Occurs when it  blood flow blocks to a part of the heart for one sufficient time so that part of the myocardium suffers damage or die. Doctors call this myocardial infarction.
Most heart attacks are caused by a clot that blocks one of the coronary arteries, which carry blood and oxygen to the heart. If the blood flow is blocked, the heart suffers from lack of oxygen and heart cells die.
A hard substance called plaque, which is composed of cholesterol and other cells can build up in the walls of the coronary arteries. A heart attack can occur as a result of the buildup of the plaque:
The plaque may develop cracks (fissures) or ruptures. Blood platelets stick to these ruptures and form a blood clot. A heart attack can occur if the blood clot completely blocks the passage of blood oxygenated toward the heart. This is the most common cause of heart attacks.
The slow plaque buildup can almost block one of his coronary arteries. A heart attack can occur if not enough oxygenated blood through this blockade, which can most likely happen when your body is stressed (e.g., by a serious illness) can flow.
The cause of heart attacks is not always known. They can occur:
- When you are resting or asleep.
- After a sudden increase in physical activity.
- When are you outside active in cold weather.
- After stress emotional or physical sudden and intense, as a disease.
Cardiogenic shock is a State in which the heart has suffered so much damage that it can not provide enough blood to the organs of the body. This condition requires emergency medical treatment.
Major Symptoms of a heart attack
- Pressure, heaviness, tension or pain in the chest that lasts 5 minutes or more.
- Constant discomfort similar to indigestion.
- Chest pain radiating to the shoulders, arms, neck, jaw, or back.
- VahÃdo, dizziness, fainting, sweating or nausea.
- Shortness of breath of unknown origin.
- Anxiety, weakness or fatigue of unknown origin.
- Palpitations, cold sweat or paleness.
Not all are the classic symptoms. Some people feel a sensation of burning, similar to an indigestion or heartburn, and pain can be concentrated in a small area of the chest. Some patients do not feel any symptoms.
The symptoms of heart attack in women may be different from those with men. Many women who suffer a heart attack do not know. Women tend to feel burning in the upper region of the abdomen and can have dizziness, upset stomach, and sweating. As they could not feel the typical pain in the left half of the chest, many women may ignore symptoms that indicate that they are suffering from a heart attack.
Many people not seeking immediate assistance that could save their lives because they do not realize that these symptoms could be signs of a heart attack. Although the chest pain is the most common symptom, some people suffer heart attacks without feeling pain in the chest. That is why it is important to recognize the other warning symptoms. If you feel one of these symptoms for 5 minutes or more should be attended by a doctor immediately. Call an ambulance (dial 911) or ask that someone take it by car to the nearest hospital emergency room. Don’t drive you. If you are suffering a heart attack, handle could endanger his life and the lives of others.
Not all are the classic symptoms. Some people feel a sensation of burning, similar to an indigestion or heartburn, and pain can be concentrated in a small area of the chest. Some patients do not feel any symptoms.
A heart attack is a medical emergency. If you have symptoms of a heart attack, immediately call the local number of emergencies (911 in the United States).
- Do not try to drive yourself to the hospital.
- NOT BE DELAYED. You are at the highest risk of sudden death in the early hours of a heart attack.
- Chest pain is the most common symptom of heart attack. You can feel the pain only in one part of the body or may radiate from the chest to the arms, shoulder, neck, teeth, the jaw, the abdominal area or back.
The pain can be mild or intense and may feel like:
- A tight around the chest band.
- Intense indigestion.
- Something heavy perched on the chest.
- Crushing or strong pressure.
The pain usually lasts more than 20 minutes. It is possible that bed rest and a medicine called nitroglycerin not completely relieve the pain of a heart attack. The symptoms can also disappear and return.
Other symptoms of a heart attack include:
- Anxiety.
- Cough.
- Fainting.
- Dizziness, Vertigo.
- Nausea or vomiting.
- Palpitations (sensation of the heart is beating too fast or erratically).
- Shortness of breath.
- Sweating can be extreme.
Some people (the elderly, persons with diabetes and women) may experience little or no chest pain. Or they may experience unusual symptoms (shortness of breath, fatigue, weakness). A “silent heart attack” is the one that don’t have symptoms.
Tests and exams for Heart Attack
- A doctor or nurses will perform a physical examination and will listen to the heart with a stethoscope.
- The doctor may hear abnormal sounds in the lungs (called crackles), a heart murmur or other abnormal sounds.
- You may have rapid pulse.
- Your blood pressure may be normal, high or low.
- An examination of Troponin in the blood can show if you have damage to the tissue of the heart and is a test that can confirm that you are experiencing a heart attack.
- Coronary angiography is often, quickly or when you are more stable. You can also be tests as an electrocardiography (ECG).
- This test uses a special dye and x-rays to see how blood is flowing through the heart.
