heartdiseasesecretreport.comHeart Attack Symtoms

Any of a number of conditions that can affect the heart. Some examples include coronary heart disease, heart attack, cardiovascular disease, pulmonary heart disease and high blood pressure. Heart disease is a big problem in today’s society because of lifestyle issues such as poor diet, lack of exercise and smoking.

Heart attack (myocardial infarction or coronary thrombosis) is when part of the heart muscle dies because it has been starved of oxygen. . It can occur as a result of one or two effects of atherosclerosis:

(1) If the artery becomes completely blocked and ischemia becomes so extensive that oxygen-bearing tissues around the heart die.

(2) If the plaque itself develops fissures or tears. Blood platelets adhere to the site to seal off the plaque, and a blood clot (thrombus) forms. A heart attack can then occur if the formed blood clot completely blocks the passage of oxygen-rich blood to the heart.

Usually, this happens when a blood clot forms in one of the coronary arteries (blood vessels to the heart muscle), which blocks the blood supply. Occasionally, a blockage is caused by a spasm (sudden narrowing) of a coronary artery.

Cause of Heart attack:

A heart attack happens when a blood vessel in or near the heart becomes blocked. Not enough blood can get to that part of the heart muscle. That area of the heart muscle stops working, so the heart is weaker. During a heart attack, you may have chest pain along with nausea, indigestion, extreme weakness, and sweating

A heart attack occurs when there is a severe blockage in an artery that carries oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle. The blockage is usually caused by the buildup of plaque (deposits of fat-like substances, or atherosclerosis) along the walls of the arteries. The sudden lack of blood flow to the heart muscle deprives the heart of needed oxygen and nutrients. If the blockage is not opened quickly, the heart muscle is likely to suffer serious, permanent damage as areas of tissue die.

Warning Signs for Heart Attack

â?¢ Chest discomfort: uncomfortable pressure, squeezing or fullness.

â?¢ Discomfort in other areas of the upper body: one or both arms or in the back, neck, jaw, or stomach.

â?¢ Shortness of breath, either with chest discomfort or alone.

â?¢ Other signs, including nausea, lightheadedness, or breaking out in a cold sweat.

Common Symptoms.

Other common symptoms of a heart attack include:

â?¢ Nausea, vomiting, and cold sweats

â?¢ A feeling of indigestion or heartburn

â?¢ Fainting

â?¢ A great fear of impending death, a phenomena known as angor animi

Medical Treatment

Medical treatment may be started immediately, before a definite diagnosis of a heart problem is made. General treatment measures include the following:

â?¢ Oxygen through a tube in the nose or face mask

â?¢ Nitroglycerin under the tongue

â?¢ Pain medicines (morphine or meperidine)

â?¢ Aspirin: Those with allergy to aspirin may be given clopidogrel (Plavix).

Surgery

After a heart attack, you will usually be offered an exercise test. If this suggests that your coronary arteries have narrowed, an angiogram will be carried out. This involves injecting a dye into the blood so that the coronary blood vessels show up on an X-ray. If your arteries are narrowed, you can sometimes be treated with angioplasty or coronary artery bypass grafting.

Heart attacks are the leading killers of both men and women in the United States. Today, fortunately, there are a number of treatments for heart attacks that can both save lives and prevent disabilities. Treatment is most effective when it is started within one hour of the beginning of symptoms. The minute symptoms of a heart attack occur or a person suspects a heart attack, it is important to dial 911 immediately.

Heart attacks seem to be sudden, but that?s not the truth. Signs and symptoms of a heart attack need to be recognized. These help in quick medical attention, as well as saving lives.

Heart attacks are emergency situations that require the immediate attention of medical services. As a first step in treatment, you need to stop the palpitation of the heart and transport the patient by ambulance to the nearest hospital. This vastly increases the chances of survival.

Major heart attack risk factors include a history of angina or vascular disease, a previous stroke or heart attack, old age, excessive alcohol, the abuse of illegal drugs, smoking, episodes of abnormal heart beat, obesity, high levels of stress, high or low cholesterol, high triglyceride levels, high blood pressure, and diabetes.

Heart attacks and medicines almost always appear in the same sentence. There are medicines to avoid and prevent heart attacks. This is brought to us by the technological advancement that man has achieved over the years. Although, some medicines before where proven to have negative effects when taken by a person with a heart condition, doctors try to warn their patients about them. Some medicines even cause heart complications.

Since heart attacks are the leading causes of death worldwide, knowing the signs could mean the difference between life and death. Contrary to some belief, heart attacks do not always have to be a ?chest-grabbing? incident. Many people experiencing a heart attack actually thought it was just heart burn or chest muscle pains. And it doesn?t even have to be a one-time discomfort. You can experience recurring symptoms, which may feel mild one day and the next day severe, before an actual heart attack happens. So before you put yourself or your loved ones in serious dangers, here are some heart attack signs to look for.

People with a history of stroke, atherosclerotic heart disease or angina and abnormal heart rhythm have a higher risk of experiencing a heart attack. The disease mostly affects men over 40 years old and women over 50 years old. There are also medical and scientific studies stating that women who use contraceptive pills have a higher risk of a heart attack than those who does not use them. A person?s lifestyle can also increase chances of a heart attack. Smoking, drinking, drug abuse, presence of high triglyceride levels in the food you eat, high LDL levels and low HDL levels are some of the risk factors you should learn to avoid.