Healthy heart
“Your Heart for Life” campaign teaches people how to take care of their heart. Only a few people know, how to prevent cardiovascular diseases, how to recognize a heart attack or stroke, or what to do in such situations.
Heart
- = cor (latin), kardia (greek)
- The heart is an organ placed on the left side of your chest, behind the clavicle.
- The primary task of this remarkable muscle is to pump blood with oxygen and nutrients to all the organs.
Fun facts about heart
- 3 billion – heart beats in an average lifetime (70 heart beats in one minute)
- 350 grams – that's how heavy a heart is
- 1967 – the first successful heart transplant in the world
- 2 + 2 – two ventricles and two atriums
- 3 – the heartbeat of the baby can be distinguished in the third week of pregnancy
- 5 – the heart pumps out 5 litres of blood every minute

Heart attack
Heart attack is a state, during which an artery supplying heart with blood and oxygen becomes blocked. It is most often a result of atherosclerosis.
How does a heart attack manifest itself?
- Chest pain. Heart attack can also manifest itself with a long lasting back pain. Chest or back pain comes suddenly and lasts for at least 20 minutes.
- Shortness of breath
- Pale face and sweating
- Anxiety
- Nausea
- Unconsciousness
If you experience any of these symptoms or if you see someone else experiencing them, call 155 immediately!
Brain
- = cerebrum (latin), encephalon (greek)
- A brain is a part of central nervous system, responsible for the coordination and proper function of the entire body.

Fun facts about brain
- 2 - brain consists of two hemispheres
- 432 - km/h the speed of a nerve impulse
- 86 - billion nerve cells in a brain
- 1350 - the average weight of a brain in grams
- 20 - brain consumes 20% of the glucose intake every day
- 200 - all nerve fibers put together could go around the Earth 200 times
Stroke
- Stroke is a state, during which an artery supplying brain with blood and oxygen becomes blocked. It is most often a result of atherosclerosis.
How does a stroke manifest itself? BE FAST!
Balance - loss of balance
Eyes - vision problems
Face - asymmetric face, numbness, tingling
Arms - numbness, tingling
Speech - Speech, problems with speech
Time - ČAS! If you experience any of these symptoms or if you see someone else experiencing them, call 155 immediately! Stroke doesn't hurt, that's why it's dangerous.
How to do chest compressions?
5 important steps to do when you have or see someone else having a heart attack or stroke.
- Don't panic, don't look for advice on the internet and start acting
- Call 155 for help
- Stay where you are and wait for an ambulance
- Is the patient conscious?
- Soothe him / her
- Check breathing and reactions (talk, pinch the patient's ear)
- Is the patient unconscious?
- Check breathing - tilt the patient's head back and see, if the chest is moving up and down
- If the patient is not breathing, start chest compressions immediately!
How to do chest compressions?
- Put your phone on the speaker
- Kneel next to the patient
- Place your hands over the center of their chest (between the nipples)
- Interlace your fingers
- Make sure your elbows are straight
- Using your upper body weight, push straight down on the chest at least 5 cm deep (it's the size of a Tic Tac box)
- Keep the pace of 100 compressions per minute (to the rhythm of Jingle Bells or Stayin Alive from Bee Gees)

How to prevent a heart attack and stroke?
Preventable risk factors:
- Smoking - If you quit smoking, the risk of having a heart attack or stroke lowers by up to 50%.
- Lack of exercise - Exercise regularly, at least 5 times a week for 30 minutes.
- Sleep - Sleep for at least 7 hours a day and go to bed (and from it) at the same time every day (yes, even at weekends :) )
- Diabetes - If you have diabetes, get checked by your doctor regularly
- Blood pressure - If you have high blood pressure, check it regularly and take your pills
Non-preventable risk factors:
- Gender - Men are more prone to both heart attack and stroke, women are more protected thanks to their sex hormones - estrogens.
- Age - The risk of having a stroke or a heart attack is higher after you turn 55.
- Genetics - If someone from your family had a stroke before the age of 55, tell that to your GP. Familial hypercholesterolemia, for example, is a hereditary disease, which can manifest at a young age.
What to do when...
5 important steps to do when you have or see someone else having a heart attack or stroke.