What is Heart Attack?

When the blood supply to the heart is cut off, heart attack takes place. Plaque, which is a deposit of fat, cholesterol, and other chemicals, commonly causes the obstruction in the arteries that supply the heart (coronary arteries).

What are the long term problems or complications of heart attack?

Heart attack can further lead to multiple complications as follows:

  • Irregular heartbeats
  • Heart Failure
  • Cardiac arrest

Signs & Symptoms

Not everyone who suffers from a heart attack experiences the same symptoms or symptoms that are as severe. Some people have just minor discomfort, while others experience more intense agony.

Tightness in Chest

Squeezing Sensation in Arms or chest

Pain Radiating to Neck, Jaw or Back

Increased Pain in Chest

What causes a heart attack?

The vital blood supply to your heart is provided by your coronary arteries. When you have coronary artery disease, your arteries grow narrow, which reduces blood flow. You get a heart attack when your blood supply is cut off.

During a heart attack, cholesterol is released along with other materials into the circulation. At the location of the rupture, a blood clot develops. Large clots may obstruct coronary artery blood flow and deprive the heart of oxygen and nutrients (ischemia).

The coronary artery in the heart may be totally or partially blocked in you which can lead to heart attack.

  • A total blockage indicates a myocardial infarction with ST elevation (STEMI).
  • A partial blockage indicates a myocardial infarction without ST elevation (NSTEMI)

How to treat heart attack?

Following a heart attack, you could take medications to: Prevent blood clots, Improve the function of your heart, prevent plaques by decreasing cholesterol

The coronary artery in the heart may be totally or partially blocked in you which can lead to heart attack.

  • A total blockage indicates a myocardial infarction (heart attack) with ST elevation (STEMI).
  • A partial blockage indicates a myocardial infarction (heart attack) without ST elevation (NSTEMI)

What the diagnosis tests to be conducted?

Blood will be sampled by emergency department doctors so that they may look for certain proteins or enzymes.

Doctor may examine the size of your heart and its blood arteries on an X-ray scan of your chest, as well as check for lung fluid.

With the use of this test, Doctor can determine how well your heart’s chambers and valves are pumping blood. Heart’s damage can be determined with the use of an echocardiography.

A long, thin tube (catheter) is inserted into an artery, often in your leg or groyne, to the arteries in your heart where a liquid dye is injected. On an X-ray, the dye makes the arteries transparent, exposing regions of obstruction.

The photos of your heart and chest produced by these tests. X-rays are employed in cardiac CT scans. Radio waves and a magnetic field are used in cardiac MRI to produce pictures of your heart.