in preventing the chance of an attack occurring. The less we smoke, the less we drink, the less we worry, the less we will be putting ourselves in the limelight of heart attacks. So yes, exercising is and always will be necessary to maintain a healthy heart, but never over exert your body. Like everything else, do it in moderation.
A heart attack will always pose a threat. But life goes on, bills have to be paid, work has to be done. By consciously living a healthy life, and staying in the know of the precautions and symptoms, we can be one step ahead in the battle of life.
This illness, often associated with the elderly and diabetic, doesn’t spare anyone. Like a vulture hovering above, it springs on the most appealing target, sudden and deadly, where even the fittest may fall victim. Remember the incomprehensible tragedy of scuba-diving instructor Carlson Victor Lee, known for his strength in countering oncoming currents while others fled for their lives, who died during one of his diving escapades because of a heart attack? Or the 20-year-old national serviceman recruit, Andrew Cheah Wei Siong, who died after fainting during training at Pulau Tekong? When news of these cases broke out, a wave of uncertainty and helplessness drowned most of our thoughts. ‘If it can happen to the fittest, surely it can happen to us too’, was probably what went on in our heads at the time, or at least mine.
However, all’s not lost. There are ways we can avoid it as far as possible, and that is by knowing the signs and symptoms of a heart attack, or even a sudden cardiac arrest.
Classic & Common Symptoms:
• Chest discomfort - Also widely known as the “elephant sitting on the chest” symptom, this pain usually occurs in the middle of the chest, and lasts for several minutes. Usually feels like pressure or squeezing.
• Shortness of breath
• Palpitations
• Fainting spells
• Nausea, dizziness, cold sweat, anxiety
• Discomfort in other parts of the body – jaws, back, arms, neck, stomach
Sometimes, these symptoms are vague and often ignored, mainly because they seems insignificant or totally unrelated to a heart problem. However, symptoms aren’t always what you expect them to be. They can come in the mildest of fashions, and attack mercilessly.
So what do we do then? Instead of just waiting around for one of these signs to pop by and gamble with our life, we should try as hard as possible to immune ourselves from this fatality.
Unfortunately, some of us are born with greater vulnerability to an attack than others because of our genes. If family members, immediate or distant, previously had a heart condition, the chances are, we might too. Whether or not we’ve been genetically “labeled”, we need to be as aware as ever and take precautions, because a heart attack isn’t going to pass you, just because.
Furthermore, some people insist that they can eat anything they want, as long as they exercise. Yes, the truth is, you can, but in moderation. If you were to run a marathon weekly, and treat yourself to a feast of fried chicken, char kway teow, fast food, or sugar-pounding desserts every time you do so, it would merely defeat the purpose of burning all those pounds. Worse still, the arteries you made room for, will now be blocked by fats, and everytime you free the pipe up for them, the devil of the fats will choke it up again. So eat healthy. If you really need to cave in and indulge in some good old burgers and fries, limit yourself. All it takes is a little bit of practice to eat right, and eventually you’ll be amazed at how naturally you push away those sinful buggers.
Stress also often contributes to the weakening of the heart. Sometimes the daily pressures of life can be worrying and taxing. We spend hours just thinking about the what-ifs and picturing the worst scenarios. Instead, take a breather. Do what you can, and leave the rest to take care of itself. After all, what use would a few hours of worrying do? A few extra wrinkles, a little more gray hair and a weaker heart perhaps.
In fact, it really is our lifestyle choice that plays a huge part in preventing the chance of an attack occurring. The less we smoke, the less we drink, the less we worry, the less we will be putting ourselves in the limelight of heart attacks. So yes, exercising is and always will be necessary to maintain a healthy heart, but never over exert your body. Like everything else, do it in moderation.
A heart attack will always pose a threat. But life goes on, bills have to be paid, work has to be done. By consciously living a healthy life, and staying in the know of the precautions and symptoms, we can be one step ahead in the battle of life.
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