What is Heart Attack?

A heart attack occurs when a blood clot restricts or cuts off oxygenated blood to part of the heart muscle. Unless blood begins to flow rapidly through this area again, the heart muscle begins to die. Most heart attacks are caused by a buildup of plaque in the coronary arteries. Plaque buildup can rupture an artery and allow a blood clot to form. If the blood clot is large enough, it can block blood flow to the heart.

Heart muscle damage can be limited with immediate emergency treatment. Untreated heart damage can cause permanent health problems. If heart attack symptoms last longer than 30 minutes or after taking prescription nitroglycerin, call 9-1-1 immediately. Do not drive to the hospital. Wait for help to arrive.

TIB Pharmacy is an American Association-accredited Mission Lifeline drop-in center, which means patients receiving treatment will receive the most advanced care in the diagnosis, management, and treatment of heart attacks. You will appreciate punctual appointments and a professional and friendly environment where we take the time to listen to your concerns. At TIB Pharmacy, you have access to the region's most comprehensive multidisciplinary team of specialists and innovative therapies, many of which are only available through specialty clinical trials. In every way, we strive to demonstrate the maximum of excellent care to those who trust us with their health.

Symptoms

Conditions develop gradually that can lead to a heart attack, and these conditions may have no symptoms. This is why regular checks are important. The signs and symptoms of a heart attack vary and do not always manifest as crushing pressure in the chest. Symptoms that last longer than 30 minutes may indicate a heart attack is in progress, including:

  • Pain in the chest or upper body. The pain can be deep, aching, aching, and/or throbbing, and can last for hours or days in the center or left side of the chest. It can also occur in the jaw, neck, arms, or upper stomach. The pain is usually unaffected by movement, although some positions may be more comfortable than others.
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Pain in the left shoulder or between the shoulder blades
  • a cold sweat
  • Tired
  • Dizziness or dizziness
  • nausea and vomiting
  • Are you reluctant to tell anyone about these symptoms?
  • Are you reluctant to call because you think your mild symptoms don't warrant calling?
  • If you carry nitroglycerin with you, does nitroglycerin seem to eliminate your discomfort in 5 minutes?

How long do the symptoms of a heart attack last?

Symptoms of a heart attack can last from a few minutes to several hours. Symptoms of a heart attack do not last for several days, and persistent symptoms may be a sign of chronic heart disease or another condition. If your symptoms persist, contact your doctor immediately.

Symptoms of a minor heart attack could indicate that you have had a minor heart attack.

Causes

Causes of a heart attack can include:
  • Accumulation of plaque (fat, cholesterol, and other cellular debris) on artery walls
  • Coronary artery spasms caused by drugs, including cocaine; stress, extreme cold and smoking
  • Diabetes can cause a "silent" heart attack without symptoms (myocardial infarction)
  • high blood pressure
  • High cholesterol
  • Heart failure
  • Excessive consumption of alcohol
  • lack of exercise
  • Obesity
  • Stress
  • Tobacco/drug use

Risk factors

Risk factors for a heart attack may include:

Age: Men over 50 with a family of heart conditions and women after menopause are most commonly diagnosed with a heart attack.

Gender: More women than men have heart attacks and they can occur in younger women.

Family history: People with a family history of heart disease have a higher risk of having a heart attack.

Infection: Some infections, such as syphilis or salmonella, that aren't treated can lead to a heart attack.

Race and ethnicity: African Americans are at higher risk of heart disease that can lead to heart attack, in part due to severe high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity.

Prevention

Although some risk factors, such as age and heredity, cannot be controlled, there are ways to prevent a heart attack:

Avoid the use of tobacco and cocaine: both have a significant risk of causing a heart attack.

Manage your diabetes: Take your medications as prescribed and follow your doctor's recommendations for diet and exercise.

Eat heart-healthy foods: limit your intake of salt, sugar and saturated fat; and add nuts, green leafy vegetables, fish, beans, bran, fruit, grains, olive oil, canola oil, salmon, tuna, herring and mackerel to your diet.

Exercise: Get 30 minutes of aerobic exercise at least five days a week.

Limit your alcohol intake: Talk to your doctor about the amount and types of alcohol you can drink.

Control your weight: Eat a heart-healthy diet and exercise to reduce the risk of another heart attack.

Manage stress: Take a stress management class, learn more about biofeedback, meditate, do yoga or aerobics, and talk to family and friends about issues.

Take your medications as prescribed: If you have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, anxiety, or depression, be sure to take your prescribed medications as directed.

Diagnosis

Early diagnosis of a heart attack is essential to limit damage to the heart. State-of-the-art technology is used to effectively diagnose, inform treatment and carefully monitor the condition. Diagnostic procedures and tests for heart attacks may include:

Blood tests: Blood tests check for proteins and enzymes that are released into the blood after the heart muscle dies. Over time, blood tests are repeated to detect changes.

