Approximately 7 million people around
the world die from heart attacks every year, and cardiovascular disease, which
causes heart attacks and other problems like strokes, is the world's leading
killer.
So what causes a heart attack?
Like all muscles, the heart needs
oxygen, and during a heart attack, it can't get enough. Fatty deposits, or plaques,
develop on the walls of our coronary arteries. Those are the vessels that
supply oxygenated blood to the heart. These plaques grow as we age, sometimes
getting chunky, hardened, or enflamed.
Eventually, the plaques can turn into
blockages. If one of the plaques ruptures or cracks, a blood clot will form
around it in minutes, and a partially closed artery can become completely
blocked. Blood flow is cut off to the cardiac muscle and the oxygen-starved
cells start to die within several minutes. This is a myocardial infarction,
or heart attack.
Things can rapidly deteriorate in the
absence of treatment. The injured muscle may not be able to pump blood as well,
and its rhythm might be thrown off. In the worst case scenario, a heart attack
can cause sudden death.
How do you know that someone is having a heart attack?
Symptoms:-
The most common symptom is chest
pain caused by the oxygen-deprived heart muscle. Patients describe it as
crushing or vice-like. It can radiate to the left arm, jaw, back, or abdomen. But
it's not always as sudden and dramatic as it is in the movies. Some people
experience nausea or shortness of breath. Symptoms may be less prominent in
women and the elderly.
For them, weakness and tiredness may
be the main signal. And surprisingly, in many people, especially those with diabetes,
which affects the nerves that carry pain, a heart attack may be silent.
If you think that someone might be having
a heart attack, the most important thing is to respond quickly. If you have
access to emergency medical services, call them. They're the fastest way to get
to a hospital.
What do Doctors do:-
Taking aspirin, which thins
the blood, and nitroglycerin, which opens up the artery, can help keep
the heart attack from getting worse. In the emergency room, doctors can
diagnose a heart attack. They commonly use an electrocardiogram to
measure the heart's electrical activity and a blood test to assess heart muscle
damage. The patient is then taken to a high-tech cardiac suite where tests are
done to locate the blockages.
Cardiologists can reopen the blocked artery by
inflating it with a balloon in a procedure called an angioplasty. Frequently,
they also insert a metal or polymer stent that will hold the artery open. More
extensive blockages might require coronary artery bypass surgery.
Using a piece of vein or artery from
another part of the body, heart surgeons can reroute blood flow around the blockage.
These procedures reestablish circulation to the cardiac muscle, restoring heart
function.
Precautions:-
Heart attack treatment is advancing, but
prevention is vital. Genetics and lifestyle factors both affect your risk. And
the good news is that you can change your lifestyle. Exercise, a healthy diet,
and weight loss all lower the risk of heart attacks, whether you've had one
before or not.
Doctors recommend exercising a few times a week, doing both aerobic activity and strength training. A heart-healthy diet is low in sugar and saturated fats, which are both linked to heart disease.
So what should you eat?
Lots of fiber from vegetables, chicken
and fish instead of red meat, whole grains and nuts like walnuts and almonds all
seem to be beneficial. A good diet and exercise plan can also keep your
weight in a healthy range, which will lower your heart attack risk as well. And
of course, medications can also help prevent heart attacks.
Doctors often prescribe low-dose
aspirin, for example, particularly for patients who've already had a heart
attack and for those known to be at high risk. And drugs that help manage risk
factors, like high blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes, will make heart
attacks less likely, too. Heart attacks may be common, but they don't have to
be inevitable. A healthy diet, avoiding tobacco use, staying fit, and enjoying
plenty of sleep and lots of laughter all go a long way in making sure your
body's most important muscle keeps on beating.
Really appreciate you sharing this post. Really looking forward to read more. If you want to learn about Heart disease treatment please visit here.
ReplyDeleteAnthony Constantinou | Anthony Constantinou CEO CWM FX says Well it’s a complete misconception that when heart stops beating, it will be a condition of heart attack. Honestly, it’s nothing related to heart attacks, it just means that your heart has lost some of its ability to pump blood. When the heart muscle can no longer pump enough blood for the body, then it would be the cause of heart attack.
ReplyDelete