First of all, the widowmaker heart attack is nothing more than a nickname that is used to call a stenotic left coronary artery or a proximal left anterior descending coronary artery.
It is a very serious condition. If the artery gets occluded completely and all at once then you'll be having a massive heart condition which is very likely to lead to a case of sudden death.
The Widowmaker Heart Attack Causes
The blockage that occurs in the artery is due to a great number of platelets that move to a place where a cholesterol plaque has been ruptured. The problem is that even when we're talking about a really small number of plaque that gets to this area can cause sudden death. It's still a topic that's pretty much under investigation and the causes for the rupture are still rather unknown.
Even though preventing the heart attack won't be possible, what it's possible is to bypass the blockages (or in some cases, using angioplasty, open those blockages up) and that will allow to fix the problem.
The Widowmaker Heart Attack and Survival
Starting from the moment that the widowmaker heart attack first hits you, the time one can survive can go anywhere from just some minutes to several hours depending on the severity of the condition. The symptoms will start to appear and become unbearable really fast allow for you to know that something is wrong and that you need immediate emergency medical attention.
These symptoms are the same that you would be able to find in a case of regular cardiac arrest (the symptoms are due to the lack of the blood flow, not because of anything more specific than than) and will include nausea, jaw pain, tightness in chest, very irregular heart beat (the heart will try to pump the blood as it should even in these conditions), pain in the heart and others. You can read some more about the symptoms in the Heart Attack Symptoms article we have up. However, unlike the regular attack (from other conditions), this time it's a lot easier to determine that it's a widowmaker heart attack due to the progress of the symptoms. Even if at first it could seem like food poisoning or flu, the symptoms will rapidly intensify and alert you.
One misconception is that the death is instantaneous. As we've mentioned before, it can take anywhere from minutes to hours for the symptoms to start affecting you and will only induce cardiac arrest when there's been anywhere from 10 to 20 minutes with no circulation at all.
If the treatment is fast enough, it's possible for the victim to survive for a while with just the oxygen that is still in the blood. This is a very small window of opportunity so the treatment needs to be done as fast as possible. The widowmaker heart attack needs to be treated even faster than a regular heart attack, so make sure you detect the symptoms as fast as possible and get medical help.
Tuesday, 28 August 2012
What Are the Stroke Symptoms for Women?
We have mentioned before how dangerous a stroke is, and the needs for you to act quickly, which is only possible if you know the stroke symptoms for women. And while there are some symptoms that you'll see in both men and women, women are reporting specific symptoms.
So, what are the most common signs of a stroke that happen in both men and women?
Starting to feel numb. This is even more alerting when the feeling happens in just one side of your body.
Feeling confused and not being able to understand what people are saying and being able to talk are also very alerting signs.
You vision is also affected and you'll start to have great trouble in seeing from one or both eyes. It's a clear symptom that you won't miss.
Starting to feel dizzy, not being able to coordinate your movements well and having problems when walking means that something is wrong as well.
People also report starting to have very painful headaches with no other reason for that.
Unique Stroke Symptoms for Women
Even though the signs of stroke in women we have mentioned above apply to women, these are some other additional symptoms of stroke that women report.
These include: face and limb pain; getting a severe hiccup attack; starting to feel nausea (which may or may not have something to do with feeling dizzy); starting to lose your strength in your whole body; feeling chest pain that appears out of nowhere; having trouble breathing or gasping for air; starting to feel palpitations.
These symptoms, whether they are from a stroke or not, are heart disease symptoms and you should call 911 immediately to get medical help.
When a patient has a stroke, every minute counts. Acting as fact as possible is truly a must as people must get the medical care they need as soon as possible and delaying the access for that medical help can prove to have devastating consequences. You may not know, but the best treatment is the one that's given in just 3 hours after the first symptoms start to appear and most people will only get access to that treatment after that first three hour period has passed.
Stroke Symptoms in Women - A Simple Test
There are four simple tests to see if the symptoms you may be seeing are in fact from someone having a stroke.
The first sign is in the face. So you'll need to ask the person to smile and notice whether one side of the face droops.
