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HEART ATTACK _ MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION
Myocardial infarction occurs when the blood flow to the heart is suddenly interrupted, causing damage to the cells of the heart muscle and, at the same time, angina attacks occur.
The sudden cut in blood flow to the heart occurs due to a blockage of one or more coronary arteries (the arteries that surround the heart, supplying the heart).
Blockage of the coronary arteries is usually caused by the long-term buildup of blood fats, bad cholesterol, and other plaque-forming substances in the arterial lumen, narrowing the arteries, reducing blood flow to the heart, and causing heart failure.
And, once these plaques rupture, the platelets will immediately cluster together and form a clot, filling the already narrow artery with plaque, causing partial or total blockage of blood vessels, depriving the heart muscle of oxygen and nutrients. . And, at this point, an acute heart attack occurs with the name “Myocardial Infarction”.
Myocardial infarction is a really dangerous disease, directly threatening the life of the patient. Due to a sudden blockage of a blood vessel that supplies the heart, the heart muscle can no longer supply enough blood. If the heart muscle is completely starved of blood, the area of the heart muscle will die, causing severe chest pain. The severity of the disease depends on the extent of damage to the heart muscle caused by such blockage of the coronary arteries. Usually the heart is damaged beyond repair and begins within 30 minutes of the blockage.
Why the myocardial infarction?
CAUSES OF HEART ATTACK
- The most common cause of a heart attack is atherosclerosis, which is caused by the formation of atherosclerotic plaques that build up over time and adhere to the walls of blood vessels. Among patients with acute myocardial infarction, up to 70% of deaths are due to obstruction due to atherosclerotic plaques. The ingredients that create atheroma are fats like bad cholesterol, cell debris and certain mineral salts …
- In fact, from the age of 30 years of a person’s life, the arterial system of the body can begin to form and develop atherosclerotic plaques. This process usually takes place in silence over a period of several years to decades.
- In people with certain risk factors such as dyslipidemia, diabetes, hypertension, smoking, etc., the blood vessels are often more and more vulnerable. In addition to the increasing deposition of atherosclerotic plaques in the arteries, smoking and drug use also often cause the coronary arteries to spasm, causing arteries that are already narrowed due to the plaque in the arteries. The interior becomes narrower and even obstructed by such a constriction. A heart attack, which is already very serious, occurs in this case is often particularly serious, even truly fatal.
Here are some risk factors for a heart attack:
SOME RISK FACTORS FOR A HEART ATTACK
- Age. Men over 45 and women over 55 are more likely to have a heart attack than younger people
- Smoking, including direct smokers and cases of second-hand smoke inhalation.
- Arterial hypertension. Over time, high blood pressure can damage the arteries that supply the heart. In particular, high blood pressure will increase the risk of heart attack if the patient has other conditions such as obesity, high cholesterol, diabetes, etc.
- High cholesterol level. High levels of triglycerides or bad cholesterol in the blood increase the risk of narrowing the coronary arteries, thus increasing the risk of a heart attack.
- Overweight and obesity. A person can be considered overweight if they have a high BMI of 25 or more and obese if their BMI is 30 or more. However, there are also opinions that this index of 23 is considered overweight. The more overweight a person is, the more likely they are to have high cholesterol, high triglyceride and cholesterol levels in the blood, high blood pressure, and a higher risk of diabetes. However, these diseases are direct risk factors for heart attacks. Be aware that by losing only 10% of your body weight, you can significantly reduce these risks.
- Family history of heart attack. If you have a grandparent, parent, or sibling who had a heart attack early on, you may also be at higher risk of having a heart attack.
- Lack of physical activity. A lack of physical activity contributes to hyperlipidemia and obesity. People who exercise regularly and correctly will have better cardiovascular health.
- Stress. Mental stress can easily lead to heart attacks and myocardial infarctions.
- Use stimulants. Stimulants such as cocaine or amphetamines, etc. can cause coronary artery spasm, the direct cause of heart attacks, myocardial infarction.
- History of eclampsia. This condition causes high blood pressure during a woman’s pregnancy, which increases her risk of lifelong heart disease.
- Autoimmune diseases. Autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus can increase your risk for a heart attack.
SYMPTOMS OF A HEART ATTACK
So what symptoms can help you realize that you are having a heart attack?
To reduce the risk of dying from an acute myocardial infarction, you should be aware of the symptoms that appear in the early stages of a heart attack so that you can take timely intervention measures. Here are the main symptoms of acute myocardial infarction:
- Severe pain in the chest
- Shortness of breath
- The pain is not only in the chest, but can also radiate to the back, jaw, and other parts of the upper body. The pain lasts for more than a minute, then may go away and then come back.
