Our heart is a muscular organ, which beats 1 lakh times a day. Our heart is located on the left side of the chest, which pumps 5000 gallons of blood throughout the body in 24 hours. The main function of the heart is to supply oxygen and nutrients to our tissues. It also helps the body get rid of carbon dioxide and other toxins. Know every little thing related to the heart, which comes very handy to keep it healthy.
What is Heart Attack?
In medical terms, a heart attack is known as a myocardial infarction. The word 'myo' means muscle while 'cardial' refers to the heart. On the other hand, 'infection' refers to the destruction of tissue due to insufficient blood supply. Loss of tissue can cause long-term damage to the heart muscle. A heart attack is a condition in which an artery that normally supplies blood to the heart muscle suddenly stops due to a complete blockage. This causes the heart muscle cells to die. Blockage in an artery is often caused by the accumulation of plaque, resulting in coronary heart disease (CHD). If this condition is left without treatment then it can prove fatal for any person. The severity of damage to heart tissue due to myocardial infarction or heart attack depends on the duration of the attack (how long the attack lasted). If you diagnose this condition in advance and get treatment, you will do less harm.
symptoms of heart attack-
The most common symptom of myocardial infarction is chest pain or discomfort. But there are other signs of a heart attack, some of which include:
Upper body pain-
If you have chest pain, discomfort, or pressure in your arms (especially your left arm), jaw, throat, and shoulder, you may be having a heart attack.
Excessive cold sweating-
Don't ignore it if you suddenly break out in a cold sweat, especially when you're going through other symptoms of a heart attack.
Sudden dizziness-
From an empty stomach to dehydration, there are many things that can cause dizziness or make your head feel a bit heavy. But if you are having chest discomfort along with any kind of discomfort in the chest, then it could be a sign of a heart attack. Evidence suggests that women are more likely to feel this way during a heart attack.
Increased or decreased heartbeat-
A rapid heartbeat can be the result of a number of factors, including excessive caffeine consumption and poor sleep. But if you feel that your heart is beating faster than normal for a few seconds, you need to see a doctor immediately.
Cough and cold-
Generally, cold and flu symptoms are not considered alarm bells for a heart attack. But if you're in a high-risk group for the condition (with a family history, are obese, or suffer from diabetes), it can be a warning sign to be sure. If you experience flu-like symptoms that are not getting better, get your sputum tested. The pink color of mucus indicates that your heart is not working up to its capacity. This is why blood is going back to the lungs.
What are the causes of heart attack?
Your heart muscle constantly needs blood with oxygen, which the coronary arteries carry. This blood supply becomes blocked when plaque builds up in your arteries and narrows the veins. This is done by fat, calcium, protein and inflammation cells. Due to the accumulation of plaque, the outer layer is hard while the inner layer remains soft. When the plaque hardens, the outer shell breaks down. Its rupture leads to a condition in which blood clots start forming around the vein. If a single blood clot gets into your artery, it obstructs the blood supply, due to which your heart muscle does not get oxygen and the condition gets worse. When this happens, the muscle dies, resulting in damage to the heart. The intensity of the damage depends on the time interval between the treatment and the attack. After a heart attack, the heart muscle begins to repair itself. On average, they take about 2 months to recover.
Heart attack risk factors-
There can be many risk factors behind a heart attack. Here, we are telling you about the most important factors:
Age-
It plays an important role in increasing your risk of heart attack. Evidence suggests that men over the age of 45 and women over the age of 55 are more likely to have a heart attack.
Gender-
Men are 2 to 3 times more likely to have a heart attack than women. The female hormone, estrogen, acts as a shield for women.
Genetic predisposition-
If you have a history of heart disease (parent, brother or sister) in your household for generations, you are twice as likely to have a heart attack or stroke than the general population.
High blood pressure-
Uncontrolled blood pressure levels over a long period of time can damage the arteries that supply blood to your heart, making you more vulnerable to a heart attack.
High levels of bad cholesterol and triglyceride
Bad cholesterol, or LDL, has a negative effect on your arteries because it causes your veins to narrow. In addition, a blood fat known as triglyceride can also increase your chances of having a heart attack. Both these factors are largely related to your diet. Therefore, it is important to eat carefully to reduce your risk of having a heart attack.
Obesity-
Excess body weight can raise your LDL, triglyceride levels, increasing your chances of developing diabetes. All of these are potential risk factors behind heart attacks. Being physically active and eating a limited amount of food is the basis for maintaining an ideal body weight.
Diabetes-
This condition is marked by high blood sugar levels, another condition that can make you vulnerable to a heart attack.
