Heart Attack - Causes, Symptoms and Preventive Measures

Heart attack, also known as myocardial infarction (MI), generally occurs when the supply of blood and oxygen to an area of heart muscle is generally blocked, usually by a blood clot. This may cause to the heart to stop beating and from pumping blood effectively and leads to death or permanent damage to the heart. A heart attack, or myocardial infarction (‘Myo’ means muscle, ‘cardial’ refers to the heart and ‘infarction’ means death o tissue due to lack
of blood supply), is permanent damage to the heart muscle. The conditions leading to heart attack often develop over many years.

Causes and risk factors

It is difficult to estimate exactly how common heart attacks are because many people die each year before medical help is sought. Heart attacks are usually caused by severe coronary artery diseases (CAD). A number of risk factors increase the chance of developing coronary artery disease and heart attack. Some major risk factors can be changed and others cannot. Among those:

(i) That cannot be changed are:
Hereditary  
Gender: Men under the age of 60 are more likely to have heart attacks than women of the same age.
Age: Men over the age of 45 and women over the age of 55 are at higher risk than younger people. People over age of 65 are more likely to die of heart attack.

(ii) Some risk factors that can be changed are:
Smoking
High level of cholesterol in the blood
High blood pressure
Unhealthy lifestyle and lack of physical exercise

(iii)  Other conditions: Other conditions may affect the risk of coronary artery disease and heart attack. Scientists are not certain how these factors are involved in these conditions. The factors are:
Diabetes 
Obesity 
Stress and anger
Elevated homycysteine (amino-acid)/ fibrinogen level
Sudden excitement / depression

Signs and symptoms: Most of the heart people have no patients experience symptoms before the attack actually begins. Some people have no symptoms. This is called a ‘silent’ attack.  Typical symptoms include:

(a) Pain in the centre of the chest. It can feel like:

Uncomfortable pressure (an elephant sitting on the chest)

Fullness / a tight band on the chest

Squeezing
Indigestion or heart burn

(b) Pain radiates (spreads) from chest to arms or shoulder; neck, teeth or jaw; abdomen or back.

(c) Chest discomforts accompanied by:

Light – dizziness

FaintingSweating, which may be profuse

Nausea or vomiting 

Shortness of breath

Cough

(d)   Anxiety / extreme weakness

(e)   Rapid or irregular heart beats

(f)    Crackles in the lungs, a heart murmur or other abnormal sound in the chest while listening with a stethoscope.

Prevention and control: Many risk factors can be managed by leading a healthy lifestyle. Some ways a person can reduce the risk of coronary artery disease and heart attack are:

• Eat healthy diet that includes a variety of food, low in fat, low in cholesterol and high in fibre. The diet should include plenty of fruits and vegetables and limited sodium.
• Eat healthy diet that includes a variety of food, low in fat, low in cholesterol and high in fibre. The diet should include plenty of fruits and vegetables and limited sodium.
• Heavy meals should be avoided.
• Get regular moderate exercise. Bed rest up to 8-10 hours a day is considered desirable.
• Maintain a proper body weight by watching one’s diet and exercise.
• Strenuous physical exercise after 40 years of age should be avoided.
• Don’t start smoking. If you smoke, quit smoking.
• Control to consume alcohol.
• Regular health check-us.
• Adopt a more moderate lifestyle and healthy recreation that reduces stress and anxiety.
• Maintenance of healthy relationship among the family members.
• Control blood pressure and diabetes. If having high blood pressure or diabetes, follow your doctor’s advice and take medicine as directed.
• Heart attack patient’s must follow the doctor’s advice to prevent a second heart attack.
• Make sure to have an emergency action an in case of having the sign of a second heart attack.
• In case of having or had heart attack call the local emergency medical service immediately and get to the hospital emergency room as soon as possible.

After a heart attack, most people are able to return to their normal activities, but one needs to follow the advice of one’s doctor and take regular medication.

Stay safe and free of diseases!!