Sometimes they feel depressed and have trouble adjusting to new lifestyle changes. Talk about how you feel with your health care team. Talking to a professional counselor also can help. If you're very depressed, your doctor may recommend medicines or other treatments that can improve your quality of life. Joining a patient support group may help you adjust to life after a heart attack. You can see how other people who have the same symptoms have coped with them.
Talk with your doctor about local support groups or check with an area medical center. Support from family and friends also can help relieve stress and anxiety. Let your loved ones know how you feel and what they can do to help you. Once you've had a heart attack, you're at higher risk for another one.
Knowing the difference between angina and a heart attack is important. Angina is chest pain that occurs in people who have ischemic heart disease. The pain from angina usually occurs after physical exertion and goes away in a few minutes when you rest or take medicine as directed. The pain from a heart attack usually is more severe than the pain from angina. Heart attack pain doesn't go away when you rest or take medicine.
The symptoms of a second heart attack may not be the same as those of a first heart attack. Don't take a chance if you're in doubt. Always call 9—1—1 right away if you or someone else has heart attack symptoms. Unfortunately, most heart attack victims wait 2 hours or more after their symptoms start before they seek medical help. This delay can result in lasting heart damage or death.
Learn more about participating in a clinical trial. View all trials from ClinicalTrials. Visit Children and Clinical Studies to hear experts, parents, and children talk about their experiences with clinical research. Heart Attack. Also known as Myocardial infarction. See also. What Is - Heart Attack. Overview Heart attacks most often occur as a result of ischemic heart disease , also called coronary heart disease or coronary artery disease. Other Names - Heart Attack. Causes - Heart Attack.
Coronary Heart Disease A heart attack happens if the flow of oxygen-rich blood to a section of heart muscle suddenly becomes blocked and the heart can't get oxygen. Coronary Artery Spasm A less common cause of heart attack is a severe spasm tightening of a coronary artery. What causes a coronary artery to spasm isn't always clear.
A spasm may be related to: Taking certain drugs, such as cocaine Emotional stress or pain Exposure to extreme cold Cigarette smoking. Risk Factors - Heart Attack. Risk Factors You Can Control The major risk factors for a heart attack that you can control include: Smoking High blood pressure High blood cholesterol Overweight and obesity An unhealthy diet for example, a diet high in saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, and sodium Lack of routine physical activity High blood sugar due to insulin resistance or diabetes Some of these risk factors—such as obesity, high blood pressure, and high blood sugar—tend to occur together.
The risk of heart disease increases for men after age 45 and for women after age 55 or after menopause. Family history of early heart disease. Your risk increases if your father or a brother was diagnosed with heart disease before 55 years of age, or if your mother or a sister was diagnosed with heart disease before 65 years of age.
This condition can develop during pregnancy. The two main signs of preeclampsia are a rise in blood pressure and excess protein in the urine. Preeclampsia is linked to an increased lifetime risk of heart disease, including CHD, heart attack, heart failure , and high blood pressure.
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Signs, Symptoms, and Complications - Heart Attack. It is important for you to know the most common symptoms of a heart attack and also remember these facts: Heart attacks can start slowly and cause only mild pain or discomfort.
Symptoms can be mild or more intense and sudden. Symptoms also may come and go over several hours. People who have high blood sugar diabetes may have no symptoms or very mild ones. The most common symptom, in both men and women, is chest pain or discomfort. Women are somewhat more likely to have shortness of breath, nausea and vomiting, unusual tiredness sometimes for days , and pain in the back, shoulders, and jaw. Most Common Symptoms The most common warning symptoms of a heart attack for both men and women are: Chest pain or discomfort.
Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center or left side of the chest. The discomfort usually lasts for more than a few minutes or goes away and comes back. It can feel like pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain. It also can feel like heartburn or indigestion. The feeling can be mild or severe. Upper body discomfort. You may feel pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, shoulders, neck, jaw, or upper part of the stomach above the belly button.
Shortness of breath. This may be your only symptom, or it may occur before or along with chest pain or discomfort. It can occur when you are resting or doing a little bit of physical activity.
All chest pain should be checked by a doctor. Other Common Signs and Symptoms Pay attention to these other possible symptoms of a heart attack: Breaking out in a cold sweat Feeling unusually tired for no reason, sometimes for days especially if you are a woman Nausea feeling sick to the stomach and vomiting Light-headedness or sudden dizziness Any sudden, new symptoms or a change in the pattern of symptoms you already have for example, if your symptoms become stronger or last longer than usual Not everyone having a heart attack has typical symptoms.
