Shocking news hit us like a ton of bricks when Gerald Levert, 40, the smooth-voiced R&B singer died Nov. 10 2006 of a heart attack at his home in Newbury, Ohio, outside Cleveland.
During his career as he sold more than 10 million albums, five of which were certified platinum. Five of his songs reached No. 1 on the Billboard R&B charts, and 11 made the Top 20.
Gerald Levert’s presence will be missed; one fan wrote “I 'm already missing you. I have comfort in knowing that you will be blessing my love ones in heaven with that AWESOME voice of yours.....You were one of the greatest singers that will ever walk the face of this earth. I am thankful that I have your CD's (all of them) to continue to lift me up”
Two questions that come to my mind are how somebody so gifted like Gerald Levert could die from a heart attack at such an early age? And what should one do in order to avoid having a heart attack?
A heart attack is when part of the heart muscle is damaged or dies because it isn't getting enough blood from the coronary arteries. Heart attacks usually result from a blockage in the coronary arteries. This blockage is most likely to be caused by a blood clot that forms where an atherosclerotic (pronounced “ath-uh-roe-skluh-rot-ik”) plaque has cracked or ruptured.
Risk factors of a heart attack include diabetes, high cholesterol level, high blood pressure, family history of heart attack, hardening of the arteries, lack of exercise and obesity.
Risk factors of a heart attack include diabetes, high cholesterol level, high blood pressure, family history of heart attack, hardening of the arteries, lack of exercise and obesity.
There are many ways to reduce your risk of a heart attack:
1. Stop Smoking. Smoking is one of the major causes of death. Smoking also increases the risk of getting a heart attack. If you are a smoker, you ought to quit now. It is not impossible for you to quit. Many people who are heavy smokers manage to successfully quit. All you need is determination and willpower to pull you through this period of time.
2. Exercise. Before you start, talk to your doctor about the right kind of exercise for you. Try to work up to exercising 4 to 6 times a week for at least 30 minutes each time. Regular exercise will help to strengthen your cardiovascular system and keep your weight under control. It can also lower your blood pressure and reduce your level of LDL cholesterol (“bad” cholesterol that clogs the arteries).
3. Eat right. Follow a healthy diet that is low in sodium (salt) and saturated fat. Don't cook with salt, avoid prepared foods that are high in sodium and don't add salt when you're eating.
4. More importantly, get annual checkup because is worth the effort. Waiting until there is something wrong can be costly in time, treatment and quality of life. Regular medical exams and self exams can detect problems in their earliest stages and keep you on the road to good health.
There are many benefits to implementing these healthy habits into your lifestyle. Among them are living a more healthier life, spending less time and money for doctor visits and hospital stays, and an increase in your fitness level, appearance, confidence and energy.
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