Heart Attack Info
First, here is a good link on the
subject: http://www.bettermedicine.com/topic/heart-attack/
There are many other good links on
the subject, too.
Second, here following are my selected cuts and pastes on the subject. I myself had a heart attack and died in a Walmart parking lot around 5 years ago. Quick action saved my life and brain.
I am more than glad to talk and joke about it, and answer any questions you may have. Just leave a comment and I will get a hold of you by phone or email, your decision.
Heart Attack Prevention Programs
Some of the factors
that increase your risk of heart attack are under your control. Whether a
doctor has issued you a strong warning or you want to get on a path of heart
health on your own, you may want to consider enrolling in a heart attack
prevention program. This way you can address your personal heart hazards and
lower the chance you’ll have a heart attack.
Signs and
symptoms of a heart attack in women are often dismissed or attributed to other
conditions. But this brush-off is a terrible idea because delaying heart attack
treatment can mean the difference between life and death. What signs of a heart
attack should women pay attention to? Hint: It’s not just chest pain.
If you have
never had a heart attack it is hard to imagine what one might feel like. But
knowing what symptoms to pay attention to could keep you from delaying
treatment and possibly save your life. Despite popular belief, chest pain is
not the only symptom. If chest pain is present, it is not always sudden and
severe. Symptoms of a heart attack in men can also be gradual, subtle, and come
and go with time.
If someone is
having a heart attack, it is critical that they get medical attention without
delay so lifesaving measures can begin as soon as possible. With no time to
waste, what should you do? There are a few good actions you can take to greatly
lower the chances of serious heart damage or even death.
(Many people saved my life and brain, and generally were trained. But even basic first aid is not a bad way to start. Said another way, worse case the patient dies.)
Coronary heart
disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. Blood vessels that
bring nourishment and oxygen to the heart muscle can become narrowed or blocked
with fatty plaque or blood clots. Starving the heart of blood causes the tissue
to die and this heart damage is the reason why you can have a heart attack.
While heart
disease is the leading cause of death in both men and women, there are several
surprising differences in how a woman’s symptoms are perceived, evaluated, and
treated. But paying attention to these key differences, and receiving care from
cardiologists knowledgeable in heart disease in women, can help women get
prompt and appropriate care.
Learn more about heart disease in women ›
Learn more about heart disease in women ›
Heart disease
and stroke may seem like different diseases, but they are closely related and
caused by the same disease process in the arteries. When blood vessels narrow,
the flow of blood through them is limited. Without access to the oxygen and
nutrients the blood carries, cells in the heart and brain die.
A heart attack, also called
myocardial infarction, happens when blood flow to the heart becomes blocked,
preventing enough oxygen from reaching the heart.
The blockage is often caused by a buildup of plaque in the coronary arteries—blood vessels that supply blood to the heart. Plaque is made up of fat, cholesterol, and other substances. Eventually, plaque can rupture and cause a blood clot to form. The blood clot obstructs the flow of blood to the heart, resulting in a heart attack.
If the blood and oxygen supply is cut off severely or for a long period of time, the affected section of the heart muscle suffers damage and dies. The result is dysfunction of the heart muscle in the area affected by the lack of oxygen.
Know About CPR and Defibrillators? ›
Risk Factors
A heart attack can happen to anyone, but some people are more at risk than others. Those with inherited (genetic) risk factors such as a family history of heart disease; type 1 diabetes; high blood pressure; low levels of HDL, or “good,” cholesterol; high levels of LDL, or “bad,” cholesterol; and high triglycerides have a greater risk. Risk also increases with age. In general, men are at risk at an earlier age than women, but after the onset of menopause, women are equally at risk.Prevention
While some risk factors are out of your control, there are steps you can take to manage controllable risk factors. This includes quitting smoking, limiting alcohol intake, losing excess weight, getting regular exercise, eating a healthy diet, and controlling stress. Working with your doctor to keep your cholesterol and triglyceride levels in control, as well as managing conditions such as high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes, can also help.Symptoms
The most common symptom of a heart attack is chest pain or discomfort that lasts for more than a few minutes. Although chest pain is the key warning sign of a heart attack, it can sometimes be confused with indigestion, pneumonia, or other disorders. Check out the symptoms callout box for a list of possible heart attack symptoms. If you or someone you know exhibits any of these warning signs, call 911 immediately.Treatment
The goal of treatment for a heart attack is to relieve pain, restore immediate blood flow to preserve the heart muscle function, and prevent death.An electrocardiogram (ECG) will be done immediately in the emergency department or in the ambulance if 911 was called. If the ECG detects a heart attack, immediate intervention is necessary. Treatment options include:
·
Fibrinolytic
therapy: An IV medication
is given to break up the clot that is blocking the coronary artery.
·
Coronary
angioplasty: A balloon is
used to create a bigger opening in the blood vessel to increase blood flow.
·
Coronary
artery bypass: Most
commonly referred to as simply “bypass surgery,” this procedure is often
performed in people who have angina
(chest pain) and coronary artery disease (a condition in which plaque has built
up in the arteries). During the surgery, a bypass is created by grafting a
piece of a vein above and below the blocked area of a coronary artery, enabling
blood to flow around the obstruction.
Mild and Massive Heart Attacks: What's the Difference?
When you think about a massive heart attack, you probably imagine someone who suddenly clutches their chest and collapses. This is not always the scenario, even with a large heart attack. Although some heart attacks are more dramatic than others, a heart attack is always serious.Whether a heart attack is mild or severe, you can improve your odds of living the longest, healthiest life possible if you know what to do.
What Causes Heart Attacks?
All heart attacks occur when circulation of blood to the heart is blocked. If the blockage is not rapidly opened, heart tissue will die from a lack of oxygen.Most often, a heart attack, also called myocardial infarction (MI), is a result of coronary heart disease (CHD).Coronary heart disease is a narrowing of the coronary arteries, which bring blood into the heart muscle. Coronary heart disease is most often caused by atherosclerosis, a buildup of fatty plaque on the artery walls.
Narrowed coronary arteries reduce blood flow to the heart muscle and can cause chest pain (angina), especially during exercise or stress. In addition, blood clots form more easily in a narrowed artery damaged by fatty plaques. A blood clot can completely block blood flow, causing a heart attack and life-threatening heart damage. Angina is not a heart attack, but if it does not go away with rest or after taking nitroglycerin, it is a sign of a developing heart attack.
What Is a Mild Heart Attack?
A mild heart attack affects a relatively small portion of the heart muscle, or does not cause much permanent heart damage. This is because the blockage in a coronary artery occurs in a small artery that supplies a small portion of the heart muscle; does not completely block blood flow to the heart; or lasts briefly.It is a common misconception that a mild heart attack is not serious. Even if the area of the heart affected is small, a heart attack can result in permanent heart damage and life-threatening problems that affect you for the rest of your life, including heart failure, an abnormal heart beat (arrhythmia), and a higher risk of a second heart attack.
What Is a Massive Heart Attack?
A massive heart attack affects a large portion of the heart muscle, or causes a large amount of heart damage. This can happen if the blockage in a coronary artery occurs in a large artery that supplies a large portion of the heart; completely blocks blood flow to the heart; or lasts for a long period of time.
A massive heart attack can result in collapse, cardiac arrest (when your heart stops beating), and rapid death or permanent heart damage. A massive heart attack can also lead to heart failure, arrhythmia, and a higher risk of a second heart attack.
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