The more signs and symptoms you have, the more likely it is that you're having a heart attack. Here's why: Acting fast can save your life. An ambulance is the best and safest way to get to the hospital.
Emergency medical services EMS personnel can check how you are doing and start life-saving medicines and other treatments right away. People who arrive by ambulance often receive faster treatment at the hospital. The 9—1—1 operator or EMS technician can give you advice. You might be told to crush or chew an aspirin if you're not allergic, unless there is a medical reason for you not to take one.
Aspirin taken during a heart attack can limit the damage to your heart and save your life. Diagnosis - Heart Attack. Blood Tests During a heart attack, heart muscle cells die and release proteins into the bloodstream. Coronary Angiography Coronary angiography an-jee-OG-ra-fee is a test that uses dye and special x rays to show the insides of your coronary arteries. Treatment - Heart Attack. Immediate Treatment Certain treatments usually are started right away if a heart attack is suspected, even before the diagnosis is confirmed.
Clot-Busting Medicines Thrombolytic medicines, also called clot busters, are used to dissolve blood clots that are blocking the coronary arteries. Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Percutaneous coronary intervention is a nonsurgical procedure that opens blocked or narrowed coronary arteries. Other Treatments for Heart Attack Other treatments for heart attack include: Medicines Medical procedures Heart-healthy lifestyle changes Cardiac rehabilitation Medicines Your doctor may prescribe one or more of the following medicines.
ACE inhibitors. ACE inhibitors lower blood pressure and reduce strain on your heart. They also help slow down further weakening of the heart muscle. Anticlotting medicines. Anticlotting medicines stop platelets from clumping together and forming unwanted blood clots. Examples of anticlotting medicines include aspirin and clopidogrel. Anticoagulants, or blood thinners, prevent blood clots from forming in your arteries.
These medicines also keep existing clots from getting larger. Beta blockers. These medicines also are used to relieve chest pain and discomfort and to help prevent another heart attack. Beta blockers also are used to treat arrhythmias irregular heartbeats. However, you can make changes related to modifiable factors.
Also, if you have a family history of heart disease, high blood pressure, obesity, or diabetes, you may have a higher risk of having a heart attack. Heart disease is the leading cause of death among most ethnic and racial groups in the United States and the most common cause of heart attacks. It accounts for Both figures are marginally higher than the overall population level of Doctors typically diagnose a heart attack after they perform a physical exam and review your medical history.
Your doctor may order a cardiac catheterization. This is a probe that doctors insert into your blood vessels through a flexible tube called a catheter.
It allows your doctor to view areas where plaque may have built up. They can also inject dye into your arteries, order an X-ray to see how the blood flows, and view any blockages. Procedures can relieve pain and help prevent another heart attack from occurring. Your doctor may also prescribe medications to treat your heart attack, including:.
Since heart attacks are often unexpected, an emergency room doctor is usually the first to treat them. Alternative treatments and lifestyle changes can improve your heart health and reduce your risk of a heart attack. A nutrient-rich, balanced diet and health-promoting lifestyle are essential in maintaining a healthy heart.
If you are with someone experiencing symptoms of a heart attack, you should call emergency services immediately. The sooner a person can get emergency medical help, the less damage their heart muscles will sustain. If you have training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation CPR , it may be beneficial to start this. Giving CPR can keep someone alive until emergency services arrive. Heart attacks can result in various complications. These abnormal rhythms are known as arrhythmias.
When your heart stops getting a supply of blood during the heart attack, some of the tissue can die. This can weaken the heart and later cause life-threatening conditions such as heart failure. Heart attacks can also affect your heart valves and cause leaks. The amount of time it takes to receive treatment and the area of damage will determine the long-term effects on your heart.
A heart attack can damage your heart muscles and impact their function. Following a heart attack, it is important to work with your healthcare team to design a recovery plan, which can include:. While there are many risk factors that you cannot control, there are some basic steps you can take to help keep your heart healthy. Coronary heart disease Coronary heart disease CHD is the leading cause of heart attacks. Your risk of developing CHD is increased by: smoking a high-fat diet diabetes high cholesterol high blood pressure hypertension being overweight or obese Find out more about the causes of CHD.
Less common causes Some less common causes are described here. Drug misuse Using stimulants such as cocaine, amphetamines speed and methamphetamines crystal meth can cause coronary arteries to narrow, restricting blood supply and triggering a heart attack. Lack of oxygen in the blood hypoxia If levels of oxygen in the blood decrease due to carbon monoxide poisoning or a loss of normal lung function, the heart will receive un-oxygenated blood.
This will result in the heart muscles being damaged, triggering a heart attack.
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