The festive season is a time of gifts and revelry. But a surprise may be looming for those who party too hard. A heart attack can strike at any time in a person with coronary artery disease. It has been noted that across the globe, heart attacks are more likely during the festive season and especially between the Christmas and New Year period.
Initially this was believed to be due to the colder weather in the northern hemisphere during the Christmas period but the spike in often deadly heart attacks are just as likely to occur in warmer climates. There are several reasons why this may be the case but the exact cause has not as yet been conclusively identified and it is most likely not a single factor.
Anaemia is the medical term for a deficiency of hemoglobin, the compound in the red blood cells that bind to oxygen. It may be related to low numbers of red blood cells or lower than normal levels of haemoglobin although there is sufficient red blood cells. There are various types of anemia associated with normal or abnormal red blood cells. One of these is megaloblastic anaemia. It arises when there is a deficiency of vitamin B12 and folate (vitamin B9).
A blood clot is simply a coagulated mass of blood components that functions as a plug to prevent the loss of blood. The process of clotting or blood coagulation is an efficient life-saving mechanism that is designed to seal any injury to the blood vessel until the wall of the vessel can restore the lining. This process is seen when you develop a scab over a cut or bleeding sore.
What is the pH of arterial blood?
The pH scale is a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of any solution or substance. With human blood, particularly arterial blood, this level is approximately 7.40. The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14, with a reading of 7.0 indicating a neutral level. Technically a level of 7.40 means that arterial blood is slightly alkaline but to a very slight degree. The body maintains arterial blood within a very narrow range between 7.36 to 7.44. The pH within a cell (intracellular pH) is about 7.0 (neutral) although it can fluctuate between 6.80 and 7.30.
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Cholesterol is a waxy substance used to produce certain hormones and synthesise vitamin D. It is an important compound in the body and is produced by the liver. Certain foods are high in cholesterol and by eating large quantities of these foods, your body is flooded with cholesterol. Your liver produces cholesterol for the body’s healthy functioning but additional cholesterol beyond the body’s needs can be detrimental.
The heart is a muscular pump that works throughout your life to keep blood circulating through the entire body. It has high demands in terms of oxygen and nutrients and this is supplied to the heart muscle by the coronary arteries. When the coronary arteries are blocked, oxygen and food cannot reach the heart muscle.Without the necessary supply. the heart muscle is suffocated and the dies. This is known as a heart attack or myocardial infarction (MI).