Another easy test is related to the arms. You will simply ask the person to raise their arms and notice whether one of them will drift downward.
The next text is related to speech. You simply ask the person to repeat a very simple sentence and you'll notice if the person is having trouble pronouncing it.
If the person shows any of these signs, then once again, you should immediately call 911 to get emergency medical help.
We hope that these stroke symptoms for women were clear enough for you to understand what you should be on the look.
So, what are the most common signs of a stroke that happen in both men and women?
Starting to feel numb. This is even more alerting when the feeling happens in just one side of your body.
Feeling confused and not being able to understand what people are saying and being able to talk are also very alerting signs.
You vision is also affected and you'll start to have great trouble in seeing from one or both eyes. It's a clear symptom that you won't miss.
Starting to feel dizzy, not being able to coordinate your movements well and having problems when walking means that something is wrong as well.
People also report starting to have very painful headaches with no other reason for that.
Unique Stroke Symptoms for Women
Even though the signs of stroke in women we have mentioned above apply to women, these are some other additional symptoms of stroke that women report.
These include: face and limb pain; getting a severe hiccup attack; starting to feel nausea (which may or may not have something to do with feeling dizzy); starting to lose your strength in your whole body; feeling chest pain that appears out of nowhere; having trouble breathing or gasping for air; starting to feel palpitations.
These symptoms, whether they are from a stroke or not, are heart disease symptoms and you should call 911 immediately to get medical help.
When a patient has a stroke, every minute counts. Acting as fact as possible is truly a must as people must get the medical care they need as soon as possible and delaying the access for that medical help can prove to have devastating consequences. You may not know, but the best treatment is the one that's given in just 3 hours after the first symptoms start to appear and most people will only get access to that treatment after that first three hour period has passed.
Stroke Symptoms in Women - A Simple Test
There are four simple tests to see if the symptoms you may be seeing are in fact from someone having a stroke.
The first sign is in the face. So you'll need to ask the person to smile and notice whether one side of the face droops.
Another easy test is related to the arms. You will simply ask the person to raise their arms and notice whether one of them will drift downward.
The next text is related to speech. You simply ask the person to repeat a very simple sentence and you'll notice if the person is having trouble pronouncing it.
If the person shows any of these signs, then once again, you should immediately call 911 to get emergency medical help.
We hope that these stroke symptoms for women were clear enough for you to understand what you should be on the look.
Who Is at Risk for a Heart Attack?
There is a difference between heart attack and stroke, although the after-effects on either one can be devastating. During a heart attack, the heart muscle actually does not get enough blood to it causing damage to part of the heart. The reason the heart isn't getting enough blood is usually because of a blood clot or plaque buildup.
A stroke, on the other hand, is caused by not enough blood getting to the brain, which can cause brain damage. Sometimes this is evident by half of the body being numb, and trouble speaking or smiling, and loss of vision on one side only.
Signs of an impending heart attack in men
Chest painShortness of breathHeart palpitationsWeakness or dizzinessNauseaSweating
Signs and symptoms of heart attack in women
Symptoms of a potential heart attack in women can be similar to men, but there are also other signs as well. These other signs are:
A feeling of heaviness in their chest, so much so as to make it hard to catch their breath.Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the stomach, jaw, back and/or the neck.Shortness of breath, just as with men.Some women said they felt like they had the flu with symptoms such as nausea, sweating, and breaking out into a cold sweat.
Ways to prevent a heart attack
High blood pressure and stress are huge factors in what ails arteries and blood vessels. Learning how to lower blood pressure goes hand in hand with keeping your heart healthy. It is as simple as making some changes to the choices you make every day. These choices are:
Deciding what to eatDeciding when to go to bed and when to wake upDeciding whether or not to exercise (yes, not exercising IS a decision)Deciding to smoke, and then if you do smoke, how muchDeciding to drink alcohol, how much to drink, or not to drink alcoholHow much water you drink each day
ALL of these decisions affect your potential of having a heart attack or a stroke. When you see someone in the public eye having to get a stent because of having a heart attack, or worse yet, if you know someone who had a heart attack or stroke, it makes you realize how fragile life is. And if that someone is you, and you have that feeling of impending doom that has been mentioned by some who have gone through the experience, it is downright scary.
