Blood carries nutrients and
oxygen to your heart muscle (the myocardium).
Blockage of an artery to
the heart slows down or stops the blood flow to
the heart muscle. This
blockage or occlusion
usually results from plaque (cholesterol) build up, blood
clots
within the coronary
artery, or spasms (uncontrolled
contraction) of the musculature in the walls of a coronary artery.
Causes
A
severe reduction or cessation of blood flow to a portion of the heart
muscle causes cell death beyond the area of the obstruction. When a
portion of the heart does not receive oxygen and nutrient rich blood, it
dies; this is what is called a heart attack or myocardial infarction.
The severity of symptoms experienced depends on the area of heart
muscle involved in the heart attack.
Risk
Factors
-
Lack
of exercise
-
Obesity
-
Smoking
-
High
blood pressure
-
High
cholesterol
-
Diabetes
Symptoms
Chest
pressure or a pain spreading from the chest to the shoulders and arms is
often the first symptom. The victim will be light headed or dizzy, short
of breath, sweaty, and nauseous.
Diagnosis
A comprehensive physical
exam and review of the patient’s medical history allows the physician
to determine if a heart attack may have occurred. Further tests to
verify a heart attack include
Heart
Damage Detection using an electrocardiogram.
The E.K.G.
(electrocardiogram) identifies abnormal electrical heart patterns and
evidence of heart muscle damage. Test may
also be conducted for blood enzyme levels (cardiac enzymes),
which become elevated in a heart attack.
Treatment
Act immediately if you suspect someone is having a
heart attack! Get to an emergency room as fast as you can.
Every minute the heart muscle goes without food and oxygen,
more damage is done. There are three methods of “reperfusion
therapy” to increase blood flow to the heart:
1) Drug injection to
dissolve clots (thrombolysis)
2) Balloon angioplasty and
3) Coronary artery bypass
graft surgery.
In extreme cases, where
large areas of the heart have died, the only solution is a cardiac
transplant.
Prognosis
If heart attack victims are treated quickly, many return to their normal
physical activities.
The
majority return to work within a few months. If significant permanent
heart damage occurred, patients need cardiac rehabilitation with risk
behavior modification and an exercise program to strengthen the heart.
Participation in rehabilitative exercise results in a 20% to 25%
reduction in cardiovascular death. Exercise!
Prevention
Exercise!
Reach
a desirable and healthy weight. Don’t
smoke. Check your blood pressure regularly and keep it below 140/90. Have your cholesterol checked and stay away from fatty foods. If
diabetic monitor and maintain your blood sugar levels.
Visit
the following sites to learn more about the heart & heart attacks.
American
Heart Association: Risk Quiz for heart attack and strokes.
Heart
diseases, Conditions and Treatments
National Heart,
Lung, and Blood Institute:
Comprehensive information on all aspects of heart health.
CDC
(Center for Disease Control): Heart Disease
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