A Visual Guide to a Heart Attack
What Is It?
When
blood can't get to your heart, your heart muscle doesn't get the oxygen it
needs. Without oxygen, its cells can be damaged or die.
The key to recovery is to get your blood
flow restored quickly. Get medical help right away if you think you're ha
Causes
Over
time, cholesterol and a fatty material called plaque can build up on the walls
inside blood vessels that take blood to your heart, called arteries. This makes
it harder for blood to flow freely. Most heart attacks happen when a piece of
this plaque breaks off. A blood clot forms around the broken-off plaque, and it
blocks the artery.
Symptoms
You may feel pain, pressure, or discomfort
in your chest. You could be short of breath, sweat, faint, or feel sick to your
sto
Symptoms in Women
Women
are more likely than men to have back or neck pain, heartburn, and shortness of
breath. They tend to have stomach trouble, including an upset stomach, feeling
queasy, and throwing up. They may also feel very tired, light-headed, or dizzy.
A couple of weeks before a heart attack, a woman might have flu-like symptoms
and sleep problems.
About
435,000 women have heart attacks in the U.S. each year. Symptoms can be so mild
they're often dismissed as something minor.
Men and women can have different symptoms. Men are more
likely to break out in a cold sweat and to feel pain move down their left arm.
What to Do
If you
or someone you're with has symptoms that might be a heart attack, call 911
right away. If it is, you're more likely to survive if you get treated within
90 minutes. While you're on the phone, the person should chew and swallow an
aspirin (unless they're allergic) to lower the risk of a blood clot. Are
they unconscious? Hands-only CPR can double their chances of survival.
Diagnosis
An EKG,
which checks your heart's electrical activity, can help doctors see if you're having
a heart attack. It can also show which artery is clogged or blocked. Doctors can also diagnose a heart
attack with blood tests that look for proteins that heart cells release when
they die.
Treatment
Doctors
will quickly act to get blood flowing to your heart again. You may get drugs
that dissolve blood clots.
You'll
likely have a procedure called a coronary angiogram. A thin tube with a tiny
balloon on the end goes through your artery. It opens up the blockage by
flattening the plaque against the walls. Most times, doctors place a small,
mesh tube called a stent in your artery to make sure it stays open.
What Puts You at Risk?
Your
odds of having a heart attack go up with age, and men are more likely to have
one than women. A family history of heart disease also increases your risk.
Smoking raises your chances of a heart attack. So does having high blood
pressure, high cholesterol levels, diabetes, and being obese. Stress, a lack of
exercise, and depression can, too.
Prevention
If you
smoke, stop. It will immediately cut your chances of a heart attack by a third.
Get
exercise and eat right. The American Heart Association recommends 30 minutes of
moderate exercise a day, 5 days a week. Eat plenty of fruits, veggies, and
whole grains to keep your arteries healthy.
Life After a Heart Attack
If
you're in the hospital, you may come home after just a few days. You can get
back to your normal daily life in a few weeks.
Cardiac
rehab can help you recover. You'll get your own fitness program and learn how
to keep up a heart-healthy lifestyle. Counselors give you support if you're
feeling down or worried about having another attack.
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