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Signs You're Having a Heart Attack
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Find out the common signs of a heart attack. Learn how
symptoms may vary among different groups of people.
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Understanding How the
Heart Works
The heart is the hardest
working muscle in the body. The average heart beats 100,000 times a day, day
and night, to supply oxygen and nutrients throughout the body. Blood pumped by
the heart also shuttles waste products such as carbon dioxide to the lungs so
it can be eliminated from the body. Proper heart function is essential to
support life.
What is Heart Disease?
Coronary artery
disease (CAD), commonly known as heart disease, is a condition in which
cholesterol, calcium, and other fats accumulate in the arteries that supply
blood to the heart. This material hardens forming a plaque that blocks blood
flow to the heart. When a coronary artery narrows due to plaque buildup or some
other cause, the heart muscle is starved for oxygen and a person experiences chest
pain known as angina.
The Link Between Heart Disease and Heart Attack
Sometimes a
piece of a fatty plaque in a coronary artery breaks off or ruptures. When this
happens, a blood clot forms in the area in response to the injury. The clot may
block the flow of blood through the artery, causing a heart attack. Sadly, some
heart attacks lead to the heart stopping completely, a situation known as
sudden cardiac arrest. The heart may also start to beat in a very dangerous
rhythm called ventricular tachycardia, which is potentially fatal.
Heart Disease: The Number-One Killer
Heart disease is the leading killer in the United States and
affects an estimated 14 million adults. Heart disease is responsible for What Are the Risk Factors for Heart Disease?
Certain risk factors
increase the chances of developing heart disease. More common heart disease
risk factors include:
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High cholesterol
·
Diabetes
·
Heart disease in a close
blood relative
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Obesity
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High blood pressure
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Smoking
·
Peripheral artery
disease (PAD)
What Are Lifestyle Risk
Factors for Heart Disease?
Certain lifestyle
factors and choices increase the risk of heart disease including:
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Eating a diet high in
fat
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Being "type A"
(impatient, aggressive, and/or competitive)
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Being physically
inactive
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Experiencing emotional
distress or being "stressed out"
Sudden Cardiac Death - A Fatal Consequence of
Heart Disease
Heart disease
symptoms differ from person to person. Those who experience chest pain or
shortness of breath have a chance to receive life-saving treatment in a
hospital. For others, unfortunately, sudden cardiac arrest and death are the
first symptoms of heart disease they experience
What Are Common Symptoms
of Heart Disease?
Many people with heart
disease notice symptoms during physical exertion or exercise. The heart needs
more oxygen and nutrients during physical exertion, so people with heart
disease may notice symptoms when they are active. Symptoms of heart disease may
include:
·
Jaw pain
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Chest pain
·
Back pain (typically
left-sided)
Shortness of breathWhat Are Other
Symptoms of Heart Disease?
Symptoms of heart
disease may also include:
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Nausea
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Lightheadedness,
dizziness
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Abdominal pain
·
Irregular heartbeat
·
Weakness (especially at
rest)
What Are the Heart Disease Symptoms in Women,
Seniors, and People with Diabetes?
Certain groups
of people with heart disease experience atypical symptoms. Many women, people
with diabetes, and elderly individuals do not experience pain as a symptom of
heart disease. People in those groups are more likely to report fatigue or a
general feeling of malaise as a symptom of heart disease.
What is an
Electrocardiogram (EKG)?
Electricity flows
through heart cells to stimulate contraction of the heart muscle. People who
have heart disease have hearts that do not conduct electricity normally. An
electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG) is a quick, painless, noninvasive test that
assesses the electrical behavior of the heart. An EKG is able to detect many
heart conditions including:
·
Current heart attack
·
Past history of heart
attack
·
Heart rhythm
disturbances
·
Blood electrolyte
abnormalities
·
Unstable angina
·
Congenital heart defects
·
Conditions involving
cardiac inflammation (pericarditis and myocarditis)
What is a Stress Test?
Symptoms of
heart disease are often present during physical exertion, because the heart is
stressed and doesn't receive sufficient oxygen and nutrients. A stress test
observes the behavior of the heart while the patient is walking or running on a
treadmill. The patient is hooked up to an EKG machine to detect the heart's
activity before, during, and after the stress test. The test is 60% to 70%
accurate in detecting blocked coronary arteries. Sometimes, a patient may be
too weak or deconditioned to perform a stress test. In that case, the doctor
can administer medications that simulate the heart activity during exercise.
The patient remains stationary. The doctor may also use nuclear imaging or
ultrasound to visualize the behavior of the heart.
