Knowing your health could save your life

WITH September being heart month, we asked Netcare Greenacres GP, Dr Peter Schwartz, the questions you were too shy to ask. ý What is a heart attack? A heart attack is an acute, unexpected insult on the heart due to inadequate blood supply to either the heart muscle; or a clot in the arterial [blood] supply to the heart; or both.

It can also occur from longstanding narrowing of the arteries (atherosclerosis) supplying the heart.

This leads to a either a heart rhythm disturbance, which can be fatal; or death of the heart muscle supplied by the arteries.

Heart attacks can be immediately fatal or non-fatal, depending on the source and area of the blood clot.

Why is it dangerous to have high blood pressure?

It is one of the main contributory causes of heart attacks. The other main causes are cigarette smoking, obesity, adult onset diabetes, cholesterol, a positive family history of hypertension and lack of exercise.

These can all be rectified by lifestyle changes and/or modern drug therapy interventions.

Stress is also becoming a major contributory cause.

Why is it important to have your blood pressure taken regularly?

High blood pressure is a silent killer. The majority of people with hypertension (high blood pressure) are unaware of it.

Only if your blood pressure is extremely high, you might feel dizzy or have a pounding headache.

However, most people with hypertension are asymptomatic. That is, they have no symptoms.

Why is it important to have your cholesterol tested?

High cholesterol has been found to be an independent risk factor in developing premature heart disease.

Again, high cholesterol is mostly asymptomatic.

It is only when someone has their cholesterol tested by a reputable mechanism, this is picked up.

What should you do if someone has a heart attack?

Patients who get to an advanced cardiac care unit immediately have the best outcomes.

At these units, the clots can be dissolved immediately, or the blockage can be bypassed with a stent.

Delay in treatment can lead to death or permanent heart scarring and dysfunction.

We are fortunate in Port Elizabeth to have two highly sophisticated immediate coronary (heart) care units.

These are located at the Life St Georges Hospital and the Netcare Greenacres Hospital.