: Admin : 2022-11-30
Heart Attack
Author: Doctor Ashwani Kumar, General Physician
Every year 120,000 myocardial infarctions occur in our country, a figure that could be reduced if we keep risk factors under control and incorporate a heart-healthy lifestyle into our routine. In this way, cardiovascular diseases, which currently cause three out of every 10 deaths in Spain, according to the latest report from the National Institute of Statistics (INE), would no longer occupy the first place among the causes of death.
What is a heart attack?
Colloquially known as a heart attack, myocardial infarction is the necrosis or death of heart muscle cells due to lack of blood supply, due to obstruction of a coronary artery. When an area of the heart stops receiving the blood flow it needs, it begins to die, and that is precisely one of the manifestations of ischemic heart disease. The extent of the myocardial infarction will depend on the amount of heart muscle that is lost.
What are causes?
Due to hypertension, high cholesterol levels, smoking, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, diabetes or advanced age , the coronary arteries narrow, preventing oxygen from reaching the myocardium, which is the muscular part of the heart. The myocardium, without receiving oxygen, cannot produce energy to contract and the cells of the tissue that do not receive blood begin to die.
What symptoms does a heart attack have?
The first hour after suffering a heart attack is a critical period when it is vital to act quickly. For this reason, it is very important to be attentive to the signs of a heart attack, which can be summarized as follows:
Chest pain . One of the most common warning signs is tightness in the center of the chest or on the left side of the thorax. Normally, it is an intense oppression that usually lasts for several minutes, although sometimes the intensity can fluctuate, the discomfort disappearing for a few minutes to reappear. Some patients may present episodes of chest pain of shorter duration and intensity in the previous days, frequently with exertion.
Pain in other parts of the body . Due to the irradiation of the pain, this oppression in the chest can move towards the left arm, the right arm or both, but also towards the jaw (which is very frequent), the pit of the stomach, the shoulder blades, the back or even towards the shoulders. earlobes.
Breathing difficulties . As a result of the pressure felt on the chest, breathing becomes difficult. In very extensive infarcts, the drowning sensation of the infarcted person becomes very intense when the patient lies down.
Other symptoms in women, diabetics and the elderly. In some patients, such as diabetics, older patients, and some women, chest pressure may not appear. In them, the manifestations of the heart attack can be more atypical, being able to cause discomfort in the pit of the stomach, for example.
Other signs. Cold sweating, intense malaise, nausea, vomiting, and a slow heartbeat may accompany the other symptoms already described. In addition, it must be taken into account that approximately a quarter of myocardial infarctions are silent, that is, they appear without chest pain and without other symptoms.
Does the heart attack present the same symptoms in the case of women?
Although the aforementioned symptoms occur in both sexes, typical chest pain in women appears less frequently and, on the other hand, other signs such as these tend to be more common:
How is it diagnosed?
Early detection of a heart attack decisively improves the prognosis. To make the diagnosis, some specialized tests are necessary:
Electrocardiogram : essential to diagnose acute heart attack and its evolution. It is a simple and quick test, which does not cause any discomfort (it is painless) and has no risk for the patient (no type of electricity is sent through the body, it only detects the electrical activity that is generated in the heart itself). .
Blood tests to study the levels of some cardiac enzymes. An injury to the heart produces a characteristic increase in some enzymes, which makes it possible to diagnose a heart attack.
Imaging tests help complete the diagnosis and include:
Chest x-ray: rules out the existence of other diseases that may manifest with similar symptoms or monitors possible complications after suffering a heart attack, such as pulmonary edema.
Echocardiography: allows for an image of the heart and its movement to be able to detect if there is any area altered after the lack of oxygen supply during the heart attack.
Stress-rest test: evaluates the blood supply to the heart after a period at rest and after carrying out an effort.
Coronary angiography or cardiac catheterization: shows the areas of narrowing in the coronary arteries. It is performed by inserting a catheter through a vein until it reaches the heart through which a contrast is injected that allows us to see the coronary circulation and the narrowing or obstruction of the arteries.
What to do in case of suffering a heart attack?
The priorities when acting if someone around us is suffering a myocardial infarction are the following:
Ask for help. At the first symptoms, it is vital to contact the emergency services by immediately calling 112 and following their instructions . In addition, this way they can quickly transfer the patient to the hospital, beginning to administer the appropriate treatment. And in case a malignant arrhythmia appears during the transfer, the professionals will have the possibility to treat it.
Stay calm, as much as possible. Stress and anxiety affect the heart, increasing heart rate and blood pressure.
Medication, only in some cases. We must always follow the instructions of the professionals we have contacted when administering medication in a heart attack.
How can it be prevented?
The best way to avoid the appearance of a heart attack is by controlling the risk factors on which we can act. That is, trying to maintain healthy cholesterol levels, avoiding obesity, quitting tobacco if you are a smoker, controlling high blood pressure following the doctor's recommendations and abandoning a sedentary lifestyle. These are the best tools to fight cardiovascular disease.
10 tips for a healthy heart
A healthy lifestyle, which includes frequent exercise and a healthy, balanced diet, can help us prevent pathologies related to heart health.
1. Follow a balanced and varied diet.
Fruits, vegetables, vegetables, fish, olive oil, lean meats, cereals and skimmed dairy should not be missing from your table. And remember that salt, sugars and alcohol is better to take only in small quantities.
2. Control your weight.
Calculate your Body Mass Index (BMI), which is obtained by dividing your weight in kilos by your height in meters squared. If the result is greater than 25 kg/m⊃2;, it is considered overweight. Above 30 kg/m⊃2; is obesity.
3. Watch the accumulated fat in the abdomen.
It is dangerous for the heart. Measure your abdominal circumference at the level of the navel. In women it must be below 88 cm and in men below 102 cm.
4. Check your blood pressure.
Measure your blood pressure to verify that it is equal to or less than 135/80 mmHg. If you are hypertensive, you should also stay below these figures. And in case you have already suffered a cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, renal problem or suffer from diabetes, your blood pressure must be below or equal to 115/75 mmHg. In these last cases, controls and preventive measures must be continuous. In general, optimal blood pressure levels are equal to or less than 120/75 mmHg.
5. Check your cholesterol and glucose levels.
The best way to keep them at bay is to eat a healthy diet and exercise. If after a fasting analysis, your numbers are above 200 mg/dL of total cholesterol and 100 mg/dL of glucose, you should consult a specialist. In the case of patients with a history of cardio-renal disease, total cholesterol must be less than 190 mg/dl, and glucose levels equal to or less than 70 mg/dl.
6. Know your cardiovascular risk.
Go to the doctor with a physical examination and your personal and family history. Ask him everything you want: what diet to follow, what exercises to do, what factors can harm your health... in order to know what your lifestyle should be. Acting in time is the key to reducing the dangers.
7. Avoid tobacco.
It multiplies the risk of heart attacks or strokes.
8. Practice 30 minutes of daily exercise.
Choose the activity that you enjoy the most and that suits your physical condition, be it walking, dancing, running, playing golf, swimming, etc.
9. Learn to control stress and anxiety.
Increased emotional tension is dangerous for the heart.
10. Share your doubts.
Exchanging experiences allows you to learn. Also remember that your family can be a great encouragement and support to overcome any difficulty in meeting your health goals.
Heart attack
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