0 likes | 14 Views
A heart attack, also known as a myocardial infarction, occurs when blood flow to a part of the heart is blocked, leading to damage or death of heart muscle cells. Symptoms can include chest pain, shortness of breath, and nausea. Immediate medical attention is crucial to minimize damage and improve outcomes. Preventive measures include lifestyle changes such as a healthy diet, regular exercise, and avoiding smoking. Understanding the signs and risk factors for heart attacks is essential for early detection and prevention.
E N D
Heart Attack A heart attack, medically known as a myocardial infarction (MI), occurs when the blood flow to a part of the heart muscle is blocked or reduced for an extended period. The blockage is usually caused by a buildup of plaque (atherosclerosis) in the coronary arteries, which supply oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle.
Definition A heart attack, also known as a myocardial infarction (MI), occurs when blood flow to a part of the heart muscle is blocked. This blockage is often caused by a buildup of plaque in the coronary arteries, leading to a lack of oxygen and nutrients to the heart muscle.
Symptoms Common symptoms of a heart attack include chest pain or discomfort (often described as pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain that may spread to the arms, neck, jaw, or back), shortness of breath, nausea, lightheadedness, and sweating. However, symptoms can vary, and not everyone experiences chest pain.
Risk Factors Several factors can increase the risk of a heart attack, including smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, diabetes, a sedentary lifestyle, a family history of heart disease, and stress.
Causes Most heart attacks are caused by a blockage in one or more of the coronary arteries, which supply oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle. This blockage is often due to the buildup of plaque (atherosclerosis) in the arteries.
Diagnosis Diagnosis of a heart attack typically involves a combination of medical history, physical examination, blood tests (such as cardiac enzymes), electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG), echocardiogram, and possibly other imaging tests (such as a coronary angiogram).
Treatment Immediate treatment for a heart attack often involves medications to help dissolve blood clots (thrombolytics), procedures to restore blood flow to the heart (such as angioplasty and stenting), and medications to relieve symptoms and prevent further complications (such as aspirin, beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, and statins). In some cases, surgery (such as coronary artery bypass grafting) may be necessary
Complications Complications of a heart attack can include arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats), heart failure (when the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body's needs), cardiogenic shock (a severe form of heart failure), and sudden cardiac arrest (when the heart suddenly stops beating).
Thanks Alshifa Healthcare Services Email:- support@alshifahealthcareservices.com Mob:- 7669900900