Are you at risk of a heart attack?A heart attack happens when a blood clot completely blocks a coronary artery and stops the flow of blood to the heart and the heart stops and dies. The blood clot is usually formed by a cholesterol deposit build up on the artery wall, which breaks away and causes a blockage.
Deprivation of blood and oxygen within 20 to 30 minutes usually results in an irreversible process in which the heart muscle gradually dies.Angina is the stage before where the arteries have a restricted blood flow as they get deposits on the walls and get severe chest pains as the blood is forced through a reduced aperture.
Heart attack symptoms - The usual symptoms are:-1) Chest Pains2) Nausea and sickness3) Shortness of Breath4) Heartburn or indigestion5) Back pain6) Arm pain7) SweatingA heart attack can also come without any warning at all.TestingIf the symptoms of a heart attack appear then medical checks can be quickly carried out to confirm the diagnosis and also to find the level of heart disease.
An Electrocardiogram will measure the electrical activity of the heart and the degree of abnormality can soon be assessed. Blood tests taken regularly after an a heart attack can check the level of cardiac enzymes, which will confirm the heart attack and give a good indication of the damage done to the heart.If the testing is unclear then continuous monitoring will pick up intermittent faultsTreatment- Early medical action is absolutely vital for the saving of a patient and the results of delays are often fatal.The treatment is first to open the blocked artery and restore a blood flow to the heart. Once the artery is passing blood at a good rate then damage to the heart ceases and the pumping action of the heart is retained. If there is a long delay in doing this then permanent damage can be done to the heart causing long term health problems resulting from an inefficient pumping action.
Medical treatment may be required to restore the normal heart rhythm and/or to get the heart going often by a shock treatment in the first instance and later by regulation.Anti-coagulants are given to reduce the chance of producing blood clots and anti-platelet drugs are given to prevent a build up of the potential clot producers. Clot dissolving medication can be given to remove the clot. Oxygen is often given to reduce the workload of the heart and increase the oxygen supply to the heart.Surgery may be required to open the arteries or bypass the areas where restrictions in the arteries are present. Sometimes angioplasty balloons are deployed to open the arteries and stents placed around them.Recovery- The time level of recovery depends on the severity of the heart attack and the damage done to the heart.
A small attack may see the patient back in good order in 2 weeks but a severe attack could be some months before it is repaired. In the meantime there will be a programme of rehabilitation, which will include a programme of gentle exercise increasing as the patient improves along with a medication regime. For many people it is a major wale-up call and will require a complete change in lifestyle and diet in order to gain the maximum benefit.After Care- Prevention of a second heart attack is absolutely vital and a good deal can be done to prevent another one.
The main ways are:-1) Take aspirin or beta blockers to reduce the chances of a clot2) Stop smoking3) Reduce weight and exercise regularly4) Avoid high blood pressure5) Eat well avoiding saturated fatty foods and eating food with low cholesterol.6) Reduce Cholesterol levels with suitable medications.7) Eat more fish or fish oils. This has reputed shown good results in the past and heart attacks are very low in fish eating countries.8) Medications for abnormal heart rhythms.9) Keep a good monitoring system with your medical practitioner so that he can see the warning signs and advise accordingly.The conditions, which can affect the heart detrimentally.1) High Blood Pressure2) High Blood Cholesterol, which causes plaque deposits on the artery walls reducing the diameter and also causing the danger of breaking away and forming a clot.3) Diabetes has a much greater risk of heart problems 4) Smoking accelerates the development of atherosclerosis, which are the cholesterol-instigated deposits on the artery walls.5) A history of heart disease and heart attacks in the family6) Men are more risk of heart attack than women when young but after menopause this changes and in old age they are almost identical.The need for quick action cannot be over emphasised and it is necessary to take medical advice as soon as any of the warning signs are present.
Alzheimers Disease
By: goldmedal
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Remember a healthy lifestyle can reduce the potential for heart disease and angina massively if you would like a detailed guide to reducing your chances of a heart attack or heart disease please visit us here, today before it is too late.
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Monday, April 6, 2009
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