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Cardio

Causes of Heart Attack

Risk factors for developing coronary artery disease and heart attack include:

  * Elderly (65 years)
  * Male
  * Diabetes
  * Family history of coronary artery disease
  * Hypertension
  * Smoking
  * Too much fat in the diet
  * Unhealthy cholesterol levels, especially LDL cholesterol and low HDL
  * Chronic kidney disease

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Signs of a Heart Attack


• Pain or pressure in the middle of your chest, arm, jaw, shoulders, neck or stomach. It may spread from one place to another.
• Feeling of tightness, crushing, aching, choking, squeezing, burning or
heartburn
• Occurs both during activity and at rest
•Lasts for more than 15 minutes
• Sweating
• Shortness of breath
• Weakness
• Nausea or vomiting
• Feeling scared
• Dizziness

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Heart Attack in 3D

 

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How is a Heart Attack treated?

Treatment of Heart Attacks include:

* Anti–platelet medications to prevent formation of blood clots in the arteries
* Anti–coagulant medications to prevent growth of blood clots in the arteries
* Coronary angiography with either percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) with or without stenting to open blocked coronary arteries
* Clot–dissolving medications to open blocked arteries
* Supplemental oxygen to increase the supply of oxygen to the heart's muscle
* Medications to decrease the need for oxygen by the heart's muscle
* Medications to prevent abnormal heart rhythms

The primary goal of treatment is to quickly open the blocked artery and restore blood flow to the heart muscle, a process called reperfusion. Once the artery is open, damage to heart muscle ceases, and the patient becomes pain free. By minimizing the extent of heart muscle damage, early reperfusion preserves the pumping function of the heart. Optimal benefit is obtained if reperfusion can be established within the first four to six hours of a Heart Attack. Delay in establishing reperfusion can result in more widespread damage to heart muscle and a greater reduction in the ability of the heart to pump blood. Patients with hearts that are unable to pump sufficient blood develop heart failure, decreased ability to exercise, and abnormal heart rhythms. Thus, the amount of healthy heart muscle remaining after a Heart Attack is the most important determinant of the future quality of life and longevity.

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What are the risk factors for Atherosclerosis and Heart Attack?

Factors that increase the risk of developing Atherosclerosis and Heart Attacks include increased blood cholesterol, high blood pressure, use of tobacco, diabetes mellitus, male gender, and a family history of coronary heart disease.


* High Blood Cholesterol: A high level of cholesterol in the blood is associated with an increased risk of Heart Attack because cholesterol is the major component of the plaques deposited in arterial walls. Cholesterol, like oil, cannot dissolve in the blood unless it is combined with special proteins called lipoproteins.


* High Blood Pressure: High blood pressure is a risk factor for developing Atherosclerosis and Heart Attack. Both high systolic pressure and high diastolic pressure  increase the risk of Heart Attack. It has been shown that controlling hypertension with medications can reduce the risk of Heart Attack. For more, please see the High Blood Pressure article.

* Tobacco Use: Tobacco and tobacco smoke contain chemicals that cause damage to blood vessel walls, accelerate the development of Atherosclerosis, and increase the risk of Heart Attack. For more, please see the Smoking and Quitting Smoking article.

* Diabetes: Both insulin dependent and non–insulin dependent diabetes mellitus are associated with accelerated Atherosclerosis throughout the body.

* Male Gender: At all ages, men are more likely than women to develop Atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease. Some scientists believe that this difference is partly due to the higher blood levels of HDL cholesterol in women than in men. However, this gender difference narrows as men and women grow older.

* Family History of Heart Disease: Individuals with a family history of coronary heart diseases have an increased risk of Heart Attack. Specifically, the risk is higher if there is a family history of early coronary heart disease, including a Heart Attack.

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