Ischaemic heart disease (coronary artery disease) is a condition in which fatty deposits build up in the linings of the walls of the coronary arteries. This causes the artery to narrow and reduces the blood flow to the heart muscle.
There are a number of risk factors associated with the development of ischaemic heart disease, some of which are unavoidable, such as age and family history. However, risk factors such as raised fat levels and smoking are preventable.
The risk of having this condition increases with age and is more common among smokers than non-smokers. People who have diabetes, high blood pressure or high blood cholesterol levels are also at risk.
When not enough blood gets to the heart muscle, it starts to become starved of blood (ischaemia) and then the muscle dies (infarction). The sooner the blood flow can be restored, the better the chance of avoiding heart muscle death.
Thrombolysis is a type of treatment using drugs that help to break up blood clots and allow the blood to circulate through the blood vessels. Thrombolysis can be used to help those who have had a stroke, heart attack or other circulatory problem involving blood clots. The particular drugs used in this treatment are called Thrombolytics, and damage from tissue death can be minimised if the treatment is given at the earliest opportunity.
Medics working offshore who have been thoroughly trained in the use of Thrombolytics are aware of the specific medical situations when this treatment can be used.
Medics work to set protocols so that they do not administer Thrombolytics if there are contraindications. It is interesting to note that Thrombolysis has only been used twice offshore in the North Sea, and both situations occurred in the last year.
The good news is that, in both cases, the treatment was successful. It’s reassuring to know that there are medics working offshore who have the knowledge and capability to use this life-saving procedure should such a serious medical situation arise.
Of course, we can help to keep our hearts in good shape by taking exercise, drinking sensibly, not smoking and eating healthily. However, when it comes to healthy eating, it is not always easy to know exactly what is in the food that we consume.
Some foods, such as margarine, chips, pastries and fast foods, contain trans fats, which are chemically altered vegetable oils that solidify oily food as well as helping to lengthen shelf life.
However, trans fats don’t offer the benefit of adding any nutritional value to food, and studies have demonstrated that trans fats have harmful effects on our health.
Medical experts tell us that trans fats are linked to the increased risk of developing heart disease and suggest that not only should we avoid food containing these fats, but that they should be banned altogether.
In the UK, the food industry has taken voluntary measures to reduce trans fats in the food it produces, but a total ban would prevent any future reappearance of these fats in our diets.
When you are working away from home and carrying out the kinds of strenuous tasks required offshore, it is tempting to choose filling and comforting foods such as ready-made pies, chips and pastries, but unfortunately, these are the foods most likely to contain trans fats.
These days, we all eat more meals outside the home than in the past and, if you are an offshore worker, you have no choice but to eat food prepared for you.
Fortunately, offshore caterers are committed to providing healthy and nutritionally balanced food, but ultimately the choice is yours whether to choose healthy foods or go for old favourites such as pies and chips.
Trans fats have already been banned in places such as Denmark, Switzerland, Austria and parts of the US, such as New York and California.
The good news is that taste, availability and affordability of foods previously containing trans fats were not adversely affected. Experts consider that if the overall consumption of trans fats in Scotland was cut by 1%, it would lead to approximately 1,000 fewer heart attacks each year, which certainly is “food for thought”.
If you are working offshore, it’s reassuring to know that there are knowledgeable medics available to give you health promotional advice about avoiding heart disease.
An effective medic can provide you with useful information about eating well, exercising, improving your cholesterol level, giving up smoking and generally looking after your wellbeing. So why not take heart and take control of your health?
Dr Louise Smith is a medical adviser at occupational-health specialist Abermed