A heart attack is an emergency in which the blood supply to the heart is suddenly disrupted, primarily due to clotting. Lack of blood can cause severe damage to the heart muscle. Doctors call a heart attack a myocardial infarction.
Symptoms may include:
- Chest pain - a feeling of tightness or pressure occurs in the chest, and the pain may be transmitted to the jaw, neck, shoulders and back;
- Shallow breathing;
- General weakness;
- Excessive agitation.
It is important that the pain is not always sharp. It can be of moderate intensity and can be mistaken for pain caused by a digestive disorder. Identifying a combination of symptoms to diagnose a heart attack rather than the degree of chest pain is crucial.
Managing a Heart Attack
A heart attack is an emergency. If you suspect someone may be having a heart attack, call the ambulance immediately. If you can find Aspirin and there is no allergy to it, give the patient one tablet to chew before the ambulance arrives. Aspirin helps to thin the blood and reduces the risk of a heart attack.
Treatment depends on the severity of the case. There are two main approaches:
- Use of medications to dissolve the clot
- Surgery or non-invasive intervention to restore blood circulation
What Causes A Heart Attack?
Coronary heart disease is a significant factor in heart attacks. This condition is where the coronary arteries (the main blood vessels supplying blood to the heart) become clogged with cholesterol deposits. They are called atherosclerotic plaques. Before the attack, one of the plaques ruptures, and a clot forms in place of a rupture; it can block blood flow to the coronary arteries and cause a heart attack.
The risk of developing coronary heart disease is increased by:
- Tobacco smoking
- Fatty foods
- Diabetes
- High levels of cholesterol
- Blood hypertension
- Overweight or obesity
Smoking - carbon monoxide and nicotine cause the heart load and acceleration of its work. It also increases the risk of clotting.
Diet - if you eat fatty food, your blood cholesterol levels will rise. This results in an increased risk of developing coronary heart disease and heart attack.
High blood pressure - without adequate treatment, high blood pressure (hypertension) can contribute to coronary artery damage.
Diabetes - high blood glucose levels associated with type 1 and 2 diabetes can affect the coronary arteries. It has been established that a person with diabetes is almost five times more likely to develop ischemic heart disease than a healthy person.
Overweight or obesity - being overweight or obese does not directly increase the risk of developing coronary heart disease or heart attack but is a risk factor.
Lack of physical activity - lack of exercise is an indirect risk factor for the development of ischemic heart disease.
Alcohol - excessive drinking can lead to an increase in blood pressure and cholesterol levels and to an increased risk of developing coronary heart disease.
Age and gender - the probability of developing coronary heart disease increase to some extent with age.
Heart attacks are 2-3 times more common in men than women.
Symptoms of a Heart Attack
If you think that you or someone else has a heart attack, call 112 immediately.
Symptoms may include:
- Chest pain - a feeling of pressure, restriction or tightness in the middle of the chest
- Pain in other areas of the body - you may feel pain migrating from the chest to the shoulders (mostly on the left, but may be on both shoulders), to the jaw, neck, back and abdomen.
- Feeling dizzy or weak
- Sweating
- Shallow breathing
- Nausea or vomiting
- Excessive agitation (feeling similar to a panic attack)
- Coughing or wheezing
Chest pain is most extreme, although some patients may experience slight discomfort similar to symptoms developing during a digestive disorder. In some cases, chest pain may not be present, especially in women, the elderly, and patients with diabetes.
Complications
Complications of a heart attack can be quite serious and even life-threatening.
Those are:
- Arrhythmia
- Cardiogenic shock - at this time, the heart muscles are severely damaged and can no longer adequately contract to ensure blood circulation throughout the body.
- Rupture of the heart - at this time, the integrity of cardiac muscle, walls and valves is disrupted.
Complications can reveal soon after an attack, and they are the leading causes of death.
Recovery
The length of the recovery period depends on the degree of damage to the heart muscle. Some patients return to work within two weeks of the attack. Some may take months to recover. The recovery process is aimed at:
- Reducing the risk of developing a recurrent heart attack. This is possible through lifestyle changes, healthy eating and medication such as e.g. statins (which lower blood cholesterol).
- Restoring your physical condition so that you can return to normal activities.
Most patients will be able to return to work, but the time depends on their general health and type of work.
