General,Information,about,Hear health General Information about Heart Attacks

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General CharacteristicsThe most common type of heart attack is caused by a coronary thrombosis, which occurs when a clot (thrombus) blocksone or more of the blood vessels that nourish the heart muscle. As a result of the lack of blood, part of the musclemay be damaged, and its ability to contract may be lost. This is known as a myocardial infarction. If the infarctis small and the electrical impulses that control the heart's contractions (beats) are not disturbed, chances forrecovery are excellent.Coronary Artery DiseaseCoronary thrombosis is one of the manifestations of coronary artery disease. As we grow older, our blood vesselstend to lose their elasticity, a process known as arteriosclerosis. The arteries may also become narrowed or cloggedwith deposits of fatty material called atheromas, a condition called atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is progressiveand usually does not produce symptoms until there is significant blockage in the blood flow. Sometimes, in fact,the first symptom of this heart disease is a heart attack.Although the specific cause of atherosclerosis is not known, it has been found that certain risk factors help inidentifying population groups that are more likely to develop it. Three major risk factors are high levels ofcholesterol and other blood fats, high blood pressure (hypertension) and cigarette smoking. Others include diabetes,obesity, a sedentary life style, aging, being male and heredity.Atherosclerosis begins forming as a fatty streak on the inner wall of an artery, usually at its branching-out point,and disturbs the smooth flow of blood. As patches of fatty tissue build up, the inner wall becomes narrower, whichinhibits blood flow in a more significant way. An artery continues to narrow as the tissue buildup progresses, and intime, the fatty deposit becomes a hard mass of fatty tissue with a tough outer lining of cells - a plaque. As plaquesspread and thicken, they erode the wall of the artery, which interferes with blood flow and makes it increasinglyturbulent. This turbulence may trigger the blood to form a clot (thrombus), partially or completely blocking theartery. Further, a fragment of the clot (embolus) may be carried by the bloodstream and block an artery at some distant,narrower point.Heart attacks sometimes occur in people with little or no coronary artery disease. Some experts believe that a spasmor sudden constriction of the coronary artery may be the cause of these heart attacks. It appears that a spasm mayoccur in a coronary artery that is totally free of atherosclerosis (as well as in one that is heavily affected by thatcondition), and this would explain why many people suffer angina and other cardiac problems without any evidence ofunderlying blockage in the arteries.Symptoms of a Heart AttackA heart attack can come on gradually, preceded by several attacks of angina over days, weeks, months oreven years. (Angina is the name given to the chest pain that arises when the muscular wall of the heartis temporarily deprived of sufficient oxygen.) But a heart attack may also occur without any apparentwarning, and in people who have never previously experienced any chest pain.Typically, the pain of a heart attack is a sensation of constriction in the central chest area; it mayvary in intensity from a feeling of tightness to one of agonizing crushing or bursting. The pain may becontinuous, or it may last a few minutes, fade and then recur. It commonly spreads to the back, jaw andleft arm. Although a heart attack may be precipitated by physical or emotional stress, the pain, unlikethat of angina, does not subside when the stress ceases.Pain is commonly accompanied by shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, dizziness and pallor. (Some peopleexperience a heart attack without any of these symptoms. This is known as a "silent" infarct, which maybe confirmed by changes in an electrocardiogram or certain other hospital tests.)A Medical EmergencyMost deaths from heart attack occur within minutes to hours after the onset of symptoms. Therefore, whensudden and severe chest pain occurs, an ambulance should be called immediately and the individual takento a hospital. Denying that these symptoms represent a life-threatening illness may cause a delay thatcould be fatal.One of the major cause of death from coronary thrombosis is the development of abnormal heart rhythms inthe hours immediately following the attack. Emergency treatment, therefore, concentrates on stabilizingthe heart rhythm, as well as on relieving pain and preventing shock.In the hospital's intensive-care or cardiac-care unit, the rate and rhythm of the heart will becontinuously monitored by an electrocardiograph machine. Blood tests to detect enzymes released from theheart aid in assessing the infarct further and various medications may be given. Mood changes and feelingsof apprehension are very common following a heart attack, and a mild tranquilizer is often given to thepatient.Depending on the severity of the attack, the patient may be allowed out of bed within three or four daysand be discharged after two weeks. Bed rest for more than a short time should be avoided, where possible,because it results in a rapid loss of the body's muscle tone and in increased heart rate on exertion.Physical activity is gradually increased and most patients are able to return to their full range ofnormal activity within a few months.Long-Term TreatmentDepending on such factors as the patient's age and general physical condition, and the extent of theheart damage, a variety of different approaches may be taken to deal with the underlying coronary arterydisease and to reduce the possibility of another heart attack.Changes in life style. A number of steps can be taken to prevent or slow down the progression ofheart disease. These include stopping smoking, exercising regularly and adopting a low-cholesterol diet.Drug treatment. The use of drugs depends upon the nature of the heart attack and underlyingcoronary disease. Antihypertensive drugs may be prescribed to lower the blood pressure. Other drugs maybe given to improve heart function, prevent chest pain or lower the level of blood cholesterol.Other treatments A number of other treatments, including coronary bypass surgery, are available.Obviously, their use depends upon individual needs.Summing UpHeart attacks are a common occurrence, particularly among middle-aged and older men. An understanding ofthe risk factors involved in coronary artery disease, and the adoption of appropriate preventive measuresmay reduce the likelihood of an attack. If the typical pain of a heart attack does strike, prompt treatmentgreatly improves the chances of survival. Modern treatments enable most heart attack patients to resumea full, active life, although some changes in life syle probably will be required. Article Tags: Coronary Artery Disease, Heart Attacks, Heart Attack, Coronary Thrombosis, Coronary Artery, Artery Disease, Blood Flow, Risk Factors, Chest Pain