Heart Attack

A myocardial infarction or a heart attack is when part of the heart muscle dies because it is starved of oxygen. It usually occurs when a blood clot forms in one of the coronary arteries, blocking the blood supply to the heart. It causes severe and crushing pain in the middle of the chest. The pain may travel from the chest to the neck, jaws and the body.

Causes of a Heart Attack

There are no direct causes of heart attacks, however you can increase the risk of a heart attack if you:

• Smoke,
• Are overweight or obese,
• Have high blood pressure,
• Are older you become (men over 45 years and women over 55 years)
• Have high blood cholesterol levels,
• Have diabetes,
• Have a family history of heart disease,
• Eat a high diet in saturated fats,
• Have had a previous heart attack,
• Have had surgery, and
• Lack regular exercise

Symptoms of Heart Attacks

A heart attack can last from a few minutes to several hours. It often starts in the chest and travels to the rest of the body. The pain may be constant or it may come and go, feeling like pressure, squeezing or fullness. Some people may not feel any pain. This is known as a silent heart attack. If you suspect a person has a heart attack, seek medical attention as soon as possible. Some of the symptoms are:

• Shortness of breath,
• Crushing central chest pain or mild chest discomfort,
• Clammy, sweaty and gray complexion,
• Dizziness,
• Nausea and vomiting,
• Restlessness,
• Coughing,
• A general feeling of un-wellness, and
• A frightening sense that one is about to die

Treatment of Heart Attacks

Most heart attacks can be successfully treated if immediate medical help is provided. There are many treatments for a heart attack. They include using morphine, thrombolytics, aspirin and CPR during the heart attack.

Following the heart attack, you may need to take various medicines to reduce the risk of further attacks. These include anti-platelets, beta-blockers, statins, and angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors. For serious cases surgery and angioplasty may be required.

Prevention of Heart Attacks

The best way to prevent heart attacks is to avoid the risk factors. Giving up smoking, taking regular exercise, eat a healthy and balanced diet, lose weight and cut down on alcohol intake. As you age, it is also important to keep any other conditions under control to avoid weakening the heart.

Heart attacks can be very debilitating. If you find someone with the condition, medical assistance should be sought immediately. A healthy lifestyle is essential to both prevent and also stop a relapse.

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