Thank you child of God. Please, for what you can do to prevent a Heart attack, see counsel C2 of Heart problem 1. There are some points there that would be of help to you.
C/3: There are many heart diseases that threaten lives in our world today, and heart attack is one of those diseases. A heart attack, medically known as myocardial infarction, is when part of the heart muscle is damaged or dies because it isn't receiving oxygen. Oxygen is carried to the heart by the arteries or blood vessels.
Most heart attacks are caused by a blockage in these arteries. Usually the blockage is caused by a situation called atherosclerosis, which is the buildup of fatty deposits or plaque inside the artery. This buildup is like the gunk that builds up in a drainpipe and slows the flow of water.
Heart attacks can also be caused by a blood clot that gets stuck in a narrow part of an artery to the heart. Clots are more likely to form where atherosclerosis has made an artery more narrow.
C/4: Of course, you can know when you're having a heart attack.
* Usually there's a pain which can be felt like a bad heartburn. That could indicate you're having one.
* There's also a feel of pressure or crushing pain in your chest, sometimes with sweating, nausea or vomiting.
* There could also be a pain felt that extends from your chest into the jaw, left arm or left shoulder.
* There's also the feel of tightness in your chest that at times could result to shortness of breath for more than a couple of seconds.
All of the above are indicators that you may be having a heart attack. And our best advice to you is to contact the hospital for check up as fast as you can. The earlier the doctor finds it out, the sooner you get treatment and the greater the chance that the doctor can help prevent further damage to the heart muscles.
Be strong child of God. We shall share our prayers with your need in mind. God bless you.
Rev P.C. Akubueze and Team
Heart Problem 2/Counsel 3 & 4
Hi Pastor, I'm a U.S citizen in Europe. What is a Heart attack and how do I know if I'm having one? What also can I do to prevent a Heart attack? May the Lord bless you abundantly.
Heart Problem 1/ Counsel 1 & 2
Hello Pastor, I am from the US and in my mid- thirties. I've had no serious heart problems. But one of my parents seems to suffer from heart problems.Should I be afraid of having a heart disease or attack in the future because my parents suffer from it? And what can I do to protect myself and prevent it from happening?
No my dear. You are very young to entertain that negative feeling of panic.There's no room for panic as this itself could ruin any effort taken toward preventing sickness in general.
Biblically speaking, what you are afraid of you kind of attract it (Job 3v25). Panic could diffuse your energy and focus you could have directed to prevention and thus leaves you with no option than being overcome by what you should have overcome. Put that negative spirit out of your mind.
Of course, there's a cause to think of the probability of having a heart disease if one finds it through the family lineage. I really don't know why this is so. But studies of family histories of heart attacks or similar problems show that it could be inherited. And the records aren't strange any more that some patients were offspring of former heart disease victims.
Please, note that family history is just one factor and there are many others that have nothing to do with one's lineage. That being said, there's no cause of panic because there are things you could do to reduce the chances of heart disease occurance in your life. See the followings:
C/2: PROTECTING YOURSELF AGAINST HEART DISEASES
1) You Should Get In Touch With Your Doctor.
This would be our first advice to you to go see your doctor and let him/her have a check on you. Whatever he tells you, please, follow his instructions carefully.
2) You Should Check To know Your Family History.
Yes, you probably know about your parents but try to find out about your grand parents and the history of your ancestors if possible. As a young lad, ask your parents more about their parents and sibblings in relation to heart diseases and other similar sicknesses.
Gather as much as you can before you make any conclusions. A report of heart diseases in your search gives the doctor a wealth of information from which to help you.
With this information, you and your family doctor can assess your risk and make a plan to avoid potential problems. Although you can't do much about your family history or your age, you can make lifestyle changes to avoid many of the other risk factors.
3) You Should Avoid Smoking.
Smoking is a major risk factor for heart disease in women. More than half of the heart attacks in women under 50 are related to smoking. If you stop smoking, you can lower your risk of heart attack by one third within 2 years. If you don't smoke, Amen!
Women who smoke and use birth control pills increase their risk even more. Also Breathing smoke from someone else's cigarettes is also bad for your heart and lungs. If you live with someone who smokes, encourage him or her to quit.
4) You Should Control Your Blood Pressure.
High blood pressure is one of the biggest factors that contribute to heart disease and treating high blood pressure can lower your risk of heart attack and stroke.
