MLB Weekly Digest September 3rd Edition - NGSC Sports
S Club 7's Paul Was Just 46 When He Died Of 'hidden' Heart Disease – Four Signs You Must Not Ignore
THE statistics are stark, heart and circulatory diseases kill one in four of us.
It took the life of S Club 7's Paul Cattermole in April this year, at just 46 years of age.
6
The statistics for heart disease are stark - as tragically seen with the death of S Club 7's Paul Cattermole this yearCredit: Getty6
As part of the campaign S Club are encouraging people to post a picture on social media with the hand heart gesture and tagging their post with #showyourheartsCredit: SuppliedAn autopsy found he had multiple problems of the blood vessels and heart, including arrhythmia.
The band, who had been preparing for their reunion tour, were left heartbroken when Paul was found dead at his home in Dorset.
They've now joined forces with the British Heart Foundation for their September campaign, Spotlight, to raise awareness of how invisible heart conditions can present themselves — both to those with it, and those around them.
Like Paul, people can have a heart condition for a long time, potentially with symptoms, without knowing — until it's too late.
READ MORE ON HEART HEALTHS Club bandmate Rachel Stevens told Sun Health: "To be honest we didn't really know much about heart and circulatory conditions before Paul died.
"We, like a lot of people, associated heart disease with older people."
And band member Jon Lee said: "Our hearts feel emptier without Paul, far too many people die too soon from heart conditions they didn't know they had."
Now the band are urging all of us to get clued up on heart health.
Most read in Health
PILL POPPER
Millions taking cholesterol-busting statins 'at risk of deadly complication'
MY TRUTH
I always felt different as a child - at 11 I discovered I was genetically male
OP HELL
My boob job op left horror gaping wounds - my husband walked out due to the smell
MARLI'S FIGHT
My son's terrifying story must serve as an important lesson to all parentsA BHF survey found just three per cent of Brits know that one in two people will suffer a heart or circulatory condition in their lifetime.
Paul was one of the 168,000 people who will die of such a disease this year alone — each day 460 lives are lost, 130 of those people are under 75.
Some 7.6 million people are living with dangerous heart conditions — including angina, coronary heart disease, arrhythmia, valve disease and heart failure.
That figure does not include the additional millions with high blood pressure and high cholesterol — both largely preventable conditions that increase the risk of deadly heart issues or stroke.
Many of these diseases have no symptoms and don't pose an immediate threat.
But Ruth Goss, senior cardiac nurse at the BHF, told Sun Health readers to "know their numbers".
She said: "In England, people over 40 will be invited for an NHS health check.
"They'll look at your weight, height, age and gender, your blood pressure, and see what's going on with your cholesterol and blood sugar levels.
"They will also check your family history. After you have your results, you'll be given a cardiovascular disease risk score."
Genetics, gender and age are some of the unchangeable risk factors for heart and circulatory diseases.
Some conditions are inherited, such as cardiomyopathy which affects around one in 250 people in the UK.
But there are lifestyle changes that can slash the odds, such as quitting smoking.
"That said, sometimes people don't have any risk factors at all, and they still go on to have a heart attack or stroke," Ruth said.
"It's about reducing and managing risk. There's nothing to say that it's completely preventable."
SYMPTOMS YOU MUST NOT IGNORETAKE A BREATH
SHORTNESS of breath can be a sign of a number of conditions: arrhythmia, valve disease, cardiomyopathy and heart failure.
Ruth says: "It's a sign that your heart is unhappy because your breathing rate has gone up because your heart is having to work harder."
It's one of the key signs of a heart attack, too.
FEELING SLUGGISH
FATIGUE that appears despite there being no change in your life is a cause for concern.
Feeling tired most of the time and finding exercise exhausting can be a sign of heart failure or coronary artery disease.
6
Feeling tired most of the time and finding exercise exhausting could be a sign of heart failure or coronary artery diseaseCredit: ShutterstockRuth says: "If you're noticing that it is getting worse, or you are unable to do your daily activities, go and get that checked out."
FLUTTERING HEART
AN irregular heartbeat can feel like a fluttering in the chest, palpitations, or as though there are extra beats.
Ruth says: "That can be signs of arrhythmia, but it can also be quite normal, like lots of people have ectopic beats or palpitations and it's just something that happens.
"But we would recommend seeing your GP and maybe have an ECG to check everything is OK."
HEARTACHE
CHEST pain needs to be checked out, regardless of whether there are other symptoms, because it is the main sign of a heart attack.
