How to recognize the signs of a heart attack and what to do

What are the signs of a heart attack?

Most individuals are aware that a common heart attack symptom is chest pain. But a heart attack doesn't simply affect the heart; it can also have an impact on the whole body.

Age and gender differences can affect how a person reacts to heart attack symptoms.

chest pain

The middle or left side of the chest usually experience some degree of pain or discomfort during a heart attack. Sharper pain, greater squeezing, fullness, or uncomfortable pressure could be the sensation.

Having trouble breathing

Shortness of breath frequently precedes chest pain, but it can also start before any discomfort in the chest.

Upper body ache

One or both arms may be painful or uncomfortable, and this discomfort may spread to the shoulders. Additionally, there could be pain in the back, neck, or jaw.

Having dizziness

It's possible for someone to experience weakness, dizziness, or cold sweats.

How long does a heart attack last if left untreated?

The consequences of an untreated heart attack could be severe.

People should always seek medical attention if they suspect a heart attack.

If someone experiences heart attack symptoms for more than 15 minutes, the heart’s muscle cells are at a high risk of damage.

From the onset of symptoms, an individual has less than 90 minutes before critical damage levels occur.

Causes

If the heart does not receive oxygenated blood, it cannot function normally, which can cause a heart attack. This can happen when a coronary artery is partially or fully blocked.

The most common cause of blocked coronary arteries is coronary heart disease.

When coronary heart disease occurs, fats and cholesterol can form deposits or plaques on the arterial walls, called atherosclerosis.

Over time, the plaques narrow the arteries, and eventually, this obstructs blood flow.

Use of recreational drugs

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, such as cocaine, can also cause heart attacks.

Risk factors

Several factors

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increase an individual’s risk of a heart attack. These include being age 65 or over, being male, or having a family history of heart disease.

Race also plays a part, as people of African, Mexican, and American Indian descent are at higher risk.

There are also modifiable factors that increase the risk of heart attacks. These include:

smoking

alcohol consumption

obesity

lack of exercise

high cholesterol and blood pressure

diabetes

stress

The good news is that people can change, treat, or control the modifiable risk factors to reduce the chances of having a heart attack.

Diagnosis and tests

Anyone who thinks they are having a heart attack should immediately seek medical attention.

A doctor will diagnose heart attack based on symptoms, age, general health, and family history. They will also carry out tests including:

electrocardiography (ECG) to measure the heart’s electrical activity

blood tests to measure cardiac markers that indicate damage to the heart

imaging tests, such as chest X-rays and echocardiograms

coronary angiography to locate blockages in the arteries

Treatments

If the tests show that an individual has had a heart attack, doctors may recommend the following procedures

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coronary angioplasty to open blocked arteries

stent procedure to support an artery with a wire mesh tube

bypass surgery to create new routes for blood to flow around the blockage

implantable devices such as a pacemaker to help the heart beat normally

artificial heart valve surgery to replace abnormal or leaky heart valves

A doctor may also treat a heart attack with medications to thin the blood, break up clots, relax the blood vessels, and help with pain relief.

Complications

Heart attacks can damage the heart muscle, leading to complications including:

Abnormal heart rhythms, or arrhythmias

Heart failure because of extensive damage

Sudden cardiac arrest due to electrical disturbances

The severity and duration of any complications often depend on how much damage the heart attack caused to the heart muscle.

Prevention

Although people cannot control all the risk factors of heart attacks, such as gender, age, and genetics, habit changes

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could help with prevention. These include:

stopping smoking

choosing a healthful diet that’s low in sodium, saturated fats, and sugar

limiting alcohol intake

exercising regularly

controlling blood sugar

maintaining healthy cholesterol and blood pressure

*HOME DOCTOR PRACTICAL GUIDE*