Heart attacks have become increasingly widespread in the global population in recent years. Unfortunately, they are the main cause of death worldwide. They are the outcome of our hectic lifestyles and poor dietary habits.
Eat a balanced diet and reduce stress to improve your lifestyle and protect your cardiovascular health. It’s also critical to recognize heart failure signs, which often show a month before the heart fails:
- Inadequate oxygen supply
If your lungs do not receive enough oxygen, your heart will not receive the blood it requires to function. As a result, if you’re having difficulty breathing, consult your doctor as soon as possible.
- Common cold and flu symptoms
These two symptoms are typical in people who are on the verge of having a heart attack.
- Pain in the chest
This is an early warning sign of a heart attack. If you are experiencing chest pain, you should see your doctor as soon as possible.
- Inadequacy
Blood flow is reduced when the arteries constrict. As a result, the muscles aren’t getting enough nourishment, which could lead to heart failure. As a result, if you’re always fatigued and weak, you should consult a doctor.
- Vertigo and cold sweats
Poor circulation prevents adequate blood flow to the brain, which is required for healthy brain function.
- Fatigue
If you’re still tired and drowsy after sleeping or relaxing for a bit, and it lasts for days and days, you might have a blood flow problem to your heart.
Heart attack prevention is crucial; detecting and treating the above-mentioned symptoms early reduces the risk of a heart attack significantly.
A heart attack occurs when the blood supply to the heart is cut off. The most prevalent cause of obstruction is plaque formation from a buildup of fat, cholesterol, and other substances in the arteries that supply the heart (coronary arteries).
A plaque can rupture and form a clot, blocking blood flow. If blood flow is interrupted, parts of the heart muscle might be injured or killed.
Although a heart attack, also known as a myocardial infarction, can be devastating, treatment has advanced dramatically over the years. If you believe you are having a heart attack, call 911 or seek emergency medical attention right away.
Symptoms
Some of the most common signs and symptoms of a heart attack include:
You may feel pressure, tightness, pain, or a squeezing or aching sensation in your chest or arms, which may spread to your neck, jaw, or back.
A stomach bug can cause nausea, indigestion, heartburn, or abdominal pain.
Breathing difficulties
I’m drenched in cold sweat.
Fatigue
Dizziness or lightheadedness that occurs suddenly
A heart attack’s signs and symptoms vary.
Not everyone who suffers a heart attack has the same symptoms or the same degree of symptoms. Some people are in mild pain, while others are in excruciating pain. Some people have no indications or symptoms. For others, the first sign may be sudden cardiac arrest. The more indications and symptoms you have, the more likely it is that you will have a heart attack.
Although some heart attacks happen unexpectedly, many patients have warning signs and symptoms hours, days, or weeks in advance. The initial sign could be recurring chest pain or pressure (angina) caused by exertion and relieved by rest. Angina is a condition that causes a temporary decrease in blood flow to the heart.
When should you go to the doctor?
Take immediate action. Some people wait too long because they are unaware of the crucial signs and symptoms. Take the following steps:
Dial 911 for immediate medical assistance. If you suspect you’re having a heart attack, don’t put it off any longer. Immediately dial 911 or your local emergency number. If you don’t have access to emergency medical care, have someone transport you to the nearest hospital.
Drive yourself only if you have no other options. Driving yourself puts you and others in danger since your condition could worsen.
Take nitroglycerin as directed by your doctor. Take it as prescribed while you wait for assistance.
Take aspirin if it is prescribed. Aspirin may help avoid cardiac damage by inhibiting blood clotting during a heart attack.
Aspirin, on the other hand, can conflict with other medications, so only take it if your doctor or emergency medical personnel urge you to. If you need to take an aspirin, dial 911 immediately. To begin, call 911 for emergency assistance.
What should you do if you suspect a heart attack in someone?
If you come across someone who is unconscious and suspect they are having a heart attack, call 911 right once. Examine the person to see if he or she is breathing and has a pulse. Only begin CPR if the person is not breathing or if there is no pulse.
Push strongly and quickly on the person’s chest in a 100 to 120 compressions per minute pattern.
If you haven’t been trained in CPR, doctors recommend only performing chest compressions. If you’ve previously received CPR instruction, you can progress to opening the airway and practicing rescue breathing.
