It?s that vital part of your body that is often confused with emotion. But its physical well-being is equally, if not more important. There?s a lot that has been said about how to keep your heart ticking. Some of those things have also been contradicted over time. But here is the sad fact ? what?s unique about Indians is that they are genetically predisposed towards atherosclerosis, where the arteries are affected at more than one place making the disease more severe, says Dr Rakesh Sapra, consultant cardiologist (invasive), Artemis Health Institute, Gurgaon. Also, coronary heart disease at a younger age (30-40 years) is more common among Indians.

So let?s try to decode some of the terms that are associated with heart diseases and learn how to recognise them.

Arrest or attack: A cardiac arrest occurs when the heart develops abnormal heart rhythm (arythmia) that causes it to stop beating. During cardiac arrest a victim loses consciousness, stops normal breathing and loses pulse and blood pressure. This is a life-threatening emergency where the heart stops beating. It is different from a heart attack, where the heart usually continues to beat but blood flow to the heart is blocked. A heart attack occurs when a blood clot blocks the flow of blood to one portion of the heart through a coronary artery ? a blood vessel that feeds blood to a part of the heart muscle, says Sapra.

Heart failure: It is not a life-threatening condition and happens when the heart does not pump sufficient amount of blood to the rest of the body. For people suffering from chronic heart failure, the heart does not function efficiently on a long-term basis. The symptoms are breathing difficulties and swelling in the feet.

It is a heart attack when:

* Chest discomfort: Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the centre of the chest (angina or chest pain) that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.

* Discomfort in the upper body: Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms (typically the left side of the body), the back, neck, jaw or stomach.

* Shortness of breath: May be accompanied by chest discomfort.

* Other signs may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.

Symptoms of a cardiac arrest:

* Sudden loss of responsiveness (no response to tapping on shoulders).

* No normal breathing (the victim does not take a normal breath when you tilt the head up and check for at least five seconds).

Cardiac risk testing is performed to screen asymptomatic people ? to help determine their risk of developing coronary heart disease.

Your check list must include:

* your smoking habits

* your total and HDL cholesterol levels (the normal range is: total cholesterol < 200 mg/dL, HDL cholesterol > 40 mg/dL)

* your blood pressure (normal if it shows a systolic BP < 120, diastolic BP < 80)

* whether you have diabetes

* whether you are overweight

* your family history

* and if you are over 65, the risks are higher

Remember, the probability of your developing coronary heart disease goes up as your risk factors go up. So, the more tick marks you have made against that checklist, the higher your risk. And diabetes is the biggest risk factor, warns Dr Parneesh Arora, consultant cardiologist at Fortis Hospital, Noida.

However, that?s not the end of the story. If you are over 30, get a lipid profile test done every year to check your heart status. If your total cholesterol levels are more than 200 mg/dL, go for a full lipid profile test, which will verify the extent of your susceptibility.

Points out Arora, ?Once you have crossed 40, go for a complete health screening every year. This would include a treadmill test, ECG, blood sugar test and a lipid profile test, and help catch the first signs of CAD.?

Myths regarding heart diseases

1. Heart disease is a man?s prerogative. Women are equally susceptible to it. Only the symptoms are subtler in women and they get it later in life than men.

2. Eggs, meat and butter (high cholesterol food) are bad for your heart. It?s unsaturated fat found in junk food, that is harmful. There is no evidence that a low cholesterol diet will reduce the risk of heart disease.

3. Once you have had a heart attack, your days are numbered. Changing your lifestyle and reducing the risk factors can go a long way to helping your heart recover and prepare for a long life.

4. Heart attack gives you a sudden, quick death. Not necessarily. It may mean recurrent bouts of breathlessness, chest pain or disability.

5. Stress and too much work will kill you. Hard work and an active life keeps you healthy and happy. It?s the feeling of hostility and constant sense of urgency and running against time (common to Type A personalities who want that report NOW!) that makes it harmful.

YOU CAN EASILY AVOID AN ATTACK BY….

* Quit smoking: If you can?t do it through sheer willpower, take the help of drugs that reduce the urge to smoke, or consult a smoking cessation specialist.

* Go for a healthy heart diet: A diet rich in fruit and vegetables, fibre, unrefined carbohydrates such as wholegrain cereals and root vegetables, and low in fatty, sugary foods is best for your heart. Fresh fruit and vegetables are rich sources of antioxidants, nutrients that help prevent the oxidation of LDL cholesterol, one of the main triggers of atherosclerosis.

* Control your blood sugar: Diabetes is as much the heart?s enemy. So, monitor your diet well. And don?t skip any meals.

* Exercise: Regular exercise will get your muscles to burn up the sugar. Exercising 30 minutes at least four times a week will also keep your heart muscles strong and considerably improve blood circulation.

* Lose weight: That?s not only going to make you look good and keep you fit, but also reduce the extra fats.

* Control your blood pressure: Take your BP medicines regularly, reduce salt and alcohol intake, and again, exercise.

That?s the least you can do for a healthy heart.