Prevent a Heart Attack: Learn How Metabolic Syndrome Affects Your Chances of Heart Disease

Many people know that heart disease is the number one killer today, with stroke being number three—but did you know that metabolic syndrome is one of the leading causes of heart disease and heart attacks? Together, the two blood vessel diseases of strokes and heart attacks are the primary cause of societal morbidity by a considerable margin. Interestingly, they are both associated with poor lifestyle choices, which means that in most cases, heart attacks and strokes are preventable.

The most immediate cause of heart attacks is hardening of the arteries. This is caused by inflammation in the arteries associated with plaque buildup in the wall of the arteries of the heart. This is thought to be due, at least in part, to a number of underlying inflammatory conditions. One of the most prevalent of these inflammatory conditions is metabolic syndrome.

Metabolic Syndrome Can Play a Role in Heart Attacks

Metabolic syndrome, which is another name for body inflammation, is a national epidemic. The primary problem is a poor diet that leads to insulin resistance and inflammation. Metabolic syndrome is characterized by the following:

• Hypertension
• High cholesterol
• Diabetes
• Family history of heart attack and stroke and/or a prior heart attack or stroke
• Visceral obesity (the "spare tire" around your waist)
• Signs of body inflammation

There are numerous diet and lifestyle factors that contribute to metabolic syndrome and heart disease. These include:

• Smoking
• Lack of exercise
• Stress
• Poor diet that includes overconsumption of:
• Red meat
• Fried and fast foods
• Processed foods
• Saturated fats
• High glycemic simple sugars and desserts

Is Metabolic Syndrome Reversible?

Metabolic syndrome is reversible. The sooner you begin making better lifestyle choices, the better your chances for reducing your risk of a heart attack. Here are some actions that you can take to reverse metabolic syndrome.

• Reduce your caloric intake and eliminate foods that contribute to metabolic syndrome (see list above).
• Eliminate visceral obesity (aka belly fat).
• Aim for whole fruits and vegetables to comprise 50% of your diet.
• Incorporate fiber-rich whole grains like brown rice into your diet.
• Minimize dairy foods except for low-fat dairy items such as yogurt.
• Take supplements to replace the vitamins and nutrients you do not get in your diet, but avoid mega-vitamins and mega-antioxidants.

How Arterial Damage Affects the Heart

Plaque buildup in the arterial walls narrows the artery, restricting blood flow to the heart. In most cases, this doesn't cause actual heart damage early on. It is the acute event of myocardial ischemia (MI) that causes a lack of blood supply to the heart muscle, resulting in a heart attack. Myocardial ischemia is usually a sudden event that occurs within the plaque formation (which took many years to accumulate). It starts as a rupture that appears in the wall of the plaque and blood-clotting platelets rush in to form a clot that finally cuts off the supply of blood to the heart, causing a heart attack.

Recognize the Warning Signs & Symptoms of a Heart Attack

It is critical to recognize the signs and symptoms of a heart attack, since early care and diagnosis can be lifesaving. Some of the most common presentations of a heart attack include the following.

• Pain or discomfort behind the breast bone that can last for a few minutes or longer
• Pain or pressure in the arms, back, neck or stomach
• Pressure, squeezing or a feeling of fullness in the chest
• Shortness of breath, which can be accompanied by nausea, cold sweats and/or dizziness
• Fatigue, anxiety and heartburn for a period of time prior to the actual heart event (especially for women)

The duration of pain is also important. If the pain is temporary it is called angina and may not result in heart muscle damage. If the pain is more severe and lasts a long time, it is assumed to be a heart attack with resultant heart muscle damage. Damage can be confirmed by blood tests and an EKG.

If you think you are experiencing symptoms of a heart attack, get to a hospital immediately for a diagnosis followed by the immediate use of a clot-busting drug (if the diagnosis is positive).

What to Expect After a Heart Attack

After a heart attack, patients are put on antiplatelet clot prevention agents such as aspirin, Plavix or Warfarin. Your doctor will try to minimize the other aspects of the metabolic syndrome (e.g., hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, etc.) through coordinated treatment. In addition, it may be necessary to place stents into the arteries if the blood flow is still blocked in spite of medical therapy. If the electrical conductivity of the heart is altered, other medications such as rhythm control drugs may be needed. There may also be a need for drugs that improve the heart function, especially if the heart is failing in providing optimum functioning. For the long run, it is critical to make lifestyle and dietary changes in an attempt to reverse any vestige of the metabolic syndrome and reduce your risk of heart disease and heart attack.

Editor's Note: For further reading, see A Miracle Food to Protect Your Heart and Blood Vessels.

Posted in Prevention, Senior Health