Also known as Myocardial Infarction, Acute Coronary syndrome.

ABOUT THE DISEASE

A heart attack happens when there is a blockage in the coronary arteries that supply blood to heart muscles leading to their damage or death. This is caused due to a lack of oxygen which is carried in the blood. Heart attacks are usually treatable when treatment is offered quickly. However, without treatment, heart attacks can be fatal.

SYMPTOMS

• • Almost always start with a chest discomfort, which may feel like pain or pressure coupled with heaviness or burning (also called Angina)
• • Pain or discomfort in the neck, shoulders, lower jaw, arms, upper back or abdomen.
• • Shortness of breath
• • Nausea and/or vomiting
• • Unusual sweating
• • Fatigue
• • Heart palpitations

DIAGNOSIS

- ECG
- Echocardiogram
- Nuclear imaging
- Coronary Angiography

CAUSES

Common risk factors for a heart attack include:
- Smoking
- Diabetes
- Age-(men older than 45 years & women older than 55 years of age)
- High cholesterol level
- High blood pressure
- Hereditary factors - Family history of heart attack
- Atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries)
- Lack of exercise
- Stress
- Obesity
- Sex (Males have a higher tendency to suffer from this disease)

TREATMENT METHODS

In most cases an urgent care is required - mostly the patient is taken into an intensive care unit, where the first line of treatment is to prevent any further clots to form / break the clot (to be given within the first three hours post the attack - thrombolytic therapy) and reduce pain along with providing the much needed oxygen.

This is mostly followed with an Angioplasty to place a stent in the affected artery and in some cases might require an open heart surgery/CABG.

You may also like to learn about:

Heart block
Cardiomegaly
Diabetes mellitus
Heart valve disease
Cardiomyopathy
Angina