Quick overview of heart attack symptoms:
- Chest pain that can feel like pressure, tightness, discomfort, squeezing, or aching.
- Pain or discomfort that spreads to the shoulder, arm, back, neck, jaw, teeth, or occasionally the upper abdomen.
- Cold sweat.
- Fatigue.
- Heartburn or indigestion.
- Lightheadedness or sudden dizziness.
- Nausea or vomiting
- Shortness of breath
- An intense feeling of anxiety, similar to a panic attack
- Women can also experience sudden or sharp pain in the neck, arm, or back.
Symptoms vary between individuals. Sometimes, classic chest pain might not appear, especially in older adults, diabetic patients, and women. Some myocardial infractions can also be silent, which is common in diabetic patients.
If you notice any of these symptoms, dial 911 and get immediate medical help. While waiting for assistance, chewed one aspirin tablet (325 mg) if you’re not allergic and not on blood thinners. Inform the paramedics about this when they arrive.
What exactly is a heart attack?
A heart attack, or myocardial infarction, happens when a part of the heart muscle does not get enough blood. This insufficient blood flow is often due to a blockage in one or more of the heart’s arteries. Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of heart attacks. Less frequently, a severe spasm, or sudden tightening, of a coronary artery can cut off blood flow to the heart muscle.
Without blood flow, the damaged heart muscle will begin to die. If blood flow is not quickly restored, a heart attack can lead to lasting heart damage or even death. The longer the delay in restoring blood flow, the more damage occurs to the heart muscle.
A heart attack is an urgent and life-threatening situation. If you suspect that you or someone nearby is experiencing a heart attack, immediately call 911 (or your local emergency services). While waiting for help, chew one aspirin tablet (325 mg) if you are not allergic and not on blood thinners. Inform the paramedics about this when they arrive. Since prompt treatment is essential, as even a few minutes’ delay can cause lasting heart damage or result in death.
What causes myocardial infarction?
Coronary artery disease is the primary cause of most heart attacks, occurring when one or more coronary arteries become blocked. This blockage is typically caused by cholesterol plaques that narrow the arteries, thereby diminishing blood flow to the heart.
Not all heart attacks happen due to blocked arteries. Other causes can include:
- Coronary artery spasm: is characterized by a sudden, severe constriction of a blood vessel that is not blocked. Typically, the artery contains cholesterol plaques or is early hardened due to smoking or other risk factors. It is also known as Prinzmetal’s angina, vasospastic angina, or variant angina.
- Some infections: like COVID-19 and other viruses, can harm the heart muscle.
- Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD): involves a tear within a heart artery, leading to this potentially life-threatening condition.
What are the risk factors that contribute to a heart attack?
Risk factors for heart attack include:
- Age: Men aged 45 and older, as well as women aged 55 and older, have a higher likelihood of experiencing a heart attack compared to younger men and women.
- Tobacco use: encompasses smoking and extended exposure to secondhand smoke. If you smoke, consider quitting.
- High blood pressure: can harm the arteries that supply the heart as time passes. The risk becomes even greater if combined with other health issues such as obesity, high cholesterol, or diabetes.
- High cholesterol or triglycerides: can increase heart disease risk.
- Obesity: is linked to high blood pressure, diabetes, increased triglycerides, high bad cholesterol, and low good cholesterol levels.
- Diabetes: happens when the body doesn’t produce enough insulin or can’t use it effectively, leading to high blood sugar levels that increase the risk of a heart attack.
- Metabolic syndrome: doubles your risk of heart disease compared to not having it.
- Having a family history: of heart attacks, especially if a brother, sister, parent, or grandparent experienced an early heart attack (by age 55 for males and by age 65 for females), may increase your risk.
- Lack of exercise: is associated with an increased risk of heart attacks, as a sedentary lifestyle can negatively impact heart health. Engaging in regular physical activity helps improve cardiovascular wellness.
- Unhealthy diets: high in sugars, animal fats, processed foods, trans fats, and salt, increase the risk of heart disease, such as heart attacks. It’s best to prioritize eating plenty of fruits, vegetables, fiber, and healthy oils.
- Stress: especially emotional stress like intense anger, can raise the risk of a heart attack.
- Illegal drug: use, such as cocaine and amphetamines, involves stimulants that can cause a coronary artery spasm, potentially resulting in a heart attack.
- A history of preeclampsia: This condition leads to high blood pressure during pregnancy and increases the long-term risk of heart disease.
- Autoimmune conditions: like rheumatoid arthritis or lupus can raise the risk of having a heart attack.
How is a heart attack diagnosed?
Ideally, a doctor should regularly assess for risk factors that could lead to a heart attack. Usually, a heart attack is diagnosed in an emergency room. If you have experienced or are experiencing a heart attack, doctors will act quickly to treat you.
Diagnosing a heart attack includes measuring blood pressure, pulse, and temperature. Additional tests assess heart rhythm and overall health.
Tests used to diagnose a heart attack include:
- An electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG): is a test used to diagnose a heart attack by recording the heart’s electrical signals. An ECG helps determine if you are currently experiencing or have had a heart attack in the past.
