Heart Attack
Each year, according to the National Institutes of Health, approximately 1.5 million Americans suffer a heart attack. For almost one third of them, the attack is fatal. Many of these deaths could be prevented – if only the victim had received help in time. For it is very important for us all learn the warning signs of a heart attack.
Warning signs of a heart attack
The American Heart Association says that for many people suffering from a heart attack for the first time is when they realize they have heart disease. (Read about “Coronary Heart Disease”) The warning signs are having a heart attack vary. Here are some of the most common:
- Chest pain or uncomfortable feeling in the chest that lasts more than a few minutes.
- Pain that runs down the shoulders, neck, jaw or arms.
- Chest pain accompanied by dizziness, sweating, nausea or shortness of breath.
Not all these symptoms will be present in all cases. The American Academy of Family Physicians says the symptoms can come and go, some people who have a heart attack may not experience any symptoms.
In addition, the Food and Drug Administration of the United States (FDA, an acronym in English) tells us that women are more likely to have the well-known silent attacks. That’s because women, unlike men, have different warnings of a heart attack. Women tend to have more nausea and pain in the stomach. Also, you may experience heartburn that can be taken as indigestion. In women, like men, symptoms come and go. Either way, it is extremely important to get medical help if you suspect a heart attack. The American Heart Association (AHA acronym in English) tells us that drugs and surgery to break up blood clots are more efficient when used in the early stages of a heart attack. However, studies show us that many victims of heart attacks wait several hours – up to ten hours or more – before seeking help.
The why of a heart attack
A heart attack results when blood supply to the heart is restricted or reduced. This limits the amount of oxygen to the heart, resulting in enormous damage to the heart muscle. The amount of blood the heart can be reduced as a result of atherosclerosis, in which fatty deposits build up in artery walls until a blockage occurs. Although heart attacks can arrive without warning, an attack may be followed by continuous chest pain called angina chest. (Read about “Angina”) While the symptoms of angina are similar to those of a heart attack, the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI acronym in English) indicates that angina is presented more physical effort, a heart attack can occur at any time, even during rest. Although angina is not the same as a heart attack, it does indicate the presence of coronary artery disease and should not be ignored.
Find help quickly
A heart attack is a medical emergency. Time is critical. If someone experiences symptoms that may indicate a heart attack, call 911 or your local emergency number and tell the medical staff was that when the symptoms began and the severity of them. According to the AHA, the ambulance would go better for you, as the staff of that emergency treatment can begin when you arrive, but if you suspect a heart attack and the ambulance service is not available, you can ask someone to drive (someone suspected of having a heart attack too, should not handle) to the nearest emergency room to you.
After calling 911, the AHA recommends aspirin as soon as possible, unless there is reason not to (for example, if you are allergic to the medication or have a medical condition that prohibits you from taking aspirin). According to AHA, studies show that taking aspirin when symptoms begin or increase, greatly improves the chance of surviving a heart attack. Moreover, remember that taking aspirin during a stroke is not recommended because if the stroke is caused by a break instead of a blood clot, aspirin make things worse. (Read about “Stroke”)
The key is to remember that a heart attack is more harmful during the first two hours. The sooner you get help, the better chances of survival.
Treatments and options
One of the most important reasons not to delay going to hospital is that special procedures can limit the damage done to the heart if they are started as soon as possible. For example, a defibrillator helps the heart get its normal rhythm. Also, what is called reperfusion therapy can be carried out. That will increase blood flow to the heart.
According to the NHLBI and the American Medical Association, there are several treatment options that can be used to improve blood flow.
Drugs – Breaking clot or thrombolytic agents may be injected to dissolve clots and open arteries. NHLBI says that the clot-dissolving drugs need to be injected within a few hours after the onset of a heart attack. Even more so, remember that there are dangers of the drug to dissolve clots, including stroke and brain bleeding. So the class of drug used and the decision to use depends on the situation and the patient.
Coronary angioplasty or balloon angioplasty or balloon – In this procedure, a soft tube or catheter is led through an artery and a vein close the heart. The balloon catheter has a tiny balloon at its tip or where is inflated and deflated to open and stretch the artery (a laser can be used instead or in addition to balloon). This is done to improve the flow of blood. The balloon and catheter are removed.
Stents – Stents are often inserted during angioplasty to help keep the artery open. A stent may also be used without surgery. Basically, a stent is a tube made of wire that is integrated permanently in the artery to prevent it from closing up again. Even with a stent, the artery can reclose again requiring angioplasty or bypass surgery. The NHLBI tells us that this is very common for people with diabetes or angina pectoris. (Read about “Diabetes”) The new closure is called in-stent restenosis. The AHA says the use of stents coated with medication that helps prevent the vein to close and helps reduce the risk. Brachytherapy can be used, according to the FDA. It is a procedure in which radioactive material is applied to the body. After the initial opening of the stenosis block covered with a balloon catheter (PTCA), a brachytherapy device is temporarily placed on the side of in-stent restenosis. The FDA indicates that the radiation treatment helps control the overreaction of healing in the affected and also decreases the possibility of a recurrence of the blockage.
Bypass surgery – In this procedure, a piece of vein is taken from the leg or a piece of artery is removed from the chest or wrist and then settles to the heart artery above and below the narrowed area. This is how you create a tube pass around the obstruction. The NHLBI says bypass surgery may be the procedure of choice for some patients and is also appropriate when angioplasty is not successful, or when a lock can not be achieved with angioplasty. Sometimes it takes more than a bypass. The bypass also can close again. This can happen in 10 percent of bypass surgeries, and usually occurs after ten years or more.
Success in all these treatments depends on how quickly treatment begins after a heart attack.
Following or in conjunction with the treatments, the patient will undergo a cardiac rehabilitation period, provided that they exercise and changing your lifestyle. The success of rehabilitation depends on how big the damage, and the patient’s ability to make changes and follow doctor’s orders.
In addition to the physical, the doctor may also recommend continued treatment with the drug. Recent guidelines from the AHA and the American College of Cardiology suggest that continued treatment with medications, including ACE inhibitors and beta-blockers have been shown to reduce the risk of death in patients who have survived a heart attack. These groups also stress the importance of quitting smoking and avoiding secondhand smoke. Eating foods with omega-3 fatty acids, the use of new antiplatelet agents for patients who can not take aspirin to reduce the risk of blood clots are also among recommended groups.
Other ways to reduce the risk of major heart problems includes taking all the medication that is prescribed by your doctor if you have high blood pressure or high cholesterol. (Read about “Cholesterol” “Hypertension: High Blood Pressure”) Also, if you have diabetes, it is very important to follow all your doctor’s instructions to keep the blood sugar to normal levels.
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