Heart Attack
Content
prithvi arun
What Is a Heart Attack?
A heart attack results from a blockage in one or both coronary arteries, which move oxygen and blood to the heart. The heart cannot survive without the oxygen that travels within the blood, so a blockage will cause the sudden death of heart cells. Usually, the blockage develops slowly and steadily over time. Plaque, made from cholesterol and other cells, thickens within the coronary artery walls. If the blood cannot flow through this blockage, you will experience a heart attack. Sometimes, the plaque in the arteries will tear and stick to blood platelets, forming a clot. A heart attack will occur if the clot prevents the blood from flowing. You might experience a heart attack during moments of overwhelming stress or when you are physically exerting yourself while exercising. An illness such as pneumonia can also cause a heart attack. Many people experience heart attacks in the morning, suggesting that one possible cause involves the rhythm of platelets
If the blockage isn't treated quickly, the portion of heart muscle fed by the artery begins to die. Healthy heart tissue is replaced with scar tissue. This heart damage may not be obvious, or it may cause severe or long-lasting problems. A less common cause of heart attack is a severe spasm (tightening) of a coronary artery. The spasm cuts off blood flow through the artery. Spasms can occur in coronary arteries that aren't affected by atherosclerosis. Heart attacks can be associated with or lead to severe health problems, such as heart failure (condition in which the body cant pump enough blood to supply te bodies needs.) and lifethreatening arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats – if not treated immediately, it can cause death right away)
Symptoms:
Chest pain or discomfort. This involves uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain in the center or left side of the chest that can be mild or strong. This discomfort or pain often lasts more than a few minutes or goes away and comes back. Upper body discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or upper part of the stomach. Shortness of breath, which may occur with or before chest discomfort. Nausea (feeling sick to your stomach), vomiting, light-headedness or sudden dizziness, or breaking out in a cold sweat.
Outlook
Each year, about 1.2 million people in the United States have heart attacks, and many of them die. CHD, which often results in heart attacks, is the leading killer of both men and women in the United States. Many more people could survive or recover better from heart attacks if they got help faster. Of the people who die from heart attacks, about half die within an hour of the first symptoms and before they reach the hospital.
Treatments of heart attacks include:
Anti-platelet medications to prevent formation of blood clots in the arteries Anti-coagulant medications to prevent growth of blood clots in the arteries Coronary angiography with either percutaneous trans luminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) with or without stenting to open blocked coronary arteries Clot-dissolving medications to open blocked arteries Supplemental oxygen to increase the supply of oxygen to the heart's muscle Medications to decrease the need for oxygen by the heart's muscle Medications to prevent abnormal heart rhythms
The primary goals of the treatment are to quickly open the artery and restore blood flow to the heart muscle, a process called reperfusion. Once the artery is open, damage to heart
muscle ceases, and the patient becomes pain free. By minimizing the extent of heart muscle damage, early reperfusion preserves the pumping function of the heart. Optimal benefit is obtained if reperfusion can be established within the first four to six hours of a heart attack. Optimal benefit is obtained if reperfusion can be established within the first four to six hours of a heart attack. Delay in establishing reperfusion can result in more widespread damage to heart muscle and a greater reduction in the ability of the heart to pump blood. Patients with hearts that are unable to pump sufficient blood develop heart failure, decreased ability to exercise, and abnormal heart rhythms. Thus, the amount of healthy heart muscle remaining after a heart attack is the most important determinant of the future quality of life and longevity. Risk factors:
The primary risk factor for heart attack is coronary heart disease (CHD), also called atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a condition in which plaques (deposits of cholesterol and fatty materials) form in the arteries and partially or completely block blood flow. When a plaque tears or ruptures, a blood clot (thrombus) can form and completely block the flow of blood to the heart. Most heart attacks are caused by a blood clot in a coronary artery. Many of the risk factors for CHD and subsequent heart attack are related to being overweight. Risk factors include the following:
Age (over 55) Diabetes Elevated levels of certain amino acids and proteins (e.g., homocysteine, C-reactive protein, fibrinogen) Gender (male) Heredity (family history of heart disease) High blood pressure (hypertension) High fat diet High levels of "bad" (LDL) cholesterol and low levels of "good" (HDL) cholesterol Lack of exercise Smoking Drug abuse (cocaine, weed) Stress (e.g., "type A" or driven personality) Congenital heart diseases (from birth or at birth) etc
In some cases, heart attack is caused by a severe spasm (contraction) in a coronary artery. During a spasm, the artery narrows and blood flow to an area of the heart decreases or stops. The cause of spasms is unknown, and one can occur in normal arteries as well as those partially blocked by atherosclerosis. About one-quarter of all heart attacks occur without producing any identifiable symptoms. These so-called "silent" heart attacks may only be discovered incidentally by examination of an electrocardiogram (EKG) or by other heart test. How can we prevent it?
Lifestyle changes In addition to medications, the same lifestyle changes that can help you recover from a heart attack can also help prevent future heart attacks. These include: Not smoking Controlling certain conditions, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes Staying physically active Eating healthy foods Maintaining a healthy weight Reducing and managing stress
What Is a Heart Attack?
