Heart Attack

Heart Attack

A heart attack transpires when blood flow to a section of your heart becomes obstructed for a prolonged duration, resulting in damage or death of part of the heart muscle. Your physician refers to this occurrence as a myocardial infarction.

Causes, Incidence, and Risk Factors

The majority of heart attacks stem from a blood clot obstructing one of the coronary arteries, responsible for supplying blood and oxygen to the heart. When blood flow is impeded, the heart becomes deprived of oxygen, leading to the demise of heart cells.

Atherosclerosis, the buildup of plaque in the coronary artery walls, can lead to a heart attack.

Plaque can rupture, prompting blood platelets to adhere to the tears and form a clot, obstructing oxygen-rich blood flow to the heart. This represents the most prevalent cause of heart attacks.

A gradual accumulation of plaque may almost entirely block a coronary artery, precipitating a heart attack due to inadequate oxygen-rich blood flow, especially during stressful situations or illnesses.

The precise cause of heart attacks isn't always identifiable. They can occur during rest or sleep, following sudden physical exertion, exposure to cold weather, or severe emotional or physical stress, including illness.

Symptoms

A heart attack necessitates immediate medical attention. If you experience symptoms, such as chest pain, dial 911 or your local emergency number immediately.

Chest pain is the primary symptom of a heart attack, which may radiate to other body parts like the arms, shoulders, neck, jaw, abdomen, or back. It can manifest as tightness, indigestion, pressure, or squeezing.

Other symptoms encompass anxiety, coughing, fainting, lightheadedness, nausea, vomiting, palpitations, shortness of breath, profuse sweating, and in some cases, diarrhea.

Certain individuals, such as the elderly, diabetics, and women, may exhibit atypical symptoms or experience no chest pain at all, referred to as a "silent heart attack."

Signs and Tests

Medical professionals will conduct a physical examination, listening to your chest with a stethoscope.

Abnormal lung sounds or heart murmurs may be detected during the exam.

You may have an elevated pulse rate, and your blood pressure may be normal, high, or low.

A troponin blood test can confirm heart tissue damage indicative of a heart attack.

Further tests, including electrocardiogram (ECG) and coronary angiography, may be performed to evaluate blood flow through your heart and determine the appropriate course of treatment.

Treatment

Prompt treatment typically begins in the emergency room, where you'll undergo heart monitoring and receive oxygen therapy. Intravenous fluids and medications, such as nitroglycerin and morphine, may be administered to alleviate chest pain.

Abnormal heart rhythms may be managed with medications or cardioversion.

Emergency procedures like angioplasty, involving the insertion of a stent to open narrowed or blocked blood vessels, are often performed within a specific timeframe to restore blood flow to the heart.

Thrombolytic therapy, involving clot-dissolving drugs, may be administered if deemed appropriate.

For select individuals, heart bypass surgery may be recommended.

Following a heart attack, medications like antiplatelet drugs, beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, and statins are typically prescribed to prevent future occurrences. Participation in a cardiac rehabilitation program is also advised to promote physical activity and healthy lifestyle practices.