What To Do In Case Of a Heart Stroke

Abstract

The most important thing in everyone’s life is health because it is actually the foremost condition in order for success, wealth, etc. to be able to give one pleasure. Sometimes people do a lot to preserve health and prevent diseases, but still diseases come all of a sudden, for example, a stroke, a heart attack, an asthma attack, etc. Such attacks could be life threatening, and medical aid may not be available to all people in the circumstances they’re living in. This article aims to help you prepare for circumstances when a heart stroke occurs – and hospitalization is not immediately possible.

Introduction: Is a Stroke the Same as a Heart Attack?

We know that it is the function of blood to carry oxygen and nutrients throughout the body and also carry waste and toxins away so that they can be removed from the body via concerned pathways. Therefore the blood vessels carrying this blood need to be in perfect fit condition at all times. But they do get clogged, blocked, thickened, inflamed or obstructed due to many reasons.  The blood vessels connect all organs together and join the vital organs with the rest of the body for control and coordination.  The blood vessels are together called the circulatory system which is a part of the cardiovascular system. 

For a smooth functioning of the circulatory system, not only the physical or structural condition of the blood vessels is important, but blood health and parameters also matter a lot because if the blood is saturated with impurities and unhealthy components such as extra cholesterol, this factor itself deteriorates the health of the blood vessels. In such circumstances either the blood vessels can burst due to excess thinning of their walls, or a bolus can be formed with platelets, called clot. This clot can be deadly if it travels and gets stuck at any passage in the body, especially near the vital organs. 

A stroke is a condition when such a clot travels from the place of its creation, through the blood vessels that supply the brain with vital nutrients and oxygen, or a blood vessel has burst due to excess dilation i.e. wall thinning. On the other hand, a heart attack is a condition where the blood supply of the heart itself is obstructed and this hampers the functioning of the heart and affects the heart and the brain instantly, and the rest of the body within some time. A heart attack is considered to be the scariest condition, it should be understood that a stroke is similarly serious and life threatening. Both conditions affect both the heart and the brain and therefore require a similar line of treatment, in the long term as well as in an emergency.  

Long-term vs. Emergency Conditions of the Cardiovascular System

The heart connected with a vast network of blood vessels which we call arteries, veins and capillaries forms the cardiovascular system. Conditions of this system affect the whole body but most importantly the vital organs. The conditions can be more or less serious depending on their severity and the part of the body they occur in: 

1. Hypertension: Abnormally high blood pressure caused by faulty diet and lifestyle, known as hypertension. It is a long term condition. 
2. High Cholesterol or Hyperlipidemia: Too much circulating lipoproteins in the blood, caused by faulty diet and lifestyle; known as high cholesterol or hyperlipidemia. It is also a long term condition. 
3. Arrhythmia: Abnormal heart rate caused by hypertension; known as arrhythmia. It is a long term but serious condition. 
4. Atherosclerosis: Stiffness in the arteries caused by hyperlipidemia; known as atherosclerosis. It is also a long term but serious condition. 
5. Cardiomyopathy: Weakened and stiffened heart walls, caused by chronic hypertension and hyperlipidemia; known as cardiomyopathy. It is a long term condition that can cause an emergency anytime. 
6. Coronary Artery Disease (CAD): Poorly functioning arteries caused by chronic atherosclerosis, known as coronary artery disease (CAD). It is also a long term condition that can create an emergency anytime. 
7. Heart Attack: when the main supply of blood (and oxygen) into the heart is blocked by a clot or a narrowed wall of the concerned blood vessels. This is an emergency condition and can be fatal.
8. Stroke: when the supply of blood (and oxygen) to the brain is hindered by a clot that has travelled from another location in the body, or a blood vessel has burst. It is also an emergency condition, and is fatal.  

How to Deal With Emergency Conditions

In emergency conditions such as an attack and a stroke, potent blood thinners should be consumed immediately such as potent peppers which are formed into capsules or tablets. The heart point should be immediately pressed in both hands of the patient. This point is located exactly between the root of the thumb and the index fingers. This technique enhances tremendous blood flow throughout the cardiovascular system and resolves all blockages. If the person has optimum blood health and is not a patient of blood thinning, an aspirin tablet could be given as an emergency. Medical experts should be called and the person should be hospitalized and until then, the above mentioned steps should be taken. 

How to Prevent Such Conditions

Having learnt what to do when a stroke occurs, we should also know that prevention is better than cure, and therefore care should be taken to maintain such a lifestyle that even sudden attacks can be managed in severity and degree. The following steps should be taken by the healthy and the ill people alike:

• Quit smoking.
• Reduce alcohol consumption.
• Meditate.
• Practice yoga.
• Reduce consumption of meat.
• Consume medicinal teas such as Arjuna Tea. 
• Consume natural spices such as ginger, garlic, pepper, cinnamon, etc. 
• Maintain a healthy body weight in accordance with your height.
• Keep a check on your blood cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar. 
• Consume more raw and fresh foods.
• Avoid packed and processed foods.
• Minimize restaurant and street food consumption.
• Consume healthy fats such as almond, walnut, flax seeds, etc. 
• Avoid fried items in general and avoid use of refined oils. 
• Consume a diet balanced in all micro and macro nutrients.
• Control stress in life by any stress – management methods that you like.
• Don’t ignore any initial symptoms of heart disease. 

Conclusion

Various lifestyle disorders can contribute to development of more serious, life threatening conditions. Therefore it is recommended that initial symptoms should not be ignored and regular tests of bio parameters should be carried out. However, in case of an emergency, the steps mentioned in the previous sections should be taken. In the presence of an acupuncture specialist or a yoga therapist, other techniques can be recommended by them which are more subtle and depending upon the circumstances and the condition of the individual. It should always be followed that prevention is better than cure, especially regarding the health of vital organs.