HEART ATTACK PREVENTION

Antioxidants 

Antioxidants are food supplements that have been promoted as preventing heart disease and stroke.

An important early event in the development of a cholesterol plaque in atherosclerosis is the oxidative modification of LDL cholesterol ( low density lipoprotein ) particles in the blood and the subsequent interaction of this modified LDL with the wall of the coronary artery. This process initiates the formation of the cholesterol plaque. 

Antioxidants that block the oxidative modification of LDL have been shown to slow the progression of atherosclerosis in animal experiments. Examples of antioxidants include vitamin E and beta carotene. In humans, observational studies ( studies that observe the frequency of related conditions ) have found a relationship between the dietary intake of vitamin E and lower rates of heart attacks.

Smoking cessation
Smoking cessation, by whatever means, has been clearly demonstrated to reduce future heart attacks and death in patients with known coronary artery disease or who have other risk factors for the development of coronary artery disease. While many methods, both chemical and behavioral, have been used to aid smoking cessation, the initial success rate is often low, and the relapse rate is high. Certain medications that affect neurotransmitters in the brain, which are similar to agents often used to treat depression ( bupropion ), have recently been demonstrated to be helpful in many patients trying to stop smoking. While effective, these agents may produce significant side effects and should only be used under the close supervision of a doctor.

Exercise
The effects of exercise in preventing heart attacks have yielded conflicting results. This is likely due to the fact that people who exercise regularly generally have healthier lifestyles and that many risk factors for heart disease can be influenced by exercise. Therefore, the specific role of exercise itself in heart attack prevention is difficult to isolate.

For example, regular exercise has direct effects : 

• Weight control
• Blood pressure
• Diabetes
• Blood cholesterol
• Smoking

A recent study from Germany found that although exercise may not reverse the formation of cholesterol plaque, it does improve some of the chemical makeup of the blood vessels so that they can remain open more easily. Therefore, exercise seems to have a beneficial effect on the natural physiology of diseased coronary arteries. For more, please visit the fitness center. 

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