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Explanation and Causes:

The human heart is a muscle and as such requires oxygen to stay healthy. A heart attack happens when the arteries to the heart called coronary arteries are blocked. Atherosclerotic plaques, which are formed from high fat diets, sedentary lifestyle, high cholesterol, or even hereditary factors, line the coronary arteries. In times of stress or high pressure within the vessels of the heart and body, these plaques break off and become lodged in the capillary spaces of the heart, blocking the flow of blood and therefore oxygen to the cells of the heart. The cells and tissue of the heart die inhibiting its capability of pumping blood to the rest of the body. Another name for a heart attack is a myocardial infarction.

There are several factors which contribute to the development leading up to the eventual blockage.

Risk factors:

• Age
• Gender (males are at higher risk)
• High blood pressure
• Smoking
• Diabetes
• Diet
• Cholesterol levels
• Sedentary lifestyle

Symptoms:

Symptoms for a heart attack can differ dependent on the age, gender, and other factors such as other diseases like diabetes. Some people don’t feel anything at all some feel like it is only a bad case of heartburn or indigestion. Most of the time, you will experience chest pain that will radiate to your shoulders, arms, jaw, stomach and back. Other symptoms include:

• Shortness of breath
• Nausea
• Dizziness
• Tightness or squeezing pressure in the chest
• Shooting pain down the left arm
• Lasting pain in abdomen
• Sweating
• Fainting
• Light headedness

Heart attacks don’t wait for convenient times to hit. They can be triggered while sleeping or while hard at work. Attacks can happen extremely fast and provide no warning signs at all. Moat of the time warning signs are present. The more signs you experience the more the likelihood is that you’re having a heart attack. Either way, a heart attack is an emergency and medical attention should be found as soon as possible. Studies show that by taking a few aspirin immediately upon recognitions of symptoms, damage to the heart is minimized. If you’re allergic to aspirin, do not take it.

Diagnosis and Tests:

Doctors will you use your health history and current physical symptoms to diagnose a heart attack. They might also want to conduct other tests that include:

• Blood tests
• EKG
• ECG
• Coronary Angiogram
• MRI

Treatment:

Treatment for a heart attack can take on several different characteristics and requirements. Some treatments are more invasive like procedures and surgery while others are a simple medication regimen combined with some lifestyle changes. Different treatments are dependent upon the needs of the patient dictated by the healthcare professionals.

Medications:

• Aspirin
• Other blood thinners
• Beta blockers
• Pain relievers
• Superaspirins
• Cholesterol lowering
• Blood pressure lowering

Procedures and surgeries:

• Angioplasty
• Coronary artery bypass

Prevention:

• Maintain healthy body weight
• Maintain healthy diet
• Obtain an appropriate exercise regimen
• Smoking cessation
• Regular cholesterol checks
• Obtain a stress management program