The stress
It is known to increase your blood pressure levels which, as already mentioned, is a major risk factor behind myocardial infarction.
Smoking-
It hardens your arteries and raises your blood pressure levels. All of these increase your risk of heart attack.
Heart attack diagnosis-
A heart attack can usually be diagnosed by typical clinical symptoms and can be confirmed by carrying out the following tests:
ECG: Electrocardiogram or ECG is a diagnostic test, which measures the electrical signals moving through the heart. These signals are measured as the heart pumps blood through its chambers. This is recorded in a graph showing waves of different patterns. Based on the size of these waves, the doctor can evaluate any abnormal heart conditions.
Blood tests: Bloodwork is needed to detect the presence of cardiac enzymes, which are raised during a heart attack. With the help of these readings, your doctor is able to identify the size and timing of the attack. Some blood tests also measure the level of certain heart cell proteins that are damaged due to lack of blood supply.
Echocardiography: This is an imaging test done during and after a heart attack. This tells your doctor whether your heart is pumping well. This test also shows whether any part of your heart has been injured during the attack.
Angiogram: This is an imaging test to detect blockages in the arteries. It is rarely used to diagnose a heart attack. In this test, a liquid dye is injected into the arteries of your heart through a tube known as a catheter.
Cardiac CT or MRI: These imaging tests reveal the extent of damage to your heart muscle.
Heart attack treatment
A heart attack requires emergency treatment. It is very important that you get treatment as quickly as possible to minimize damage to your heart. Treatment varies depending on the severity of the condition, including medications, surgical interventions, and other procedures.
Medicines-
Your doctor prescribes medicines to prevent the formation of blood clots, relieve pain, regulate heart rhythm, dilate blood vessels, regulate blood pressure levels, etc. Although your doctor may suggest many medicines, but we are telling you about the common medicines given in all of them:
Aspirin: This emergency drug reduces blood clotting, thereby ensuring blood flow through a narrowed artery.
Thrombolytics: These drugs also help to remove clots that form in the arteries that supply blood to your heart. Timely intake of thrombolytics increases your chances of survival.
Antiplatelet agents: These not only prevent new clots from forming but also prevent existing clots from getting bigger.
Pain relievers: Morphine is commonly used to reduce chest pain.
Beta blockers: These help regulate your heartbeat by relaxing your heart muscles, as well as control blood pressure levels to ensure better heart function. Beta blockers may also play an important role in preventing future heart attacks.
ACE inhibitors: These drugs act as blood pressure lowering agents while reducing the stress level of your heart.
Statins: These drugs keep your blood cholesterol levels under control.
Surgery and other procedures
Along with drug therapy, you may need any of the following procedures:
Angioplasty: This involves performing coronary angiography, locating the blocked artery and opening the block with a balloon, and finally placing a stent at the site of the block, to keep the artery open and your blood flowing freely.
Bypass surgery: In this procedure, the surgeon replaces your veins or arteries at a distant site by removing the blocked or narrowed artery. A bypass surgery allows your blood to reach your heart after bypassing the narrowed area.
Bypass surgery: In this procedure, the surgeon replaces your veins or arteries at a distant site by removing the blocked or narrowed artery. A bypass surgery allows your blood to reach your heart after bypassing the narrowed area.
Diet for heart attack
The cornerstone of heart attack treatment is preventing future complications such as stroke. Your food habits, to a large extent, affect how the various parts of your body function and your heart cannot be separated from it. Eating healthy can be important in reducing your chances of having another heart attack. Fill your plate with foods that are low in saturated fat. Some examples of these could be:
Fruits and vegetables
Lean meat
Chicken
Nuts, Beans, and Legumes
Fish
Whole grains
Olive oil
Low fat dairy products
It is also extremely important for you to include healthy foods in your diet and you need to follow this rule. Along with this, try to remove some such foods from your diet, which are harmful for your heart. These include:
Foods high in salt
Refined Sugar and Carbs
processed food
Foods high in saturated fat
Heart attack prevention tips
Making changes in your lifestyle and adopting some healthy habits can go a long way in preventing or reducing your risk of heart attack. Here are some small steps that will help you make sure:
Eat a healthy, balanced diet (avoid excess fat/oil/meat; include green vegetables, fruits, nuts, fish in your diet).
Avoid smoking and excessive consumption of alcohol.
Keep your blood pressure, blood sugar level and cholesterol normal.
Exercise regularly. It is extremely necessary to maintain a healthy body weight. Obesity is a major risk factor behind heart attack.
Manage stress by practicing meditation, breathing techniques and yoga exercises.
Have an annual health checkup with your doctor.
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