Reducing the Risk of Developing a Heart Attack
There are five basic steps to help reduce your risk of developing a heart attack (or recurrence).
Those are:
- Giving up smoking for smokers.
- Body weight reduction
- Regular exercise - an adult should perform moderately intense aerobic activity for at least 150 minutes (2 hours and 30 minutes) per week without medical contraindications.
- A low-fat, high-fibre diet includes whole grains, fruits, and vegetables (at least five servings a day).
- Regulated alcohol consumption.
When to Call an Ambulance
A combination of symptoms helps you diagnose a heart attack. If there is a suspicion that pain or discomfort may be related to the heart, call 112 immediately.
Before The Ambulance Brigade Arrives
Until help arrives, it is essential to rest so your heart is not overloaded. If Aspirin is easy to get and you are not allergic to it, chew one tablet (300 mg) slowly until the ambulance arrives. Aspirin thins the blood and restores blood flow to the heart.
Cardiac Arrest
A complication, ventricular arrhythmia, can sometimes cause a sudden cardiac arrest.
Signs and symptoms of cardiac arrest:
- No signs of breathing;
- Faintness;
- No movement is observed;
- No reaction to any stimulation, such as touching or talking.
If you think a person has a cardiac arrest and an automatic external defibrillator is not available, you should conduct a heart massage to make the heart work.
Heart Massage
Indirect heart massage:
- Place your palm on еру sternum in the center of еру rib cage. Place the other palm on top of the first hand and interlock your fingers.
- Press with your whole body weight (not just your shoulders) on еру sternum until the rib cage deflects by 5-6 cm.
- Repeat this before help arrives.
Try to apply pressure to the chest at a rate of 100-120 per minute. Go to CPR for more information on "hands only" indirect heart massage. The above tips are intended only for adults. To perform CPR on children, see the following link: how to resuscitate a child.
Diagnosing a Heart Attack
If you suspect you have a heart attack, consult your doctor immediately. At this time, you will need special emergency supervision and hospitalization.
New Hospitals Cardiology Department's highly qualified team, using the latest equipment and in accordance with modern standards, provides diagnosis and treatment of the full range of heart conditions.
To book a visit, call us on 032 2 190 190
Heart Attack
A heart attack is an emergency in which the blood supply to the heart is suddenly disrupted, primarily due to clotting. Lack of blood can cause severe damage to the heart muscle. Doctors call a heart attack a myocardial infarction.
Symptoms may include:
- Chest pain - a feeling of tightness or pressure occurs in the chest, and the pain may be transmitted to the jaw, neck, shoulders and back;
- Shallow breathing;
- General weakness;
- Excessive agitation.
It is important that the pain is not always sharp. It can be of moderate intensity and can be mistaken for pain caused by a digestive disorder. Identifying a combination of symptoms to diagnose a heart attack rather than the degree of chest pain is crucial.
Managing a Heart Attack
A heart attack is an emergency. If you suspect someone may be having a heart attack, call the ambulance immediately. If you can find Aspirin and there is no allergy to it, give the patient one tablet to chew before the ambulance arrives. Aspirin helps to thin the blood and reduces the risk of a heart attack.
Treatment depends on the severity of the case. There are two main approaches:
- Use of medications to dissolve the clot
- Surgery or non-invasive intervention to restore blood circulation
What Causes A Heart Attack?
Coronary heart disease is a significant factor in heart attacks. This condition is where the coronary arteries (the main blood vessels supplying blood to the heart) become clogged with cholesterol deposits. They are called atherosclerotic plaques.
Before the attack, one of the plaques ruptures, and a clot forms in place of a rupture; it can block blood flow to the coronary arteries and cause a heart attack.
The risk of developing coronary heart disease is increased by:
- Tobacco smoking
- Fatty foods
- Diabetes
- High levels of cholesterol
- Blood hypertension
- Overweight or obesity
Smoking - carbon monoxide and nicotine cause the heart load and acceleration of its work. It also increases the risk of clotting.
Diet - if you eat fatty food, your blood cholesterol levels will rise. This results in an increased risk of developing coronary heart disease and heart attack.
High blood pressure - without adequate treatment, high blood pressure (hypertension) can contribute to coronary artery damage.
Diabetes - high blood glucose levels associated with type 1 and type 2 diabetes can affect the coronary arteries. It has been established that a person with diabetes is almost five times more likely to develop ischemic heart disease than a healthy person.
