Heart attack is caused when the blood flow to the heart muscle is obstructed and if the blood supply is not re- established immediately the heart muscle begins to perish due to lack of oxygen. Heart attack is one of the most important mortality factors among Americans.
Heart attack can be best treated within the first hour of symptoms. Seek emergency medical aid as timeliness is crucial in reducing the mortality rates. Heart attacks are normally caused due to the thickening and narrowing of the coronary arteries due to the deposition of fatty materials such as cholesterol. It blocks the free flow of oxygenated blood to the heart and results in a condition called the coronary artery disease.
The first step in the event of a heart attack would be remove the blockage to ensure blood supply as heart muscles will start dying to be replaced by scar tissue, if oxygen supply remains cut off for more than 20 minutes. This in turn would have far reaching consequences in the future. Serious impediments of
heart disease can result in life threatening conditions like heart failure or arrhythmias. Heart failure happens when the heart cannot pump adequate blood throughout the body and the irregularity in the heart beat patterns might result in the death of the patient if timely medical aid is not extended.
Watch out for some of the common
symptoms such as chest discomfort, squeezing pain and cyclic pain along the neck, shoulders and jaw region which lasts for a few minutes then disappear to come back after some time. Breathlessness, stomach discomfort, fainting etc are also commonly seen. Do not take these warning symptoms lightly and even if these vanish completely, it is recommended to consult a doctor at the earliest. Call an ambulance to save time and keeping an aspirin tablet under the tongue might help to minimise the damages caused by the blood clots in the artery.
A heart attack is alarming alright however of you can identify the heart attack symptoms you can save a precious life of your near and dear ones. Majority of people have the false notion that
heart attack is always massive and serious where the person clasps his chest and slumps to his chair just like in a movie. However in reality, heart attacks progress slowly as a minor discomfort, which many tend to ignore. Recognizing these symptoms can make all the difference between life and death. In case you notice any of these signs do consult a doctor as fast action is what matters.
Remember timely help is the key in the management of
heart attacks as there are many effective anti coagulants such as aspirin and nitroglycerin, which can stop a heart attack in the initial stages itself. The sooner they are administered the greater would be the chances of a full recovery.
You can reduce the risk of
heart attack by certain life style changes. If you are a smoker try to quit this habit; reduce high blood pressure and cholesterol and in case you have had a heart attack before follow the medications promptly as per the doctor’s advice.
