Heart Attack Health-NEMO Early Heart Attack Care
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Heart Attack Health
Background Information
A myocardial infarction, also known as a heart attack, occurs
“when a blood clot blocks the flow of blood through the coronary artery”
(“Heart attack,” 2011). The coronary artery is “a blood vessel that feeds blood
to a part of the heart muscle” (“Heart attack,” 2011). When this happens,
“blood flow to a part of your heart is blocked for a long enough time that part
of the heart muscle is damaged or dies” causing a heart attack (“Heart attack,”
2012). Myocardial infarctions can be fatal. Fatalities often occur when
“people confuse their symptoms with a minor illness and delay going to the
hospital” (“Heart attack,” 2011). Medical advances have allowed treatment for
heart attacks to improve greatly over the years.
Causes
Most myocardial infarctions are caused by coronary heart
disease (CHD). CHD occurs when a waxy substance known as plaque builds up
inside of the coronary arteries. When plaque builds up in arteries it is called
atherosclerosis. An area of plaque can eventually break open inside an artery
and a blood clot will form on the plaque’s surface. If the clot becomes large
enough it will block blood flow through a coronary artery and the heart will
not receive blood or oxygen. If the blockage is not treated quickly the part of
the heart muscle fed by the artery will begin to die (“What causes a heart
attack?,” 2011).
A less common cause of myocardial infarction is a severe
spasm or tightening of a coronary artery. The spasm will cut off blood flow
through the artery and can occur in coronary arteries not affected by
atherosclerosis. It is not always know what causes a coronary artery to spasm,
but a spasm can be related to taking certain drugs such as cocaine, emotional
stress or pain, exposure to extreme cold, or cigarette smoke (“What causes a
heart attack?,” 2011).
link with animation http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/heartattack/causes.html
Symptoms
There are many symptoms of an impending heart attack.
Symptoms include “discomfort, pressure, heaviness, or pain in the chest, arm or
below the breastbone; discomfort radiating to the back, jaw, throat, or arm;
fullness, indigestion, or choking feelings; sweating, nausea, vomiting, or
dizziness; extreme weakness, anxiety, or shortness of breath; and rapid or
irregular heartbeats” ("Heart attacks and," 2013). Women tend to have
different symptoms than men, which include “shortness of breath, weakness,
feeling of indigestion, and fatigue,” ("Heart attack what," 2009). It
is possible for people to “have a heart attack without having any symptoms”
("Heart attacks and," 2013). This is also called a “silent”
myocardial infarction. This is “more common among people with diabetes”
("Heart attacks and," 2013).
Prevention
Lowering
risk factors prevents myocardial infarction. Even patients with coronary heart
disease can take steps to lower their risk, which involve following a heart
healthy lifestyle and receiving ongoing care. A healthy diet is most important
for a healthy lifestyle. This includes a variety of fruits, vegetables, and whole
grains as well as lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, and fat-free or low-fat
milk products. A healthy diet is also low in saturated fat, trans fat,
cholesterol, sodium, and added sugars.
Overweight or obese individuals should
work with their doctor to create “a reasonable weight-loss plan that involves
diet and physical activity. Controlling your weight helps you control risk
factors for CHD and heart attack” ("How can a"). Physical activity is
also a necessity for prevention of myocardial infarction. Physical activity can
improve your fitness level and health. Smoking is also a preventable risk
factor for heart attack and coronary heart disease. If you smoke, talk to your
doctor about programs or products that can help you quit. It is also important
to avoid secondhand smoke, as this can also increase your risk.
Ongoing
care is also of utmost importance to prevention of myocardial infarction.
Treating existing conditions that make a heart attack more likely can help
lower your risk. These conditions include high blood cholesterol, high blood
pressure, and diabetes. A physician may prescribe medicine to patients with
high blood cholesterol and high blood pressure to help keep these conditions
under control. Diabetes patients should try to control blood sugar level
through diet and physical activity as well as taking prescribed medicine.
Safety
standards
There are several different steps you can
take to help yourself or someone else who are having a heart attack. First you
want to call 911 or a local emergency medical assistance number. If you are
having a heart attack “don’t tough out the symptoms for more than five minutes”
(“Heart attack: First,” 2012). Find a neighbor or friend to drive you to
the closest hospital or wait for the ambulance to arrive. Driving yourself is a
last resort. Another step you can take is to “chew and swallow an aspirin,
unless you’re allergic to aspirin or have been told by your doctor never to
take aspirin” (“Heart attack: first,” 2012). Another medicine option is to
“take nitroglycerin, if prescribed. If you think you’re having a heart attack
and your doctor has previously prescribed nitroglycerin for you, take it as
directed” (“Heart attack: first,” 2012). Never take anybody else’s prescribed
medication. Lastly if you are helping someone who is having a heart attack, you
might have to begin CPR. If the person is unconscious you will need to start
CPR. If you have not been trained in CPR, the 911 dispatcher can instruct you
on how to perform chest compressions. If you have been trained then begin CPR
until help arrives.
Visit www.nemohearthealth.com for more information
Works Cited
Heart attack. (2011,
November 17). Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/heart-attack/DS00094
Heart attack. (2012, June 22). Retrieved from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000195.htm.
Heart attack. (2013, March
22). Retrieved from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000195.htm
Heart attacks and heart disease.
(2013). Retrieved from http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/guide/heart_disease_heart_attacks
Heart attack: First aid. (2012, February
3). Retrieved from
Heart disease. (2012).
Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/heart-disease/DS01120/TAB=indepth
How can a heart attack be
prevented?. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health//dci/Diseases/HeartAttack/HeartAttack_Prevention.html
Understand your risk of heart attack. (2013, January 23). Retrieved from
What Causes a Heart Attack? (2011, March 1). Retrieved from http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/heartattack/causes.html.
2 Comments:
This is really interesting! This is definitely good information that everyone should know, just in case they or their loved ones have a heart attack! -Kate H.
Magnificent website. Everyone should read. For more amazing info you can find it from this link
Colonary illness
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