HEART ATTACK

What are the symptoms of a heart attack?

-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 feeling (may feel like heartburn) -Sweating, nausea, vomiting, or dizziness -Extreme weakness, anxiety, or shortness of breath -Rapid or irregular heartbeats

What Do I Do if I Have a Heart Attack?

-Quick treatment to open the blocked arteryto lessen the amount of damage. -Call 911 -The best time to treat a heart attack is within one to two hours of the first onset of symptoms.

What is"silent" myocardial infarction and who usually has it?

Heart attack without having any symptoms (a "silent" myocardial infarction). A silent MI can occur in anyone, but it is more common among people with diabetes.

How long it takes the healing of the heart muscle?

Heart muscle begins soon after a heart attack and takes about eight weeks.

What and How nitroglycerin Oral is used?

In the prevention chest pain (angina) -Take this medication by mouth, usually 3 to 4 times daily or as directed by your doctor. It is important to take the drug at the same times each day. Do not change the dosing times unless directed by your doctor. The dosage is based on your medical condition and response to treatment.

What Is the Treatment for a Heart Attack?

Once heart attack is diagnosed, treatment begins immediately -- possibly in the ambulance or emergency room. Drugs and surgical procedures are used to treat a heart attack.

What Drugs Are Used to Treat a Heart Attack?

The goals of drug therapy are to break up or prevent blood clots, prevent platelets from gathering and sticking to the plaque, stabilize the plaque, and prevent further ischemia: -Aspirin to prevent blood clotting that may worsen the heart attack -Other antiplatelets, such as Brilinta, Effient, or Plavix, to prevent blood clotting -Thrombolytic therapy ("clot busters") to dissolve any blood clots in the heart's arteries -Any combination of the above -Prevent future blood clots lessen the work of your heart and improve your heart's performance and recovery -Prevent plaques by lowering cholesterol -Other drugs may be prescribed if needed. These include medications to treat irregular heartbeats, lower blood pressure, control angina, and treat heart failure.

What Happens During a Heart Attack?

The heart muscle requires a constant supply of oxygen-rich blood to nourish. If you have coronary artery disease, those arteries become narrow and blood cannot flow as well as they should. When the plaque is hard, the outer shell cracks (plaque rupture), platelets (disc-shaped particles in the blood that aid clotting) come to the area, and blood clots form around the plaque. If a blood clot totally blocks the artery, the heart muscle becomes "starved" for oxygen. Within a short time, death of heart muscle cells occurs, causing permanent damage. This is a heart attack.

Does the new scar tissue contract?

The new scar tissue does not contract. So, the heart's pumping ability is lessened after a heart attack. The amount of lost pumping ability depends on the size and location of the scar.

How chest discomfort can manifest?

chest discomfort can be described in many ways. It can occur in the chest or in the arms, back, or jaw. If you have symptoms, take notice. These are your heart disease warning signs. Seek medical care immediately.