Losing weight, exercising regularly and eating a healthy diet are all ways to help control high blood pressure. Reducing how much salt you consume can also help. If these steps don't lower your blood pressure, your doctor may recommend medicine for you to take.
5) You Should Control Your Cholesterol Level.
If you don't know your cholesterol level, ask your doctor to check it. Diet is a key part of lowering high cholesterol levels. However, some people may need to take medicine in addition to diet and exercise.
6) You Should Maintain A Healthy Weight.
Extra weight puts strain on your heart and arteries. Exercise and a low-fat diet can help you lose weight considerably. Being overweight means you have a higher risk for many other health problems, especially diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease. If you're overweight, talk to your doctor about a safe and effective way to lose weight. He will help you.
7) You Should Exercise Regularly.
Remember, your heart is a muscle. It needs regular exercise to stay in shape. Aerobic exercise, such as brisk walking, swimming, jogging or biking, gives your heart the best workout it can.
You can also use fitness equipment like exercise bicycles, treadmills and ski machines when exercising indoors. Finding an exercise partner may make it easier and safer for you to exercise often. You should exercise at least 30 to 60 minutes at a time, 4 to 6 times a week. Talk to your doctor before starting an exercise program.
8) You Should Eat A Low-Fat Diet.
Our God knows it that too much fat is neither healthy to the body nor to the spirit. Biblically speaking, God never admonished His people to eat fat. The fat of any sacrificed animal belonged to the Lord. In fact, it was a forbidden act in the Bible to eat animal fat. However, it could be used for other purposes than for food (Leviticus 7 v 22- 25). These Biblical information should help us reduce fat intake in our bodies.
It's good to keep fat calories to about 30% or less of the total calories you eat during a day and avoid saturated fat found in meats and coconut oil. Information is available to help you make healthy choices. For example, food labels list nutrition information, including fat calories, many cookbooks have heart-healthy recipes, and some restaurants serve low-fat dishes.
9) You Should Take Care Of Diabetes.
If you have diabetes, regular exercise, weight control, a low-fat diet and regular doctor visits are important. If you need to take medicine for diabetes, be sure to take it exactly as your doctor tells you to.
10) You Should Be Vigilant To Your Body Pains.
It is very important to be aware of chest pain. If any such thing, treat the case as a matter of urgency. Be sure to contact your doctor immediately if you suffer from pain in your chest, shoulder, neck or jaw. Also notify your doctor if you experience shortness of breath or nausea that comes on quickly. If you are having a heart attack, the faster you can get to the hospital, the less damage will happen to your heart. Every second counts.
11) You Should Be Prayerful.
This is by no means the least, although mentioned as the last point. Yes as a Christian, you should be prayerful. It is expected of us all. The Bible tells us to watch and pray (Mark 14v38). To pray without ceasing (I Thessalonians 5:17). To devote ourselves to prayer (Colossians 4:2), to present every aspect of your life to God through prayers and petitions (Philippians 4:6).
We are also asked to pray in the Holy ghost, the one who interceeds for your behalf in sickness. We are told to pray on all occasions. I think your sickness is one of the occasions that trigger prayer. Is it not?
Finally, it says we should pray with all kinds of requests (Ephesians 6:18). What kind of requests does it say? All kinds it says. So when in bad health condition, there's a request to pray about. In need of healing, there's a request to pray about. These are Scripture verses to help us get in touch with God on a constant basis.
God is still our God even when we are sick. He doesn't abandon His children. If we keep praying, there are sicknesses that He could handle and not allow it reach our bodies.
Don't forget that all sicknesses develop kind of trouble within the body. However, while the doctor strives to cure or treat sickness in the body, the real person-the Lord- who owns, lives in and controls the body should not be forgotten.
It should be understood that the body is not for disease and sickness but for the Lord (I Corinthians 6v13). It is the temple of the Holy spirit (I Corinthians 6v19) and as such, it could be kept in a healthy state by the help of the Holy Spirit therein.
The Holy spirit, in addition, also inspires the doctor for a good and timely treatment. But this is true for the one who is prayerful. Be Prayerful as a Christian, my dear.
May our God bless you with a healthier body and cause you to live a longer life in Jesus' Name. Amen.
My team and I love you dearly in the Lord.