It may feel like discomfort, indigestion, pressure or squeezing, or a heaviness in your chest that just doesn't feel quite right.
6
Chest pain needs to be checked out, regardless of whether there are other symptomsCredit: ShutterstockRuth says: "It can feel quite sudden, and if it doesn't go away, that's a red flag."
The pain can spread to the arms, across the back, and into the jaw or stomach.
Ruth said: "You may also feel sick, sweaty and lightheaded."
Atherosclerosis, when fatty plaques block the blood vessels, angina and heart disease can also cause chest pain.
And peripheral artery disease, the narrowing or blockage of the vessels between the heart and legs, can cause sore arms and legs.
REDUCE THE AGE OF YOUR TICKERWHATEVER your age, there are simple things we can all do to boost heart health.
But it's important to make any lifestyle changes gradually so you don't feel overwhelmed.
Ruth advised: "Make small changes and do it slowly. Always check with your GP or whoever's responsible for your care."
You can find out your heart age at nhs.Uk/health-assessment-tools/calculate-your-heart-age.
MOVE MORE: A lack of exercise or movement can result in fatty deposits building up in your arteries.
Ruth said: "You can reduce your risk of heart and circulatory diseases by up to 35 per cent by being more physically active."
Around 150 minutes per week is the NHS recommendation.
But Ruth added: "If you're not physically active, start slow and build up.
"Aim to do ten minutes today, and see if you can make that 20 minutes a day next week.
"It could be as simple as taking a walk around the garden. Any movement is good movement."
STUB IT OUT: Around 13 per cent of the British population smoke. And shockingly, of the 160,000 deaths each year from heart and circulatory diseases, around 15,000 are caused by smoking.
Ruth said: "The chemicals within cigarettes can make the walls of your arteries sticky, helping the fatty materials to clog the arteries and reduce the space for proper blood flow."
6
Shockingly, of the 160,000 deaths each year from heart and circulatory diseases, around 15,000 are caused by smokingCredit: ShutterstockThis can lead to a heart attack or stroke, blocking the blood vessels delivering oxygen to your heart and brain.
Ruth added: "If you stop smoking, your risk of a heart attack is half of that of a smoker after one year."
HALF MEASURES: The recommended limit of alcohol is 14 units a week – although this is not risk-free.
Ruth said drinking more "can lead to abnormal heart rhythms, damage to the heart muscle, high blood pressure, palpitations, and diseases such as stroke, vascular dementia, and some cancers".
She added: "Have several alcohol-free days per week. If you normally have a large glass of wine, make it a small one so you are cutting down, not trying to do it all at once."
WEIGHTY ISSUE: Get a measuring tape out. Ideally, a man's waist measurement (just above the belly button) should be below 37 inches and a woman's should be below 31.5 inches.
Ruth said: "Living with extra weight or obesity can lead to fatty material building up in your arteries and lead to diseases like high blood pressure, which increase your risk of heart and circulatory diseases."
6
Living with extra weight or obesity can lead to fatty material building up in your arteries and lead to diseases like high blood pressureCredit: GettyShe advised eating a healthier diet which focuses on plenty of vegetables and fruit, reducing carbs and salt, avoiding cooking in fats, and managing portions.
She added: "Per day, men should have less than 30g of saturated fat and women less than 20g."
Saturated fats include processed meats, hard cheeses, cream, biscuits, cakes, pies and pastries.
CHILL OUT: Stress itself doesn't cause heart or circulatory diseases, but Ruth said: "It may cause you to make choices that can put your heart health at risk, such as eating unhealthily or drinking more alcohol.
"Lots of people have stressful lifestyles, with some things unavoidable.
"But you can help to improve your health by taking control of how you react to that."
Find ten minutes of your day to meditate, journal your thoughts so they're not bottled up, or go for an evening walk instead of watching TV.
The Easy-to-miss Signs Of Deadly Heart Problems That Have NOTHING To Do With Your Chest
HEART problems are typically associated with symptoms in the chest area, for obvious reasons.
But several cardiovascular health issues can manifest themselves in other parts of the body, making them dangerously easy to dismiss.
1
Symptoms of heart problems can sometimes manifest in the legs, feet, head, arms and stomachCredit: GettyThese warning signs include feeling sick, leg cramping, swollen ankles and bloating.
Dr Rigved Tadwalkar, a cardiologist at Providence Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, California, told HuffPost: "The common thing we are concerned about is chest discomfort.
"But the truth is that cardiovascular issues can actually be signalled by other symptoms."
Here is a breakdown of some of the most common heart problems and the key signs - that aren't associated with the chest - to look out for.
