Heart attacks can happen all of a sudden, but many of them take place during or after heavy physical load, i.e. during exercise. It’s typical not only of older people — the young generation becomes the victims of heart attacks more and more often. Learn the rules of first aid in case of a heart attack during workout, and find out which products can boost heart health.
Signs of a heart attack can vary. They may occur suddenly and be pronounced or may progress slowly, starting with mild pain. Symptoms may vary in men and women. Women are less likely to have classic chest pain than men, more likely to experience shortness of breath, nausea or vomiting, pain in the back and jaw.
Common signs and symptoms of a heart attack include:
Less often, it might be pain caused by some certain motions or touches.
Here are the essential guidelines for helping a person with a heart attack:
If a person loses consciousness or isn’t able to help oneself, and the heart attack is strong, someone should make closed-chest cardiac massage. A person is laid on a flat hard surface: the rhythmic squeezing of the patient’s chest is done — 100 pressure motions on the chest per minute to the depth of 5 centimeters.
Breaks during the heart massage should be minimal 5–10 seconds. When signs of life appear, the massage should be ceased. The patient is provided with warmth and peace. While there are no signs of life, massage should be continued until the ambulance arrives.
According to statistics, a closed heart massage conducted in the first 60–120 seconds after a sudden cardiac attack, allows returning up to 50% of patients to life.
If you notice the following symptoms, cease your workout immediately and have a rest:
If you feel like this, then you need medical care. If you continue exercising, the consequences can be sad.
While moderate physical activity is essential, you should never overdo with sports. Do NOT do the following:
Endless hours of workouts mixed with anabolic steroids
Frequent pulse, short respite for rest and recovery exhaust the heart of a person within a couple of years. This time is enough for the heart muscle to lose its former strength. Many former bodybuilders report heart malfunctions. At best case, they have rhythm disturbances, and at worst — sudden death.
Running at a distance of 5 km with a temperature and sore throat
Infection in combination with a load that is too high for such a condition not only disrupts the smooth functioning of the heart and blood vessels but also affects the immune system. The heart muscle literally absorbs even a harmless infection. That’s how a person may develop myocarditis — inflammatory processes that lead to heart rhythm disturbances, increasing shortness of breath and swelling of the legs.
Return to active training immediately after myocardial infarction
If you have been actively involved in sports for many years (for example, running for long distances), and then suffered a myocardial infarction, remember that the continuation of training at the same pace immediately after leaving the hospital can provoke another heart attack.
In fact, exercise reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease and recurrent heart attacks. On the contrary, a sedentary lifestyle is one of the risk factors. The most useful loads for cores are swimming, walking on a treadmill, an ellipse trainer. To improve blood flow and strengthen the heart muscle, you need not intense, but rhythmic exercises. And make sure that the pulse during exercise does not rise above 130 beats per minute.
Aside from physical activity, you should also mind your diet. Here are the products for heart health:
Any physical exercise will do more food than harm when performed moderately and in accordance with the doctor’s guidelines. Knowing the rules of first aid is essential, but make sure that you and your family members don’t overdo with sports.