You can help your doctor decide what treatments that follow.
Other tests to observe the heart you can do while you are in the hospital:
- Echocardiography
- Exercise stress test
- Nuclear stress test
- You will most likely receive treatment first in the Emergency Department.
- You are connected to a cardiac monitor, so that the medical team can see how your heart is beating.
- The medical team will give you oxygen so your heart doesn’t have to work so much.
- An intravenous (IV) will be placed into one of his veins, through which pass medications and fluids.
- You can receive nitroglycerin and morphine to help reduce chest pain.
Abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias) are the main cause of death during the first hours of a heart attack. These arrhythmias can be treated with medication or cardioversion.
EMERGENCY TREATMENTS of Heart Attacks
Angioplasty is a procedure to open narrow or blocked blood vessels that supply blood to the heart. Generally, is placed a small mesh tube called a stent at the same time.
Angioplasty often is the first choice of treatment and should be performed within 90 minutes after arriving at the hospital, and 12 hours after a heart attack.
A stent is a small tube of metal mesh that opens (expands) within a coronary artery. A stent is often placed after angioplasty and prevents the artery closes again.
You can give drugs to break up the clot. It is better if these drugs are administered within three hours of the onset of chest pain. This is called thrombolytic therapy.
Some patients may also undergo coronary artery bypass surgery to open the narrow or blocked blood vessels that supply blood to the heart. This procedure is also called open heart surgery.
The following drugs are given to most of the people after having a heart attack. These drugs may help prevent another attack. Ask the doctor or nurses about these drugs:
- Antiplatelet drugs (anticogulantes), and acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin), Clopidogrel (Plavix) or warfarin (Coumadin), to help prevent the blood from clotting.
- Beta blockers and inhibitors ACE Inhibitors to help protect the heart.
- Statins or other drugs to improve cholesterol levels.
It is possible that you need to take some of these drugs for the rest of his life. Always consult with your doctor prior to suspend or change the way as you take any medication, some changes can be fatal.
After a heart attack, you can feel sad. You may feel anxious and concerned about the care that must be into everything he does. All these feelings are normal and will disappear in most people after two or three weeks. Also you can feel tired when you leave the hospital for the House.
The majority of people who have had a heart attack took part in a cardiac rehabilitation program. While under the care of a doctor or nurse, you:
- It will slowly increase your level of exercise.
- You will learn how to follow a healthy lifestyle.
To prevent another heart attack:
- Keep blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol under control.
- Do not smoke.
- Consume a diet heart rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains as low in animal fat.
- Do plenty of exercise at least 30 minutes a day, at least 5 days a week (talk to your doctor first).
- Do evaluate and treat depression.
- Limit your consumption of alchohol to no more than one drink a day for women and two for men.
- Stay within a healthy weight. Try to achieve a BMI (BMI) between 18.5 and 24.9.
After a heart attack, your chances of having another are higher.
The prognosis after a heart attack depends on the damage to the myocardium and heart valves and is located where that damage.
If his heart already cannot pump blood to the body as well as it used to do, you can have a heart failure. Abnormal heart rhythms may occur and can be fatal.
Generally, a person who has had a heart attack can return slowly to its normal activities, including of sexual intercourse.
When to contact a medical professional
Immediately call the local emergency number (such as 911 in the United States) If you have symptoms of a heart attack.
Alternative names of Heart Attack
Myocardial infarction; IM; Heart attack; Myocardial infarction; Myocardial infarction with ST segment elevation; Non ST segment elevation myocardial infarction
References
Anderson JL, Adams CD, Antman EM, Bridges CR, Califf RM, Casey Jr., et to the. ACC/AHA 2007 guidelines for the management of patients with unstable angina/non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines (Writing Committee to Revise the 2002 Guidelines for the Management of Patients With Unstable Angina/Non-ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction) developed in collaboration with the American College of Emergency Physicians, the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions, and the Society of Thoracic Surgeons endorsed by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation and the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine. J Am coll Cardiol. 2007; 50:e1 – e157.
Kushner FG, Hand M, Smith SC Jr, King SB 3rd, Anderson JL, Antman EM, et to the. 2009 Focused Updates: ACC/AHA Guidelines for the Management of Patients WithST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (updating the 2004 Guideline and 2007 Focused Update) and ACC/AHA/SCAI Guidelines on Percutaneous Coronary Intervention(updating_the_2005_Guideline_and_2007_Focused_Update): a report of the American College of Cardiology Foundation/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines. Circulation. 2009 Dec 1; 120 (22): 2271-306. EPUB 2009 Nov 18.
Antman EM. ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: pathology, pathophysiology, and clinical features. In: Bonow RO, Mann DL, Zipes DP, Libby P, eds. Braunwald’s Heart Disease: to Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 9th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsever; 2011:chap 54.
