what is heart attack?
What happens after heart attack?
What causes a heart attack?
What symptoms a heart attack?
What risk factors a heart attack?
What complications a heart attack?
Heart attack treatment
Heart attack
When
the blood supply to the heart is significantly impeded or blocked, a heart
attack happens. The accumulation of fat, cholesterol, and other chemicals in
the heart's (coronary) arteries is typically what causes the obstruction.
Plaques are the name given to the fatty, cholesterol-containing deposits.
Atherosclerosis is the name for the process of plaque accumulation.
A
plaque may occasionally burst and generate a clot that restricts blood flow.
Part of the heart muscle can be harmed or destroyed by a lack of blood flow.
A
myocardial infarction is another name for a heart attack.
To
avoid mortality, a heart attack requires prompt treatment. If you suspect a
heart attack, dial 911 or get emergency assistance.
Symptoms
Heart
attack symptoms can vary. Mild symptoms are present in some people. Others
display serious symptoms. Some individuals show no symptoms.
Typical
heart attack signs include:
·
chest discomfort that may be felt as
pressure, stiffness, soreness, hurting, or discomfort
·
spreading to the shoulder, arm, back,
neck, jaw, teeth, or even the upper belly
·
frozen sweat
·
Fatigue
·
Acid reflux or indigestion
·
unexpected dizziness or lightheadedness
·
Nausea
·
breathing difficulty
Atypical
symptoms in women can include back, arm, or neck discomfort that is sudden or
acute. Sudden cardiac arrest can occasionally be the initial indication of a
heart attack.
Heart
attacks can happen suddenly. However, many people have warning symptoms and
signals hours, days, or even weeks in advance. An early warning sign of angina
is persistent chest pressure or pain that doesn't go away with rest. A brief
reduction in the amount of blood flowing to the heart is what causes angina.
Causes
Most
heart attacks are brought on by coronary artery disease. One or more of the
heart's (coronary) arteries are clogged in coronary artery disease. Plaques,
which are cholesterol-containing deposits, are typically to blame for this.
Plaques can cause artery narrowing, which lowers heart blood flow.
A
plaque that ruptures may result in a cardiac blood clot
A
cardiac (coronary) artery blockage may be wholly or partially responsible for a
heart attack. If an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) reveals any specific changes
(ST elevation) that call for urgent invasive treatment, that electrocardiogram
can be used to identify heart attacks. ECG readings may be used by your doctor
to describe these kinds of heart attacks.
·
An acute complete blockage of a medium or large heart artery
usually means you've had an ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).
·
A partial blockage often means you've had a non-ST
elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). However, some people
with NSTEMI have a total blockage.
Not all heart attacks
are caused by blocked arteries. Other causes include:
·
Coronary artery spasm. This is a severe squeezing of a blood
vessel that's not blocked. The artery generally has cholesterol plaques or
there is early hardening of the vessel due to smoking or other risk factors.
Other names for coronary artery spasms are Prinzmetal's angina, vasospastic
angina or variant angina.
·
Certain infections. COVID-19 and other viral infections may
cause damage to the heart muscle.
· Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD). This life-threatening condition is caused by a tear inside a heart artery.
Risk
factors
Heart attack risk
factors include:
- ·
Age.
- ·
Tobacco use
- ·
High blood pressure.
- ·
High cholesterol or
triglycerides
- ·
Obesity
- ·
Diabetes.
- ·
Metabolic syndrome.
- ·
Family history of heart
attacks
- ·
Stress
- ·
An autoimmune condition
Complications
Heart attack
complications are often due to heart muscle damage. Potential complications of
a heart attack include:
·
Irregular or atypical heart rhythms (arrhythmias). ardiogenic
shock.
·
Heart failure.
·
Inflammation of the saclike tissue surrounding the heart
(pericarditis).
·
Cardiac arrest.
Prevention
ü
It's never too late to take steps to prevent a heart attack —
even if you've already had one. Here are ways to prevent a heart attack.
ü
Follow a healthy lifestyle. Don't smoke.
Maintain a healthy weight with a heart-healthy diet. Get regular exercise and
manage stress.
ü
Manage other health
conditions. Certain conditions, such as high blood pressure and
diabetes, can increase the risk of heart attacks. Ask your health care provider
how often you need checkups
ü
Take medications as
directed. Your health care provider may prescribe drugs to protect
and improve your heart health.
ü It's also a good idea to learn CPR properly so you can help someone who's having a heart attack. Consider taking an accredited first-aid training course, including CPR and how to use an automated external defibrillator (AED).