READ MORE ON HEART HEALTH Heart diseaseCoronary heart disease (CHD) is a common but serious condition where the blood vessels supplying the heart are narrowed or blocked.
Most commonly, it causes chest pain - but there are other, less obvious symptoms, according to the British Heart Foundation (BHF).
These include:
Most read in Health
PILL POPPER
Millions taking cholesterol-busting statins 'at risk of deadly complication'MY TRUTH
I always felt different as a child - at 11 I discovered I was genetically maleOP HELL
My boob job op left horror gaping wounds - my husband walked out due to the smellMARLI'S FIGHT
My son's terrifying story must serve as an important lesson to all parentsAround 2.3million people in the UK have CHD, BHF figures show.
It is one of the major main causes of death and disability, but it can often be largely prevented by adopting a healthy lifestyle.
The NHS says simple changes such as stopping smoking, eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly and maintaining a healthy body weight can make a big difference.
Heart attackHeart attacks happen when the supply of the blood to the heart is suddenly blocked.
It is a serious medical emergency and needs to be treated as soon as possible.
Typically, heart attacks trigger symptoms like chest pain and shortness of breath.
David Newby, Professor of Cardiology at the BHF Centre of Research Excellence at the University of Edinburgh, said: "It's usually described as a heaviness, tightness or pressure in the chest.
"People will often describe it as 'an elephant sat on my chest' or 'it felt like a tight band around my chest,' that sort of constricting feeling."
But experts suggest some people may also experience:
Symptoms can come on suddenly, or they can persist slowly over several days.
If you think you are having a heart attack, you must dial 999 for an ambulance.
Heart failureIn the UK, heart failure, where the heart is unable to pump blood around the body properly, affects around 900,000 people.
Symptoms may start suddenly, or develop gradually over weeks or months.
The most common signs of heart failure are shortness of breath, fatigue, swollen ankles and legs, and feeling lightheaded.
But the NHS's full list of non-chest-related symptoms includes:
It is important to see your GP if you experience these symptoms.
ArrhythmiaArrhythmia is an abnormal heart rhythm.
It might be too slow, too quick, or irregular.
There are various different types of arrhythmia, including: atrial fibrillation, supraventricular tachycardia, atrial flutter, tachy brady syndrome and heart blocks.
Symptoms depend on what type of arrhythmia a person has.
But according to the BHF, the most common in the chest area include:
Away from the chest, someone may also experience:
Most people with an abnormal heart rhythm can lead a normal life, but it is important to get it properly diagnosed and treated where needed.
Valve diseaseValve disease occurs when one or more of your heart valves don't work like they should.
It is therefore unsurprising that symptoms of the condition, which affects about 300,000 people in the UK, usually appear in the chest.
Signs include shortness of breath, discomfort in the chest area and palpitations (fluttering or pounding in the chest).
But the BHF says sufferers also report:
Many people with heart valve disease can live a normal life.
But as with most conditions, everyone is affected differently so it is important to check in with your doctor.
Unveiling The Silent Signs Of Heart Attacks
ORLANDO, FL (Ivanhoe Newswire) — Every 40 seconds someone in America has a heart attack and over 800 thousand people die every year from heart attacks. One in five heart attacks are silent, meaning blockage of blood flow to the heart starts and the person is completely unaware. There are many silent warning signs that could make the difference between life and death.
Jeff Schussler, MD, Interventional Cardiologist & Medical Dir. Of the Cardiovascular ICU at Baylor Scott & White Health explains, "Over half the people that are going to die in America are going to die of cardiovascular disease."
Every minute in the United States, someone will experience a heart attack and 12 percent of people will die from it. The known symptoms are rapid chest pains, but that's not always the case.
Annabelle Volgman, MD, Medical Director at Rush Heart Center for Women says, "I had a patient who had a toothache that turned out to be her symptom for having a heart attack."
There are many lesser-known signs of a heart attack. Silent signs that may come on more gradually include things such as tooth aches, cold sweats, pain in the arms, neck, or jaw, and difficulty digesting. Also, sudden bursts of anxiety or feelings of impending doom.
And while heart attacks are more common in men, women are more likely to experience gradual and lesser-known symptoms and are more likely to die. Helping you spot silent killers.
Early symptoms occur in 50 percent of cardiovascular health issues and are ignored. While heart attacks most commonly occur in middle age, anyone at any age can experience a cardiac emergency.
Contributors to this news report include Ally Stratis, Producer, Roque Correa, Editor.
Comments
Post a Comment