Causes
A heart attack occurs when one or more of your coronary arteries become clogged. Plaques form when fatty deposits, including cholesterol, accumulate over time and restrict the arteries (atherosclerosis). Coronary artery disease is the most common cause of heart attacks.
During a heart attack, a plaque might rupture, releasing cholesterol and other substances into the bloodstream. A blood clot forms at the location of the rupture. If the clot is large enough, it can limit blood flow via the coronary artery, depriving the heart of oxygen and nutrients (ischemia).
The coronary artery may be obstructed fully or partially.
If you have a total blockage, you have had an ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).
If you have a partial blockage, you have had a non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI).
Your diagnosis and therapy may differ depending on the type.
Another cause of a heart attack is a spasm of a coronary artery, which cuts off blood supply to a section of the heart muscle. Tobacco and illicit drugs such as cocaine can cause a potentially fatal spasm.
COVID-19 infection can also injure your heart, culminating in a heart attack.
Threatened variables
A variety of factors contribute to the undesirable buildup of fatty deposits (atherosclerosis), which narrows arteries throughout your body. Many of these risk factors can be reduced or eliminated to reduce your chances of experiencing a heart attack for the first or second time.
Some of the things that raise your chances of having a heart attack are as follows:
Age. Men and women over the age of 45 and 55 are more likely to have a heart attack than younger men and women.
Tobacco. This includes smoking and long-term exposure to secondhand smoke.
An excessively high blood pressure. Over time, high blood pressure can damage the arteries that lead to your heart. When high blood pressure is combined with other health issues, such as obesity, high cholesterol, or diabetes, your risk increases even further.
High levels of cholesterol or triglycerides in the blood. The most prevalent cause of arterial narrowing is a high level of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (“bad”). A high level of triglycerides, a type of blood fat connected to diet, increases your risk of having a heart attack. High levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (the “good” kind) may, on the other hand, lower your risk.
Obesity. Obesity is linked to high blood cholesterol, high triglyceride levels, high blood pressure, and diabetes. Simply decreasing 10% of your body weight can reduce your risk.
Diabetes. When you don’t create enough of a hormone produced by your pancreas (insulin) or don’t respond to insulin properly, your blood sugar levels rise, increasing your risk of a heart attack.
Metabolic syndrome is a condition in which the metabolism of the body is impaired. Obesity, high blood pressure, and high blood sugar levels are all factors in this syndrome. If you have metabolic syndrome, you are twice as likely as someone who does not to get heart disease.
Heart disease runs in the family. If your siblings, parents, or grandparents had heart attacks while they were young, you may be at a higher risk (by age 55 for men and 65 for women).
Inadequate physical activity. Inactivity is connected to obesity and high blood cholesterol levels. People who exercise on a regular basis have better heart health and lower blood pressure.
Stress. Stress can drive you to react in ways that put you at risk of having a heart attack.
Illegal drug use. Stimulants like cocaine or amphetamines can cause coronary artery spasms, which can lead to a heart attack.
Preeclampsia is a disorder that arises during pregnancy. This condition causes high blood pressure during pregnancy and increases the risk of heart disease later in adulthood.
An autoimmune condition. A disease such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus can increase your risk of having a heart attack.
Complications
Complications are usually associated with the damage to your heart caused by a heart attack, which can result in:
Anomalies in the heartbeat (arrhythmias). Electrical “short circuits” can happen, resulting in abnormal heart rhythms, some of which are fatal.
Heart failure is a potentially fatal condition. A heart attack can damage your heart tissue to the point that the remaining heart muscle is unable to pump enough blood out of your body. Heart failure can be a short-term or long-term disorder caused by significant and permanent heart damage.
Cardiac arrest happens unexpectedly. An electrical disturbance causes an erratic heartbeat, and your heart may stop without warning (arrhythmia). Heart attacks increase the chance of sudden cardiac arrest, which can be fatal if not treated swiftly.
Prevention
Even if you’ve already had a heart attack, it’s never too late to take preventive measures. You can avoid having a heart attack by doing a few things.
Medications. Medications can help your damaged heart perform better and reduce your chances of having another heart attack. Continue to take your medication as prescribed by your doctor, and ask how frequently you should be monitored.
Factors pertaining to one’s manner of life Maintaining a healthy weight through a heart-healthy diet, stopping smoking, exercising frequently, managing stress, and controlling illnesses such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes are all good ideas.
