How To Stop A Heart Attack? Check Out These 5 Surprising Ways That Can Save Your Life!

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Most people are aware or have been told at some point that a proper diet and exercise are two ways to avoid having a heart attack. Here are some of the quirkier methods to keep those chest pains at bay.

1.    Drink beer daily

The Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry published a study which revealed that men who drank one beer a day for 30 days had lower levels of cholesterol and a blood-clotting protein known as fibrinogen. Reader's Digest reports that beer-drinking also increased the amount of antioxidants in the blood.

Drinking red wine is also known to be good for the heart. The source recommends drinking one or the other and not both.

2.    Get treatment for depression

Studies show that there is a relationship between heart attacks and depression. Health says that in 2009, the Journal of American College of Cardiology published a study which revealed that depressed women were twice as likely to develop a heart problem as compared to women who were not depressed.

A separate study conducted by the American Psychological Association shows that 50 percent of people who have a heart ailment will go into depression at some point in their life, as compared to 20 percent of the general population.

Dr. Lee Marcus says that a depressive episode starts in the brain and can affect how the body controls heart rate and blood pressure. According to Huffington Post, a depressive state can cause spikes in the adrenaline levels, putting additional stress on the body's circulatory system.

3.    Get enough sleep

According to the Huffington Post, the sleep sweet spot is around seven to eight hours. Getting too much or too little increases the risk of developing heart disease.

Studies indicate that when you don't get enough sleep, your blood pressure remains at a high rate. This damages the vessels in your heart and makes your heart muscle thicker.

4.    Eat chocolate

Studies indicate that eating chocolate can lower your risk of heart disease by 40 percent and stroke by 30 percent. Surprisingly, Health says eating this sweet dessert can also reduce your chances of developing diabetes by 30 percent.

The publication suggests keeping the portions small though as too much chocolate can also lead to gain weight and make your heart muscle work harder.

5.    Visit the bathroom regularly

A study conducted in Taiwan University concluded that delaying your trips to the loo can cause your heart to beat faster. Reader's Digest says this can put more stress to your heart's coronary arteries, making you more susceptible to developing a heart attack.