- cold sweat,
- Nausea, vomiting
- Vertigo, sudden dizziness
- Heart palpitations, palpitations, palpitations
- Blood pressure may drop and it may also rise
- The exercise capacity is markedly and rapidly reduced
- Anxiety, panic
- Weak
- and the worst that can happen is death
It is important to note that not all people with acute myocardial infarction have the same symptoms and to the same degree, which can vary widely from case to case. For example, you may have only mild chest discomfort when someone else is in severe pain.
- The elderly and people with diabetes may not have any symptoms of a heart attack or may have very mild symptoms. Therefore, never dismiss the symptoms of a heart attack, even if they don’t seem serious.
- Women can have all of them, can have a lot of them, may have only a few or even none of the typical symptoms of a heart attack. Some type of pain, pressure, or discomfort in the chest is always a common symptom of a heart attack in women.
- However, whether the patient is male or female, the most common symptom in both sexes is chest pain during a heart attack. And, the more signs and symptoms you have, the more likely you are to have a heart attack.
- You must take note! Do not try to overcome your heart attack symptoms for more than 5 minutes. In this case, call emergency services immediately for help.
Many people have warning signs and symptoms hours, days, or weeks in advance. The first possible warning is angina caused by increased activity and relieved by rest. But there are also people who have a sudden heart attack. In particular, there are people who have very few warning symptoms, but when a heart attack occurs, the heart also stops beating.
So, if a heart attack does occur, what could be the consequences?
COMPLICATIONS OF A HEART ATTACK:
Complications of a heart attack are often linked to damage to the heart during a heart attack, which can lead to serious consequences such as:
- Heart failure. A heart attack can damage the heart muscle so much that the rest of the heart muscle cannot handle the job of pumping enough blood through the arteries to nourish the body. Heart failure can be temporary and then more or less reversible, but it is most often a chronic and permanent disease after the heart has suffered significant damage.
- Arrhythmia. A phenomenon known as an “electrical short circuit” can appear and develop, causing abnormal heart rhythms, even disturbances, and death.
- And, the most dangerous complication that can possibly arise is sudden cardiac arrest. If there is no warning sign that the patient’s heart has suddenly stopped beating, the patient may die if not treated immediately with a time in minutes.
WHAT SHOULD YOU DO IF YOU HAVE A HEART ATTACK?
First of all, remember that it is important to take immediate action any time you realize that you are having a heart attack and cannot wait for it to heal on its own.
- First of all, when you have a heart attack or suspect that you are having a heart attack, you should immediately call emergency medical help on your local emergency numbers.
- If there is no service to take you to the hospital, have someone drive you to the nearest hospital. Remember that you only drive to the hospital yourself when you have no other choice as this comes with a lot of risk, not only your own risk as it can easily make your condition worse. , but also the risk of causing an accident on the road and others on the road.
- Use nitroglycerin if prescribed by your doctor, calmly follow the instructions while waiting for urgent help.
- You can use aspirin to prevent blood clotting if your doctor recommends it. Because aspirin can interact with other medications, you should not take aspirin unless your doctor or emergency medical staff recommends it.
HEART ATTACK PREVENTION
And, you should also know that it’s never too late to take steps to prevent a heart attack, even if you’ve had one before. You should learn more about the cause of the disease in order to have the best prevention for you and your family.
Hopefully each of us can prevent a heart attack by taking the right precautions.
Here are some specific heart attack prevention steps anyone can take:
- Use medication. Taking the right medications as prescribed and as directed by your doctor can lower your risk of having a next heart attack and help your heart repair damage and restore function.
- Lifestyle factors. You know, maintain a reasonable weight, follow a heart healthy diet, exercise regularly with proper exercises, do not smoke, limit or stop alcohol, control stress and control blood fat , blood sugar, etc. effect on cardiovascular status, have an effective effect on the prevention of cardiovascular disease, the prevention of myocardial infarction. This content that I also clarified in previous discussions about cardiovascular disease, you can check it out to understand more details.
In short, myocardial infarction is a dangerous disease that can easily lead to death. However, if diagnosed early, it will help save the life of the ischemic heart muscle in time, and at the same time limit life-threatening complications and long-term complications later. Therefore, you should seek the help of a doctor as soon as there are signs of pathology to receive the best treatment for a heart attack.