The news of a heart attack claiming the life of cricket legend, Shane Warne at only 52 years of age, has sent shockwaves across the world. His sudden passing has sparked an important conversation around men’s habits and their impact on cardiovascular health.
Nicole Jennings, spokesperson for Pharma Dynamics, SA’s largest provider of cardiovascular medication, says heart attacks are no longer just linked to the aged. Now, one in five heart attack patients are younger than 40.
“What many don’t realise is that there are usually no signs or symptoms of high blood pressure (hypertension) or high cholesterol, yet both increase your risk of a heart attack and stroke. That’s why it is so important to have these checked by your GP regularly, especially if you’re 40 and older.”
Jennings says heart disease is preventable. “The earlier you start to look after your health, the better for your heart. The first place to start is to recognise the risk factors for heart disease.” These include:
Smoking, which damages blood vessels and contributes to heart disease. Unhealthy eating leads to excess weight gain and obesity, which both cause cardiovascular disease.
Excessive salt intake leads to water retention. Physical inactivity heightens your risk of developing high blood pressure by 30-50%, as well as other diseases like obesity and type 2 diabetes. Heavy drinking can also lead to hypertension, heart failure as it contributes to cardiomyopathy – a disorder that impairs the heart muscle. Stress, especially long-term stress, increases cortisol (stress hormone) levels, which raises blood cholesterol, blood sugar and blood pressure.
Proactive, preventative care is the best approach to reduce heart attack deaths among middle-aged men.
Warning signs of a heart attack in men include chest pain and/or discomfort, which can spread to the arms, neck, jaw or back. Dizziness or light-headedness, feeling nauseas, indigestion, unexplained sweating or shortness of breath are also critical signs.