What is Echocardiography?
An
echocardiogram is an image of the heart that is created with sound waves. This
test can detect heart disease and observe the function of the heart. A normal,
healthy heart pumps 50% to 60% of the blood with each heartbeat into the body.
A weaker heart will pump less blood with each heartbeat. This is detectable
with an echocardiogram and may be a sign of heart disease.
Why Use Computerized Tomography Tests (CT
scans)?
A cardiac
computerized tomography (CT) scan is a test that uses X-rays to obtain detailed
images of cardiac blood vessels. The test can detect narrowing of blood vessels
and is useful in showing the absence of heart disease.
What Makes Coronary Angiography a Superior Test
Compared to the Others?
A coronary
angiogram is a test that provides sophisticated X-ray images of the heart.
During the test, doctors advance a catheter into the heart after it is inserted
into a vein in the groin. A substance called contrast is injected into the
coronary arteries so that they can be imaged with X-rays. These X-ray images
show the location and severity of blockages in coronary arteries.
There is No Single Treatment Method for Heart
Disease
Heart disease
treatment differs from person to person. There is no such thing as one uniform
treatment that works for everyone who has heart disease. Most heart disease
patients are treated with a combination of diet, exercise, and other lifestyle
changes in addition to medication.
What are Some Common
Medications Used to Treat Heart Disease?
A variety of medications
may be used to treat heart disease. Medication options include:
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Angiotensin-converting
enzyme (ACE) inhibitors decrease strain on the heart by opening blood
vessels.
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Beta
blockers reduce strain on the heart by decreasing heart rate and blood
pressure.
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Calcium channel blockers
(CCBs) increase the efficiency of the heart and decrease heart rate.
·
Nitroglycerin opens
arteries in the heart allowing for increased blood flow.
·
Statins alter blood
lipids (fats in the blood that make up cholesterol) and decrease the risk of
plaque buildup in the arteries.
What Are Some of the
Procedures Performed to Treat Heart Disease?
In addition to lifestyle
changes and medications, several procedures may be used to treat heart disease
including:
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Coronary (balloon)
angioplasty is a procedure in which a balloon-tipped catheter is advanced
to the site of the blockage and expanded to open the clogged artery. This
procedure improves blood flow.
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A stent is a small
metallic tube that is placed during coronary balloon angioplasty to keep a
newly-opened coronary artery open.
The Key to Preventing Heart Disease is Through
a Healthy Lifestyle, Starting with a Healthy Diet.
Some heart
disease risk factors, such as genetics, cannot be controlled. However, many
other heart disease risk factors can be modified. Eating heart-healthy foods
can reduce the risk of heart disease. Heart-healthy foods include fruits, and
vegetables. Cholesterol-lowering foods such as beans, soy, chickpeas, garlic,
avocados, and olive oil are beneficial. Boost levels of HDL "good"
cholesterol by eating nuts. Walnuts, pecans, and almonds are good choices, but
limit your serving to a small handful as nuts are high in calories. It's a good
idea to eat fish and seafood a few times a week to boost intake of
heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Avoid sugary foods as they promote heart
disease and other chronic conditions.
Lifestyle Changes: Using Alcohol in Moderation
and Quitting Smoking
Controlling
your alcohol intake and avoiding smoking are two easy ways to reduce the risk
of heart disease. To optimize levels of HDL "good" cholesterol, women
should have no more than one alcoholic drink per day while men should have no
more than two alcoholic drinks per day. A person who smokes and then quits
reduces his or her risk of heart disease to the level of that of a nonsmoker 3
years after quitting.
Lower the Risk of Heart
Disease with Exercise, Aspirin, and by Controlling High Blood Pressure and
diabetes.
A few simple measures
can help reduce heart disease risk. Speak with your doctor before implementing
these measures to make sure they are safe for you.
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Daily low-dose aspirin
therapy has been shown to reduce the risk of heart attack.
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Exercise for at least 30
minutes 3 to 5 days a week to optimize blood lipids (lowers "bad" LDL
and raises "good" HDL cholesterol), lower blood pressure, and
strengthen the heart muscle.
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If you have diabetes or
high blood pressure (or both), control them. High blood pressure and high blood
sugar are damaging to the heart.
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Reviewed by Robert J. Bryg, MD on Wednesday, July 27, 2016
Reviewed by Robert J. Bryg, MD on Wednesday, July 27, 2016
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Heart Disease:
Symptoms, Signs, and Causes
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Sources: 
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This tool does not
provide medical advice
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