- Blood tests: can detect specific heart proteins, known as cardiac markers, which gradually leak into the bloodstream following heart damage from a heart attack.
- A chest X-ray: shows the state and size of the heart and lungs.
- Echocardiogram: This test uses sound waves (ultrasound) to create images of the heart in motion. It shows blood flow through the heart and its valves and can help identify any damage to your heart.
- Coronary catheterization, or angiogram: involves inserting a long, thin catheter into an artery, typically in the leg, and guiding it to the heart. Dye is then injected through the catheter to enhance the visibility of the arteries during the imaging process.
- Cardiac Computed Tomography (CT) or Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): are tests that produce images of the heart and chest. These tests help diagnose heart problems and can reveal the extent of heart damage.
Your doctor will determine the most appropriate test for you based on your condition.
What is the most effective treatment plan for a patient experiencing a heart attack?
Medications
Medications used to treat a heart attack might include:
- Aspirin: helps lower blood clotting, enabling blood to pass more smoothly through a narrowed artery.
- Clot busters: such as thrombolytics or fibrinolytics, are medications that help dissolve blood clots blocking blood flow to the heart.
- Other blood-thinning medications: like heparin, decrease the stickiness of blood and reduce the chance of clot formation.
- Nitroglycerin: is a drug that dilates blood vessels, improving blood flow to the heart.
- Morphine: is used to alleviate chest pain that does not improve with nitroglycerin.
- Beta blockers: are drugs that slow the heart rate and decrease blood pressure. They can reduce damage to the heart muscle and help prevent future heart attacks.
- ACE inhibitors: a type of blood pressure medication, help reduce blood pressure and lessen the workload on the heart.
- Statins: are medications that lower unhealthy cholesterol levels.
Surgical procedures and other treatments
If you have experienced a heart attack, a surgery or procedure might be done to open a blocked artery. The treatments for a heart attack include:
- Coronary angioplasty and stenting: are procedures to unblock clogged arteries in the heart. Also called percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), they are often performed during cardiac catheterization to identify blockages, especially after a heart attack.
- Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG): is an open-heart surgery. The procedure can be performed urgently during a heart attack or a few days later, once the heart has recovered.
What measures can be taken to prevent future heart attacks?
It is never too late to start taking precautions against a heart attack, even if you’ve experienced one before. Here are some strategies to help prevent future heart attacks:
- Follow a healthy lifestyle: by avoiding smoking, maintaining a healthy weight with a heart-healthy diet, exercising regularly, and managing stress.
- Manage other health conditions: Conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes can increase the risk of heart attacks. Consult your doctor to determine the recommended frequency of check-ups.
- Follow your prescribed medication: regimen. Your doctor may prescribe medications to protect and improve your heart health.
- Reduce your alcohol: consumption.
Living with a heart attack:
Heart attacks happen unexpectedly but can be survivable with quick treatment. Recognizing symptoms like chest pain, shortness of breath, and nausea, and calling 911 right away, can save lives. Early intervention, lifestyle modifications, and medication can facilitate recovery. Stay alert, listen to your body’s signals, and prioritize heart health every day. Regular checkups and discussions with your doctor are crucial.
Frequently asked questions:
What exactly happens during a heart attack?
During a heart attack, blood flow to part of the heart stops or decreases sharply, leading to damage or death to that heart muscle area. If a section of the heart cannot pump due to insufficient blood, it may compromise the heart’s overall pumping function. This can decrease or halt blood flow to the rest of the body, creating a life-threatening situation if not treated quickly.
How frequently do heart attacks occur?
Each year, more than 800,000 Americans experience a heart attack. The majority of these attacks are caused by coronary artery disease, which is the top cause of death in the U.S.
How quickly will I start feeling better after treatment?
Typically, symptoms of a heart attack tend to improve with treatment. However, you might still feel some weakness and fatigue during your hospital stay and for several days afterward. Your doctor will advise you on rest, medications, and any additional care you may need. The recovery duration can vary depending on the treatment method used. On average, a hospital stay for a heart attack lasts about four to five days.Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
When can I return to my normal activities?
Recovery after a heart attack varies based on the attack’s severity, promptness of treatment, types of treatment received, and preexisting health conditions. Your doctor can clarify the next steps and what to expect during recovery. Typically, most people are able to return to work or normal activities between two weeks and three months after the attack. Cardiac rehabilitation facilitates a safe and gradual return to previous physical activity levels.
What steps can I take to lower my risk?
While some risk factors are unchangeable, there are many steps you can take to lower your risk of a heart attack. These include scheduling regular check-ups to monitor blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels; quitting tobacco and vaping; exercising regularly; eating nutritious foods; maintaining a healthy weight; managing existing health conditions; reducing stress; taking medications as prescribed; and keeping all scheduled medical appointments. Being proactive about your health doesn’t mean making lifestyle changes alone; reach out to your doctor and team for support, as they can offer necessary information and resources.