Overweight or obesity - being overweight or obese does not directly increase the risk of developing coronary heart disease or heart attack, but is a risk factor.
Lack of physical activity - lack of exercise is an indirect risk factor for the development of ischemic heart disease.
Alcohol - excessive drinking can lead to an increase in blood pressure and cholesterol levels and to an increased risk of developing coronary heart disease.
Age and gender - the probability of developing coronary heart disease increases to some extent with age.
Heart attacks are 2-3 times more common in men than women.
Symptoms of a Heart Attack
If you think that you or someone else has a heart attack, call 112 immediately.
Symptoms may include:
- Chest pain - a feeling of pressure, restriction or tightness in the middle of the chest
- Pain in other areas of the body - you may feel pain migrating from the chest to the shoulders (mostly on the left, but may be on both shoulders), to the jaw, neck, back and abdomen.
- Feeling dizzy or weak
- Sweating
- Shallow breathing
- Nausea or vomiting
- Excessive agitation (feeling similar to a panic attack)
- Coughing or wheezing
Chest pain is mostly extreme, although some patients may experience slight discomfort similar to symptoms developing during a digestive disorder. In some cases, chest pain may not be present, especially in women, the elderly, and patients with diabetes.
Complications
Complications of a heart attack can be quite serious and even life-threatening.
Those are:
- Arrhythmia
- Cardiogenic shock - at this time, the heart muscles are severely damaged and can no longer adequately contract to ensure blood circulation throughout the body.
- Rupture of the heart - at this time, the integrity of cardiac muscle, walls and valves is disrupted.
Complications can reveal soon after an attack, and they are the leading causes of death.
Recovery
The length of the recovery period depends on the degree of damage to the heart muscle. Some patients return to work within two weeks of the attack. Some may take months to recover. The recovery process is aimed at:
- Reducing the risk of developing a recurrent heart attack. This is possible through lifestyle changes, healthy eating and medication such as e.g. statins (which lower blood cholesterol).
- Restoring your physical condition so that you can return to normal activities.
Most patients will be able to return to work, but the time depends on their general health and type of work.
Reducing the Risk of Developing a Heart Attack
There are five basic steps to help reduce your risk of developing a heart attack (or recurrence).
Those are:
- Giving up smoking for smokers.
- Body weight reduction
- Regular exercise - an adult should perform moderately intense aerobic activity for at least 150 minutes (2 hours and 30 minutes) per week in the absence of medical contraindications.
- A low-fat, high-fiber diet that includes whole grains, fruits, and vegetables (at least five servings a day).
- Regulated alcohol consumption.
When to Call an Ambulance
A combination of symptoms helps you diagnose a heart attack. If there is a suspicion that pain or discomfort may be related to the heart, call 112 immediately.
Before The Ambulance Brigade Arrives
Until help arrives, it is essential to rest, so your heart is not overloaded. If Aspirin is easy to get and you are not allergic to it, chew one tablet (300 mg) slowly until the ambulance arrives. Aspirin thins the blood and restores blood flow to the heart.
Cardiac Arrest
A complication, ventricular arrhythmia, can sometimes cause a sudden cardiac arrest.
Signs and symptoms of cardiac arrest:
- No signs of breathing;
- Faintness;
- No movement is observed;
- No reaction to any stimulation, such as touching or talking.
If you think a person has a cardiac arrest and an automatic external defibrillator is not available, you should conduct a heart massage to make the heart work.
Heart Massage
Indirect heart massage:
- Place your palm on еру sternum in the center of еру rib cage. Place the other palm on top of the first hand and interlock your fingers.
- Press with your whole body weight (not just your shoulders) on еру sternum until the rib cage deflects by 5-6 cm.
- Repeat this before help arrives.
Try to apply pressure to the chest at a rate of 100-120 per minute. Go to CPR for more information on "hands only" indirect heart massage. The above tips are intended only for adults. To perform CPR in children, see the following link: how to resuscitate a child.
Diagnosing a Heart Attack
If you suspect you have a heart attack, consult your doctor immediately. At this time, you will need special emergency supervision and hospitalization.
New Hospitals Cardiology Department's highly qualified team, using the latest equipment and in accordance with modern standards, provides diagnosis and treatment of the full range of heart conditions.
To book a visit, call us on 032 2 190 190
