HEART ATTACK

 HEART ATTACK

OUTLINE:

1. WHAT IS HEART ATTACK?

2. TYPES OF HEART ATTACK

3. HOW COMMON IS HEART ATTACK?

4. CAUSES OF HEART ATTACK

5. HOW DOES HEART ATTACK DEVELOP?

6. SYMPTOMS/SIGNS OF HEART ATTACK

 

7. THE TESTS DOCTOR WILL DO IF YOU HAVE HEART ATTACK

8. TREATMENT OF HEART ATTACK

9. PREVENTION OF HEART ATTACK

1. WHAT IS HEART ATTACK?

A heart attack occurs when the blood vessels supplying your heart with blood and oxygen become blocked, most of the times the block is due to a blood clot. During a heart attack, tissue in your heart muscle dies due to lack of blood flow through the blocked heart's blood vessels. Heart attack is also known as myocardial infartion

2. TYPES OF HEART ATTACK

There are three types of heart attacks:

1. MAJOR HEART ATTACK

This occurs when the blood vessels bringing the blood to the heart become COMPLETELY blocked and a large portion of the muscle of the heart stops receiving blood. The major part of the heart muscle dies. It’s a serious heart attack that can cause significant damage

2. MINOR HEART ATTACK

In this case the blood vessels are only PARTIALLY blocked.

3. SILENT HEART ATTACK

This occurs when one of the heart’s vessels  tighten or contract so much that blood flow stops or becomes drastically reduced. No physical blockage. It is just the blood vessels that close on its own and reopen later

3. HOW COMMON IS HEART ATTACK?

Cardiovascular diseases are the number one cause of death globally, taking an estimated 17.9 million lives each year. Cardiovascular diseases are a group of disorders of the heart and blood vessels and include coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, rheumatic heart disease and other conditions.

Among the cardiovascular diseases, coronary heart disease (heart attack) is now the leading cause of death worldwide. 

An estimated 3.8 million men and 3.4 million women die each year from heart attacks.

4. CAUSES/RISK FACTORS  FOR HEART ATTACK

1. Increasing Age: Majority of people who die of coronary heart disease are 65 or older. Men typically start having heart attacks as from 45 years old while women typically start having heart attack by 55.

2. Heart attacks are more in men than women 

3  Heredity ( heart attack is more in black people than white people)

4. Tobacco smoking ( major cause of heart attack)

5. High blood cholesterol ( another major cause of heart attack)

6. High blood pressure ( another major cause of heart attack)

7. Physical inactivity

8. Obesity and being overweight ( another major cause of heart attack)

9. High blood sugar ( Diabetes)

10. Stressing yourself ( another major cause of heart attack)

5. HOW DOES HEART ATTACK DEVELOP?

Heart attack develops when the causes and risk factors above have worked together to block the vessels that supply blood to the muscles of your heart. Once blood supply to your  heart is cut off. You will experience what is called HEART ATTACK.

6. SYMPTOMS/SIGNS OF HEART ATTACK

include:

1. Pressure, tightness, pain, or a squeezing or aching sensation in your chest or arms that may spread to your neck, jaw or back

2. Nausea, indigestion, heartburn or abdominal pain

3. Shortness of breath

4. Sweating profusely 

5. Fatigue

6. Lightheadedness or sudden dizziness

7. THE TESTS DOCTOR WILL DO IF YOU HAVE HEART ATTACK

1. ECG

2. Chest X-ray.

3. Echocardiogram. 

4. Coronary catheterization (angiogram). 

5. Cardiac CT or MRI.

6. Troponin enzymes

8. TREATMENT OF HEART ATTACK

MEDICAL TREATMENT 

SURGICAL TREATMENT 

MEDICAL TREATMENT 

Your doctor may prescribe medications to treat your heart attack, these include:

1. aspirin also known as drugs to break up clots

2. antiplatelet and anticoagulants, also known as blood thinners

3. painkillers to relieve the severe heart pain

4. Nitroglycerin also known as muscle and blood vessels  relaxant to allow blood to flow back to your heart

5. blood pressure medication to bring your BP under control 

6. High Sugar medications to bring your sugar under control 

SURGICAL TREATMENT 

Common surgical treatments include:

1.Angioplasty: This means  opening the blocked heart blood vessels by using a balloon or by removing the clot buildup in the blood vessels.

2. Stent: A stent is a wire mesh tube that is inserted into the heart blood vessels to keep it open after opening it through angioplasty.

3. Heart bypass surgery: In bypass surgery, your doctor reroutes the blood around the blockage in the heart vessels to create  blood supply back to the heart.

4. Heart valve surgery: In valve replacement surgery, your leaky valves are replaced to help the heart pump.

5.Pacemaker: A pacemaker is a device implanted beneath the skin. It’s designed to help your heart maintain a normal rhythm.

6. Heart transplant: A transplant is performed in severe cases where the heart attack has caused permanent tissue death to most of the heart.

9. PREVENTION OF HEART ATTACK

If your heart will stay without another attack soon,you need to change your lifestyle by taking the following steps:

1. Avoid smoking

The most important thing you can do to improve your heart's health is not to smoke. Also, avoid being around people that smoke (secondhand smoking) is compulsory. If you smoke and  need to quit, ask your doctor for help.

2. Control your blood pressure and cholesterol levels

If one or both of these is high, your doctor can prescribe changes to your diet and medications. Ask your doctor how often you need to have your blood pressure and cholesterol levels monitored.

3. Exercise

Regular exercise helps improve heart muscle function after a heart attack and helps prevent a heart attack. Get at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise at least 5 days in a week or 25 minutes of vigorous exercise 3 days a week, or a mixture of moderate and vigorous exercise per week.

4. Maintain a healthy weight

 Excess weight strains your heart and can contribute to high cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes.

5. Eat a heart-friendly diet

Fatty food like ice cream and too much meat can narrow blood vessels to your heart,reduce them. Too much salt and maggi can raise your  blood pressure. Eat a heart-healthy diet that includes fish, beans, whole grains, fruits and vegetables.

6. Treat and Control your  diabetes

 Regular exercise, eating well and losing weight all help to keep blood sugar levels at more-desirable levels. Many people also need medication to manage their diabetes.

7. Stop Stressing yourself

Reduce stress in your day-to-day activities. Rethink workaholic habits and find healthy ways to minimize or deal with stressful events in your life.

8. Stop Alcohol

Stop taking alcohol completely 

9. Get regular medical checkups

Some of the major risk factors for a heart attack (high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes) cause no symptoms early on. Your doctor can test for these conditions and can help you manage them, if necessary before they develop fully.

10. Sex after heart attack

Some people worry about having sex after a heart attack, but most people can safely return to sexual activity 6 weeks after recovery. When you can resume sexual activity will depend on your physical comfort, emotional readiness and previous sexual activity. Ask your doctor when it's safe to have sex. Some heart medications can affect sexual function. If you're having problems with sexual dysfunction, talk to your doctor.

Thank you. Share this write up with your friends and family.