A heart attack results from a blockage in one or both coronary arteries, which move oxygen and blood to the heart. The heart cannot survive without the oxygen that travels within the blood, so a blockage will cause the sudden death of heart cells. Usually, the blockage develops slowly and steadily over time. Plaque, made from cholesterol and other cells, thickens within the coronary artery walls. If the blood cannot flow through this blockage, you will experience a heart attack. Sometimes, the plaque in the arteries will tear and stick to blood platelets, forming a clot. A heart attack will occur if the clot prevents the blood from flowing. You might experience a heart attack during moments of overwhelming stress or when you are physically exerting yourself while exercising. An illness such as pneumonia can also cause a heart attack. Many people experience heart attacks in the morning, suggesting that one possible cause involves the rhythm of platelets
If the blockage isn't treated quickly, the portion of heart muscle fed by the artery begins to die. Healthy heart tissue is replaced with scar tissue. This heart damage may not be obvious, or it may cause severe or long-lasting problems. A less common cause of heart attack is a severe spasm (tightening) of a coronary artery. The spasm cuts off blood flow through the artery. Spasms can occur in coronary arteries that aren't affected by atherosclerosis. Heart attacks can be associated with or lead to severe health problems, such as heart failure (condition in which the body cant pump enough blood to supply te bodies needs.) and lifethreatening arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats – if not treated immediately, it can cause death right away)
Symptoms:
Chest pain or discomfort. This involves uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain in the center or left side of the chest that can be mild or strong. This discomfort or pain often lasts more than a few minutes or goes away and comes back. Upper body discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or upper part of the stomach. Shortness of breath, which may occur with or before chest discomfort. Nausea (feeling sick to your stomach), vomiting, light-headedness or sudden dizziness, or breaking out in a cold sweat.
Outlook
Each year, about 1.2 million people in the United States have heart attacks, and many of them die. CHD, which often results in heart attacks, is the leading killer of both men and women in the United States. Many more people could survive or recover better from heart attacks if they got help faster. Of the people who die from heart attacks, about half die within an hour of the first symptoms and before they reach the hospital.
Treatments of heart attacks include:
Anti-platelet medications to prevent formation of blood clots in the arteries Anti-coagulant medications to prevent growth of blood clots in the arteries Coronary angiography with either percutaneous trans luminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) with or without stenting to open blocked coronary arteries Clot-dissolving medications to open blocked arteries Supplemental oxygen to increase the supply of oxygen to the heart's muscle Medications to decrease the need for oxygen by the heart's muscle Medications to prevent abnormal heart rhythms
The primary goals of the treatment are to quickly open the artery and restore blood flow to the heart muscle, a process called reperfusion. Once the artery is open, damage to heart
muscle ceases, and the patient becomes pain free. By minimizing the extent of heart muscle damage, early reperfusion preserves the pumping function of the heart. Optimal benefit is obtained if reperfusion can be established within the first four to six hours of a heart attack. Optimal benefit is obtained if reperfusion can be established within the first four to six hours of a heart attack. Delay in establishing reperfusion can result in more widespread damage to heart muscle and a greater reduction in the ability of the heart to pump blood. Patients with hearts that are unable to pump sufficient blood develop heart failure, decreased ability to exercise, and abnormal heart rhythms. Thus, the amount of healthy heart muscle remaining after a heart attack is the most important determinant of the future quality of life and longevity. Risk factors:
The primary risk factor for heart attack is coronary heart disease (CHD), also called atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a condition in which plaques (deposits of cholesterol and fatty materials) form in the arteries and partially or completely block blood flow. When a plaque tears or ruptures, a blood clot (thrombus) can form and completely block the flow of blood to the heart. Most heart attacks are caused by a blood clot in a coronary artery. Many of the risk factors for CHD and subsequent heart attack are related to being overweight. Risk factors include the following:
Age (over 55) Diabetes Elevated levels of certain amino acids and proteins (e.g., homocysteine, C-reactive protein, fibrinogen) Gender (male) Heredity (family history of heart disease) High blood pressure (hypertension) High fat diet High levels of "bad" (LDL) cholesterol and low levels of "good" (HDL) cholesterol Lack of exercise Smoking Drug abuse (cocaine, weed) Stress (e.g., "type A" or driven personality) Congenital heart diseases (from birth or at birth) etc
In some cases, heart attack is caused by a severe spasm (contraction) in a coronary artery. During a spasm, the artery narrows and blood flow to an area of the heart decreases or stops. The cause of spasms is unknown, and one can occur in normal arteries as well as those partially blocked by atherosclerosis. About one-quarter of all heart attacks occur without producing any identifiable symptoms. These so-called "silent" heart attacks may only be discovered incidentally by examination of an electrocardiogram (EKG) or by other heart test. How can we prevent it?
Lifestyle changes In addition to medications, the same lifestyle changes that can help you recover from a heart attack can also help prevent future heart attacks. These include: Not smoking Controlling certain conditions, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes Staying physically active Eating healthy foods Maintaining a healthy weight Reducing and managing stress
