Heart attack, or myocardial infarction in medical terms, is usually caused by coronary heart diseases. A heart attack occurs when there is a sudden cessation of blood supply to a specific part of the heart. The heart, being a muscle, needs a continuous and healthy supply of blood. The heart receives its blood supply through arteries. As a person gets older, an accumulation of fatty materials called plaque may occur on the inner walls of the arteries, causing damage to them. A blood clot forms when components of blood, such as blood cells and platelets, stick to the area where the plaque breaks. When the blood flow gets blocked entirely by the clot, it leads to a heart attack. The loss of blood supply causes the heart muscles to die, which in turn leads to excruciating chest pain.
Symptoms
The symptoms of a heart attack are:
- Chest pain
Patients can feel a sensation in the chest of getting squeezed by a heavy object. It can spread to the neck, arms, and back as well. - Lightheaded
During a heart attack, irregular blood flow to the heart can lead to changes in blood pressure, making a person prone to dizziness. - Shortness of breath
Due to a heart attack, the heart is unable to pump blood effectively to various organs in the body, which includes the lungs. Thus, it may lead to the person having problems in breathing. - Anxiety
Anxiety is a possible symptom of a heart attack. The feeling a person experiences may be similar to an anxiety attack. It can present itself in the form of sudden chest pain or pain in other parts of the body, loss of breath, and other symptoms.
There is a minor chance that some people might experience light chest pain similar to indigestion while having a heart attack.
Emergency treatment
- Call 911
If one experiences the symptoms mentioned above, it is advisable to call for emergency medical help. In case one does not have access to emergency medical services, they should ask a friend or neighbor for transport to the nearest hospital. - Aspirin
Unless one is allergic to it or have been advised against taking it by a doctor, a person should consume an aspirin. - CPR
If someone has a heart attack and has lost consciousness, bystanders should start cardiopulmonary resuscitation. If one does not have CPR training, it is recommended to omit mouth-to-mouth breathing and perform chest compressions at the rate of 100 per minute.
Prevention
Apart from age, a person’s health history and lifestyle choices are factors that affect an individual’s heart health. One can take the following steps to prevent the chances of a heart attack:
- Quit smoking
- Keep blood pressure and cholesterol levels in check
- Get regular medical checkups
- Exercise regularly
- Manage weight
- Drink only moderate amounts of alcohol
- Reduce stress
- Manage blood sugar levels