If you are having these symptoms, see your doctor or emergency room. After that, the easiest idea is to make a plan. The basics are:
Eat less sodium.Get at least seven hours of sleep every night.Walk for thirty minutes every dayStop smokingLimit alcoholAim for ten -8 ounce glasses of water every day
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Monday, 27 August 2012
Shift Work Poses a Health Risk for Professional Truck Drivers
The truck driver lifestyle poses many health risks due to the abnormal lifestyle. Seventy hour work weeks, away from home for weeks and months at a time, stressful schedules to meet and improper diet and sleep habits all contribute to many health problems.
Truck drivers of all categories: local, regional and long haul, work around the clock shifts in many instances. A great majority will do most of their driving during the night when traffic is less. Many local drivers operate during the night shift as well and on average, regardless of work schedule, they will often average between five to six hours of sleep per day.
The health risks posed upon truckers are no secret and the FMCSA has stepped up its role in working to alleviate many of the causes that they believe adds to safety issues. Still, the overall general lifestyle of those in trucking can lead to serious health issues.
A new study recently published by the British Medical Journal confirms that employees who perform shift work are at more risk for heart attack or stroke. Since truck drivers are often pushed beyond the legal Federal regulatory standards and subjected to abnormal hours, work shifts and rest periods, cardiac arrests, heart attacks and strokes are more common in these types of shift work environments.
Recommendations include limiting the work schedule to 12 hours, allowing for a minimum of two full nights' sleep between day and night shifts and most importantly, avoid working a permanent night shift.
The study showed that consistently working a night shift can lead to a breakdown in the nervous system which can cause health issues such as obesity and high cholesterol, which is common for the vocation. Other health issues that many truck drivers face include: diabetes, sleep apnea, high blood sugar, back pain, joint pain and arthritis, just to name a few.
Compounding the problem is the lack of concern by the motor carriers, shippers and receivers who often fail to adhere to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's hours of service rule which establishes how many hours a truck driver can work within a 24 hour period.
Abnormal work hours such as a permanent night shift can lead to further health complications and since many truck drivers are expected to meet pickup and delivery schedules that are set at various appointment times throughout the week, both day and night, the lifestyle is a continual problem for adequate health and rest issues.
Truck drivers of all categories: local, regional and long haul, work around the clock shifts in many instances. A great majority will do most of their driving during the night when traffic is less. Many local drivers operate during the night shift as well and on average, regardless of work schedule, they will often average between five to six hours of sleep per day.
The health risks posed upon truckers are no secret and the FMCSA has stepped up its role in working to alleviate many of the causes that they believe adds to safety issues. Still, the overall general lifestyle of those in trucking can lead to serious health issues.
A new study recently published by the British Medical Journal confirms that employees who perform shift work are at more risk for heart attack or stroke. Since truck drivers are often pushed beyond the legal Federal regulatory standards and subjected to abnormal hours, work shifts and rest periods, cardiac arrests, heart attacks and strokes are more common in these types of shift work environments.
Recommendations include limiting the work schedule to 12 hours, allowing for a minimum of two full nights' sleep between day and night shifts and most importantly, avoid working a permanent night shift.
The study showed that consistently working a night shift can lead to a breakdown in the nervous system which can cause health issues such as obesity and high cholesterol, which is common for the vocation. Other health issues that many truck drivers face include: diabetes, sleep apnea, high blood sugar, back pain, joint pain and arthritis, just to name a few.
Compounding the problem is the lack of concern by the motor carriers, shippers and receivers who often fail to adhere to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's hours of service rule which establishes how many hours a truck driver can work within a 24 hour period.
Abnormal work hours such as a permanent night shift can lead to further health complications and since many truck drivers are expected to meet pickup and delivery schedules that are set at various appointment times throughout the week, both day and night, the lifestyle is a continual problem for adequate health and rest issues.
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