The Dangers of Coronary Heart Attacks and How to Prevent Them
Published on Llais Gobaith, October 28, 2023
Coronary heart attacks, also known as acute cardiac events, encompass a range of life-threatening conditions including myocardial ischemia, angina, myocardial infarction, and sudden cardiac death. The severity of these events not only causes immense pain to patients but also poses a significant risk to their lives. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the patterns of these attacks and focus on prevention strategies to stop them before they occur.
The Notorious “Devil’s Time”
An internationally recognized fact is that the majority of coronary heart attacks happen between 6 am and 12 pm, accounting for approximately 70% to 80% of all cases. This timeframe has been ominously labeled as the “devil’s time” for coronary heart disease.
However, it is essential to note that around 20% to 30% of patients experience attacks at night, primarily between 6 pm and 12 am. Among these cases, coronary heart disease, angina pectoris, and myocardial ischemia are most prevalent between 6 pm and 9 pm, whereas myocardial infarction occurs more frequently between 7 pm and 10 pm. This nighttime peak period is referred to as the sub-peak period.
Prevention Measures to Combat Coronary Heart Attacks
By staying vigilant during the perilous “devil’s time,” employing preventive measures, and emphasizing the importance of prevention, we can significantly reduce the frequency of attacks, improve patients’ quality of life, avert dangerous outcomes, and minimize mortality rates. The following preventive measures are highly recommended:
- Avoid the “Devil’s Time”: It is advisable for patients with coronary heart disease to refrain from morning or evening exercises. Instead, engage in physical activities during the afternoon. Additionally, it is crucial to avoid situations that could provoke anger, annoyance, or chilly conditions during the “devil’s hour.” Lastly, ensure not to overeat dinner.
- Maintain Regular Sleeping Patterns: Establishing a consistent sleep schedule is vital. Go to bed before 11 pm and drink a glass of warm water before bedtime and upon waking up in the morning to enhance blood viscosity. Soaking feet in hot water before sleep improves blood circulation and enhances blood vessel elasticity. Adequate sleep of 7 to 8 hours is essential.
- Timely Administration of Medication: If the disease manifests at night, consider taking medication at 5 pm. For night-time attacks, take medication before going to bed to prevent the prolongation of symptoms into the next morning. Take the first dose of the day upon waking up.
- Emergency Preparedness: It is paramount for coronary heart disease patients to have readily available emergency medications such as nitroglycerin and Suxiao Jiuxin Pills.
- Maintain a Balanced Diet: Incorporate more vegetables, radishes, tomatoes, and black fungus into your diet. Avoid consuming high-fat foods.
- Reduce Stress: Following intensive work or study, it is essential to allocate time for relaxation and leisure activities. Consider getting a massage to alleviate stress.
- Sleep on a Tilt Bed: Angina pectoris and myocardial infarction episodes tend to occur at night due to increased blood flow returning to the heart when lying down. Research suggests that patients prone to angina pectoris while lying on their backs experience fewer attacks when sleeping on a tilted bed without nighttime medication. Raising the head of the bed by 10 to 15 degrees creates a more upright position.
- Massage Techniques: Apply pressure on specific acupressure points like Neiguan, Xinyu, Tanzhong, and Jiquan. Alternately, use your hands to gently stroke your chest or cup it with your palms.
Editor in charge: Li Zhi
This article was edited and produced by Voice of Hope. When reprinting, please credit Voice of Hope and include the original title and link.
Currently, it is internationally recognized that the peak period for coronary heart disease attacks is between 6 am and 12 am, accounting for approximately 70% to 80% of all patients. This period of time is often referred to as the “devil’s time” for coronary heart disease.
However, around 20% to 30% of patients have attacks at night, around 18:00 to 24:00. Among them, coronary heart disease, angina pectoris and myocardial ischaemia are most common between 18 and 21 o’clock, myocardial infarction is most common between 19 and 22. We call this peak period at night sub-peak period.
By being alert to the “devil time” when coronary heart disease attacks occur, combining prevention and treatment, and focusing on prevention, we can reduce attacks, improve quality of life, avoid danger, and reduce deaths. The following measures are for reference.
Coronary heart disease (pixabay)
1. Avoid “devil time”
It is better for patients with coronary heart disease not to do morning exercises or exercise in the evening It is better to exercise in the afternoon. Try to avoid getting angry, annoyed, or cold during the “devil’s hour”; don’t overeat the dinner.
2. Go to bed on time
It is better not to burn the midnight oil. Go to bed before 23:00 at night. Drink a glass of warm water before going to bed and when you get up in the morning to improve blood viscosity. Soaking your feet in hot water before going to bed can improve blood circulation and improve the elasticity of blood vessels. Get 7 to 8 hours of sleep.
3. Take medicine at the right time
If the disease occurs at night, you can take the medicine once at 17:00; if the disease occurs at night, you can take the medicine once before going to bed to prevent the night from being too long and causing an attack the next morning. Take the first dose of the day when you wake up the next morning.
4. Be prepared
For patients with coronary heart disease, emergency medications such as nitroglycerin and Suxiao Jiuxin Pills are always available.
5. Eat a light diet
Eat more vegetables, radishes, tomatoes and black fungus. Do not eat a high fat diet.
6. Reduce stress
After intensive work and study, there must be a chance to relax and have fun.
Get a massage (synthesized by voice of hope)
7. Sleep on a tilting bed
Angina pectoris and myocardial infarction often occur at night. That’s because when you lie down at night, the amount of blood returning to the heart increases, which increases the burden on the heart. Surveys have shown that patients prone to angina pectoris while lying on their backs do not have angina pectoris attacks after sleeping on a tilt bed and without taking medication at night. A tilt bed raises the head of the bed 10 to 15 degrees. The upper body is tall and the lower body is low.
8. Get a massage
Press Neiguan, Xinyu, Tanzhong and Jiquan. You can alternately use your hands to wipe your chest, or you can cup your chest with your palms.
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