HEART ATTACK & STROKE Prevention - 8 Signs You Have Blood Clots Could Lead To HEART ATTACK & STROKES

Heart attack cure - scientists reveal NEW way of tackling deadly blood clots HEART attacks and strokes could be treated without harmful side effects - after experts revealed it could be possible to disrupt blood clots. Every year, thousands of people in the UK develop a blood clot in a vein which can lead to stroke or heart attack. NHS Choices said the condition is known as venous thromboembolism (VTE) and is a serious, potentially fatal, medical condition. People are more at risk of blood clots if they are over 60, overweight or obese, have previously had blood clots or have cancer or cancer treatment. Others at risk include pregnant women and people having hormone replacement therapy. Now experts believe it may be possible to disrupt harmful blood clots in people at risk for heart attack or stroke without increasing their risk of bleeding. The research reveals a previously unknown cell receptor interaction that, when manipulated with therapeutic molecules, safely prevents blood clots. “We have found a new thrombosis target that does not increase bleeding risk,” said Professor Daniel I. Simon from Case Western Reserve School of Medicine. “Our discovery indicates that you can identify a new pathway and target that mediates blood clotting, but does not affect our body’s natural processes to stop bleeding, called hemostasis.” The new pathway centres around a pair of protein receptors that help certain cells interact in inflammation and thrombosis. When the receptors interact, they trigger cascades of signals that amplify both inflammation and clotting. Experts found the interaction causes large and small artery clots in mice, but can be blocked by an antibody or a new, therapeutic small molecule that binds to one of the receptors. The researchers tested this receptor and managed to engineer mice to fight blood clot formation in response to artery injury. Mice exposed to the interfering antibody or small molecule were also unable to form the kinds of blood clots that can lead to stroke or heart attack. Experts believe the findings could lead to new medications that stave off heart attacks and strokes without harmful side effects, like excessive bleeding. “Current anti-clotting drugs (such as warfarin) and antiplatelet agents (aspirin) are effective in reducing heart attack and stroke, but are associated with increased bleeding and transfusion,” said Dr Simon. “We have learned that bleeding and transfusion complications are equally as bad from a prognosis standpoint as heart attack or stroke.” Simon and colleagues are now pursuing pre-clinical studies using antibodies to further test the technology. The study was published in the journal Nature Communications. 7 Early Signs and Symptoms of a Heart Attack You Should Know Heart disease was once considered an old-age ailment but has now become a common lifestyle concern. Statistics show that the rate of heart diseases in India is double that of the national averages of western countries. Despite being a growing concerns, not many us are aware of the most common heart attack symptoms. While a person's genetic disposition and family history remain as the most common and uncontrollable risk factors, majority of heart diseases may be caused due to controllable factors like blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, sedentary lifestyle, unhealthy diet, stress and weight issues. In today's scenario, our lifestyle emerges as the biggest risk factor. Heart disease can take many forms. Stroke or heart attack is the number one cause of mortality, especially among young Indians. According the Indian Heart Association, "50% of all heart attacks in Indian men occur under 50 years of age and 25% of all heart attacks in Indian men occur under 40 years of age." In most cases, a heart attack occurs when a blood clot is formed in one of the blood vessels responsible for supplying blood to the heart. For long, heart ailments have been regarded as a man's disease. This probably stems from previous studies, which state that the presence of a hormone called estrogen in women naturally protects them. It is known to keep blood vessels flexible so that they can easily relax and expand to accommodate blood flow and therefore, the decline of estrogen in post-menopausal women makes them more vulnerable. However, with changing lifestyle practices, both men and women share the same risk. In case of a heart attack, it has been seen that the lack of knowledge often causes a delay in handling the situation, which could aggravate the damage and in some cases prove to be fatal. We asked Dr Ashok Gupta, Director of Vascular Surgery at Saket City Hospital and Cardiologist Anuj Ved Gupta to help us understand the symptoms of a heart attack and suggest precautionary steps that can be taken while waiting for medical help. Identifying the Early Symptoms 1. The most common symptom of a heart attack is sharp and constricting pain in the center of the chest, which radiates to the left...