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Heart Attack (Acute Myocardial Infarction)
What
is a Heart Attack (also called an Acute Myocardial Infarction or MI)? A heart
attack is a complete blockage of blood flow in a coronary artery. The
blockage prevents oxygen-rich blood from reaching part of the heart muscle.
Usually a blood clot or piece of plaque (fatty deposits called
atherosclerosis) causes the blockage in the heart artery. When blood cannot
reach this part of the heart muscle, the muscle may become permanently
damaged. The faster you get to a hospital for treatment, the less damage to your
heart. If you wait too long, the condition can be fatal. More than one
million Americans have a heart attack every year. Better treatment options
and community awareness have decreased mortality rates over the years. Yet,
lack of recognition or a disregard for the warning signs of a heart attack is
still a major cause of death. In the
event of a heart attack, every second counts. What
are the warning signs and symptoms of a heart attack? The warning
signs and symptoms of a heart attack are gender-specific, meaning men and
women have very different feelings and experiences when a heart attack is
occurring. These warning signs are described below: Men typically experience
the following common warning signs of a heart attack:
Women may have symptoms
that differ from men. While chest pain is often a key warning sign of a heart
attack, some women who have a heart attack do not experience chest pain. A woman's
pain, may be in the back, arm, neck, shoulder, and/or throat. Also, women
will typically have more "non-pain" symptoms than men. These
include vomiting, nausea, fatigue and shortness of breath. It is also
surprisingly common for people to experience no symptoms at all. This is
especially true of diabetics and those over the age of 75. We recommend that
these individuals visit their family physician and/or cardiologist on a
regular basis to continually monitor their health. Do not
ignore the warning signs of a heart attack. If you or someone you know is
experiencing any of the above symptoms, immediately call 9-1-1 because it is
quite possibly signaling a heart attack. How
is a heart attack evaluated? A heart
attack is evaluated using several different methods, but most often your
doctor will order a simple test called an electrocardiogram (EKG). This test
monitors the electrical activity within the heart and can aid your doctor in
determining if your condition is angina or if you are actually having a heart
attack. The doctor may also order blood tests that can determine if there is
damage to the heart muscle. Other
possible tests your doctor may order to evaluate a possible heart attack are:
If your
doctor determines that you are having a heart attack (or have already had
one), he or she will quickly stabilize the condition in several ways. What
are the treatment options for a heart attack? If you are
experiencing the symptoms of a heart attack, e.g. chest pain, shortness of
breath, etc., call 9-1-1 immediately. Delaying your arrival at the hospital
can increase your risk of dying. Do not drive yourself or someone else having
a heart attack. Take one
regular strength (preferably non-coated) aspirin or 4 baby aspirin, and chew
the aspirin(s) to increase absorption into your system. The aspirin works to
thin the blood, allowing more oxygen-rich blood to get through the narrowed
artery to your heart. Aspirin has proven to reduce fatality by about 25% in
heart attack victims. If someone
you know is having a heart attack, call 9-1-1 and have them chew and swallow
an aspirin. If they are unconscious, first call 9-1-1, and then begin
mouth-to-mouth resuscitation (CPR) to provide oxygen to the brain, heart, and
the rest of the body. If you are unfamiliar with how to perform CPR, the
emergency personnel on the phone line can assist you until help arrives. Upon arrival
to the hospital, if you have not already taken an aspirin, a doctor may
instruct you to chew an aspirin right then. An electrocardiogram (EKG) will
be done immediately to determine if a heart attack is occurring, or has
already happened. If the diagnosis is a heart attack, the doctor will promptly
begin treatment to open the blockage, and get much needed oxygen-rich blood
to your heart. Procedures There are a
variety of procedures that can treat and stabilize the lining of the coronary
arteries. These procedures include:
Medications There are
several medications your doctor can prescribe if you are having a heart
attack. Here are some possibilities:
Prevention
If you have
been diagnosed with a heart attack, it is extremely important to make
lifestyle changes that reduce the risk factors which have contributed to your
heart disease. Making such changes can maintain, and in many cases, reverse
the damage done to your heart. For more information about prevention of
cardiovascular disease, please click here.
Changing your
lifestyle to reduce your risk factors is one of the most important steps you
can take to improve your overall cardiovascular condition. |
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