Chest x-ray: common imaging test of the lungs, heart, and coronary arteries.

Coronary Angiography: This procedure is often done with cardiac catheterization. During the procedure, a dye visible on an x-ray is injected into the heart chambers or coronary arteries. The dye allows the doctor to study blood flow in the heart and blood vessels to detect any blockages.

Echocardiogram: This ultrasound test uses sound waves to take moving pictures of the chambers and valves of the heart.

Electrocardiogram (ECG): This test measures the electrical activity of the heart and can help determine if parts of the heart are enlarged, overworked, or damaged. Electrical currents from the heart are detected by 12 to 15 electrodes attached to the arms, legs and chest with adhesive tape.

Radionuclide imaging (thallium stress test): This non-invasive procedure can identify serious heart damage. A radioactive isotope is injected into a vein and a special camera or scanner records its journey through the heart. Any heart damage can be traced, locating the damaged area of ​​the heart. This procedure can be performed with an electrocardiogram, both at rest and during exercise.

Prognosis

The prognosis depends on how quickly a heart attack is treated. If treatment occurs quickly at the onset of the first symptoms, damage to the heart can be avoided or limited. Recovery is enhanced by a positive attitude, as is taking medication as prescribed and lifestyle modification.

Treatment and recovery

The treatment of heart attacks takes place in two stages. Immediate emergency care is needed as soon as the first symptoms appear. If you're experiencing symptoms or aren't sure if you have a heart problem, call 9-1-1 and let a doctor determine if you're having a heart attack. You will receive immediate treatment if a heart attack is suspected. If you have a heart attack, secondary treatment may include medications and medical procedures or surgery.

Immediate medicine for heart attacks

Medications are given to prevent blood clots from forming, help blood flow through the coronary arteries, calm the heart, and reduce pain. Oxygen may be given to ensure your heart, lungs, organs and tissues stay healthy.

Secondary medicine for heart attacks

Medications are given to lower blood pressure, treat pain, dissolve blood clots, control and lower cholesterol, and help blood flow through the coronary arteries.

Surgery

Certain surgeries may also be done to treat a heart attack, including:

  • Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI): This procedure, commonly known as coronary angioplasty, can open a clogged artery, improve blood flow, and reduce chest pain. A stent, which is a small mesh tube, may be inserted to hold the artery open.
  • Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG): This surgery improves blood flow to the heart by creating a bypass around narrowed coronary arteries by grafting arteries or veins taken from other parts of your body.
  • Pacemaker implantation: This device can be implanted during minor surgery to help the right and left ventricles contract normally.

Recovery after surgery

Depending on how your body is healing, you will be in the hospital one day after your PCI and you will recover well within a week.

  • After your bypass surgery, you will spend a day or two in an intensive care unit and another three to five days in another unit before you can go home. Full recovery can take 6 to 12 weeks. Your doctor will tell you when you can be physically active again, including resuming work or sexual activity.
  • After implantation of the pacemaker, you can spend a night in the hospital before going home. Full recovery can take up to four weeks. Your doctor will tell you when you can resume physical activity and what activities you should avoid during your recovery.

Follow-up care after surgery

Before you leave the hospital, your doctor or nurse will discuss an aftercare plan, which will likely include examinations and tests. To reduce the risk of complications from a heart attack, it is important to follow your specific health plan, which includes:

  • Go to cardiac rehab for medical support to manage your health, learn about heart-healthy foods, and do exercises to increase your strength and endurance.
  • Eat a diet low in fat, cholesterol and salt.
  • Exercise every day
  • Losing weight
  • Avoid tobacco and cocaine use
  • limit alcohol consumption
  • Reduce stress
  • Get counseling for depression
  • Do not take birth control pills as they can cause blood clots.
  • Take prescribed medications daily for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, anxiety and depression.
  • Know the difference between chest pain (angina pectoris) and heart attack symptoms
  • Create an emergency card to give to emergency responders if you experience symptoms of a heart attack. Must include:
  • Your medications and those to which you are allergic
  • Your doctor's full name and daytime and after-hours phone numbers.
  • The name of a relative or friend, and work, home, and mobile numbers.

Complications

If the heart attack is not diagnosed and treated, damage to the heart can lead to debilitating conditions. Problems can also arise after treatment for a heart attack, especially if medical advice for recovery is not followed. Complications can include:

Anxiety and depression: After a heart attack, worrying about your health and having to adopt a new lifestyle can lead to depression, which delays recovery from a heart attack.

Heart attack: If a heart attack has occurred, the risk of having another heart attack increases.

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