Heart attack: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, Prevention
A heart attack occurs when a portion of the heart muscle loses blood supply, typically as a result of a blockage in a nearby artery. A buildup of fat, cholesterol, and other substances in the heart’s (coronary) arteries typically causes the blockage. Plaques are fatty deposits with cholesterol in them. Atherosclerosis refers to the process by which plaque builds up. Plaque ruptures occasionally to form clots that prevent blood flow. A portion of the heart muscle can be destroyed or damaged by a lack of blood flow.
A heart attack must be treated immediately to prevent death. If you think you might be having a heart attack, dial 911 or get emergency medical help right away.
How frequent are heart attacks?
Over 800,000 heart attacks occur annually in the United States. Coronary artery disease, the leading cause of death in the United States, is the cause of most heart attacks.
Symptoms of a cardiac arrest:
It is essential to recognize the warning signs as soon as possible and contact emergency services because heart attacks can be fatal.
Signs include:
- A sensation of chest pressure, tightness, pain, squeezing, or aching
- Pain in the arms, neck, jaw, or back that gets worse
- A sensation of smashing or greatness in the chest
- A sensation similar to indigestion or heartburn
- Dizziness and occasionally vomiting
- Feeling wet and clammy
- Difficulty breathing
- Feeling dizzy or lightheaded
- Anxiety that can sometimes feel like a panic attack
- Wheezing or coughing if the lungs become clogged with fluid
- The order and duration of heart attack symptoms can vary; they may begin slowly or intermittently over several hours.
- Other possibilities include:
- Hypoxemia is characterized by low blood oxygen levels.
- Pulmonary edema: This is a condition in which fluid builds up in and around the lung.
- Cardiogenic shock: A sudden drop in blood pressure caused by insufficient blood supply from the heart to the rest of the body. Sometimes, men and women experience heart attacks in different ways.
What is the root of a heart attack?
Coronary artery disease, the most prevalent form of heart disease, is the leading cause of heart attacks. When this occurs, your coronary artery is unable to deliver sufficient oxygen-rich blood to your heart muscle.
Heart attack reasons
Atherosclerosis-related blockages aren’t always to blame for heart attacks. In the absence of obstructive coronary artery disease, the condition known as myocardial infarction (MINOCA) occurs when other conditions of the heart and blood vessels cause a heart attack. Women, young people, Black, Hispanic/Latino, and Asian people are more likely to have MINOCA.
- Although small plaques in your arteries do not necessarily obstruct blood vessels, they may rupture or lose their outer layer. On these plaques, blood clots may form as a result of this. After that, the blood clots may obstruct the flow of blood through your coronary arteries. Women, people who smoke, and people who have other blood vessel conditions are more likely to develop small plaques.
- A severe, sudden spasm (tightening) of the coronary artery
- can impede blood flow through your artery even when there is no plaque buildup. A coronary spasm is a risk factor for smoking. Smokers may be more likely to experience spasms in response to extreme cold or extreme stress. Coke and other drugs can also cause heart spasms.
- When a blood clot travels through your bloodstream and becomes lodged in your coronary artery, this condition is known as a coronary artery embolism.
- When a tear develops within your coronary artery, this condition is known as spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD). After that, a blood clot or the torn tissue itself may obstruct your artery. Stress, excessive physical activity, and pregnancy are all risk factors for SCAD. Women under 50, pregnant women, and Marfan syndrome sufferers are more likely to develop this condition.
Risk elements:
Risk factors for heart attacks include:
- Age: Heart attacks are more common in men and women over the age of 55 and 45 than in younger people.
- Using tobacco: This includes smoking and inhaling secondhand smoke for a long period of time. Stop smoking if you do.
- Excessive blood pressure: High blood pressure can cause damage to the heart’s arteries over time
- High triglycerides or cholesterol: The “bad” cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), is most likely to cause arteries to narrow.
- Adiposity: When insulin isn’t used correctly or the body doesn’t make it, blood sugar rises.
- Family background of coronary failures: You may be at increased risk if a parent, sibling, or grandparent suffered a heart attack before the age of 65 or 55 for men and 55 or 65 for women.
- Insufficient exercise: A sedentary lifestyle, or a lack of physical activity, is linked to a higher risk of heart attacks. Heart health is improved by regular exercise.
- Dietary inadequacy: Heart attacks are more likely to occur in people who consume a diet high in trans fats, animal fat, processed foods, sugar, and salt. Consume a lot of vegetables, fruits, fiber, and healthy oils.
- Confused: Heart attacks may be more likely if an individual experiences emotional stress, such as extreme rage.
- Use of illegal drugs: Stimulants include amphetamines and cocaine. They might set off a spasm in the coronary arteries, which could lead to a heart attack.
- An autoimmune disorder: Having a condition like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis can make you more likely to have a heart attack.
The aftermath of a heart attack:
After a heart attack, complications can be serious. The following are some complications: • Arrhythmias: Following a heart attack, your damaged heart muscle may cause electrical signals to be disrupted, resulting in an abnormal heartbeat.
- Heart failure: Your heart may have trouble pumping insufficient blood because your muscles are too weak or stiff.
- Cardiogenic shock, in which your heart suddenly stops pumping enough blood to your body, is a life-threatening condition.
- A heart rupture: is a serious but uncommon complication in which the muscles, walls, or valves of your heart rupture.
Treatments:
Your doctor may recommend a procedure—surgical or nonsurgical—if you have had a heart attack. These procedures can ease pain and assist in preventing another heart attack. Some common procedures are:
- Stent: After an angioplasty, a wire-mesh tube called a stent is inserted into the artery to keep it open.
- Arthroplasty: A balloon or the removal of plaque buildup are used in an angioplasty to open the blocked artery. It’s important to remember that doctors and other medical professionals now rarely use angioplasty alone.
- A heart bypass: procedure Your doctor will reroute the blood around the blockage during bypass surgery.
- Valve replacement surgery: Surgeons fix or replace leaky valves in valve repair or replacement surgery to help the heart pump.
- A pacemaker: A pacemaker is a machine that is inserted under the skin. It may assist in maintaining a normal heartbeat.
- Organ transplantation: When a heart attack kills most of the heart’s tissue permanently, surgeons may recommend a heart transplant. In addition, your doctor may prescribe the following heart attack medications:
- NSAIDs
- Additional drugs that dissolve clots
- Blood thinners, also known as anticoagulants and antiplatelet agents
- Painkillers
- Nitrocellulose
- A blood pressure med
- Anti-beta drugs
- A heart attack necessitates prompt medical attention. After a heart attack, the more quickly and successfully blood flow can be restored to the affected area of your heart and the earlier treatment you receive.
How might I forestall a coronary episode?
- The most effective way to lower your risk of a heart attack is to make positive changes to your lifestyle. Your heart health can be improved in a number of ways:
- Giving up smoking
- Consuming a balanced diet
- Going to the doctor to get help controlling your blood pressure and cholesterol
- Engaging in regular physical activity and exercise
- Preserving a healthy body weight
- Drinking moderate amounts of alcohol
- Coping with stress and taking care of your mental health.