Heart Attack
Heart attack, the common name for myocardial infarction, is a disease
that occurs when the blood supply to a part of the heart is interrupted,
causing death of heart tissue. The resulting oxygen shortage causes
damage and potential death of heart tissue. It is a medical emergency,
and the leading cause of death for both men and women all over the
world.
Warning Signs of a Heart Attack
The American Heart Association states that the body will likely
send one or more of these warning signals of a heart attack. Some heart
attacks are sudden and intense — the "movie heart
attack," where no one doubts what's happening. But most heart
attacks start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort. Often people affected
aren't sure what's wrong and wait too long before getting help. Here
are signs that can mean a heart attack is happening:
- Chest discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort
in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or
that goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure,
squeezing, fullness or pain.
- Discomfort in other areas of the upper body. Symptoms
can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck,
jaw or stomach.
- Shortness of breath. May occur with or without
chest discomfort.
- Other signs: These may include breaking out in a cold
sweat, nausea or lightheadedness
If you think you're having a heart attack, call 9-1-1
or your emergency medical system immediately.
Hear Attack Risk Factors
The American heart association describes the following risk factors:
What are the major risk factors that can't be changed?
- Increasing age — Over 83 percent of
people who die of coronary heart disease are 65 or older. At older
ages, women who have heart attacks are more likely than men are to
die from them within a few weeks.
- Male sex (gender) — Men have a greater risk
of heart attack than women do, and they have attacks earlier in life.
Even after menopause, when women's death rate from heart disease
increases, it's not as great as men's.
- Heredity (including Race) — Children
of parents with heart disease are more likely to develop it themselves.
African Americans have more severe high blood pressure than Caucasians
and a higher risk of heart disease. Heart disease risk is also higher
among Mexican Americans, American Indians, native Hawaiians and some
Asian Americans. This is partly due to higher rates of obesity and
diabetes. Most people with a strong family history of heart disease
have one or more other risk factors. Just as you can't control your
age, sex and race, you can't control your family history. Therefore,
it's even more important to treat and control any other risk factors
you have.
What are the major risk factors you can modify, treat or control
by changing your lifestyle or taking medicine?
- Tobacco smoke — Smokers' risk of developing
coronary heart disease is 2–4 times that of nonsmokers.
Cigarette smoking is a powerful independent risk factor for sudden
cardiac death in patients with coronary heart disease; smokers have
about twice the risk of nonsmokers. Cigarette smoking also acts with
other risk factors to greatly increase the risk for coronary heart
disease. People who smoke cigars or pipes seem to have a higher risk
of death from coronary heart disease (and possibly stroke) but their
risk isn't as great as cigarette smokers'. Exposure to other people's
smoke increases the risk of heart disease even for nonsmokers.
- High blood cholesterol — As blood cholesterol
rises, so does risk of coronary heart disease. When other risk factors
(such as high blood pressure and tobacco smoke) are present, this
risk increases even more. A person's cholesterol level is also affected
by age, sex, heredity and diet.
- High blood pressure — High blood pressure
increases the heart's workload, causing the heart to thicken and
become stiffer. It also increases your risk of stroke, heart attack,
kidney failure and congestive heart failure. When high blood pressure
exists with obesity, smoking, high blood cholesterol levels or diabetes,
the risk of heart attack or stroke increases several times.
- Physical inactivity — An inactive lifestyle
is a risk factor for coronary heart disease. Regular, moderate-to-vigorous
physical activity helps prevent heart and blood vessel disease. The
more vigorous the activity, the greater your benefits. However, even
moderate-intensity activities help if done regularly and long term.
Exercise can help control blood cholesterol, diabetes and obesity,
as well as help lower blood pressure in some people.
- Obesity and overweight — People who have excess
body fat — especially if a lot of it is at the waist — are
more likely to develop heart disease and stroke even if they have
no other risk factors. Excess weight increases the heart's work.
It also raises blood pressure and blood cholesterol and triglyceride
levels, and lowers HDL ("good") cholesterol levels. It
can also make diabetes more likely to develop. Many obese and overweight
people may have difficulty losing weight. But by losing even as few
as 10 pounds, you can lower your heart disease risk.
- Diabetes mellitus — Diabetes seriously increases
your risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Even when glucose
(blood sugar) levels are under control, diabetes increases the
risk of heart disease and stroke, but the risks are even greater
if blood sugar is not well controlled. About three-quarters of people
with diabetes die of some form of heart or blood vessel disease.
If you have diabetes, it's extremely important to work with your
healthcare provider to manage it and control any other risk factors
you can.
What other factors contribute to heart disease risk?
- Individual response to stress may be a contributing
factor. Some scientists have noted a relationship between coronary
heart disease risk and stress in a person's life, their health behaviors
and socioeconomic status. These factors may affect established risk
factors. For example, people under stress may overeat, start smoking
or smoke more than they otherwise would.
- Drinking too much alcohol can raise blood pressure,
cause heart failure and lead to stroke. It can contribute to high
triglycerides, cancer and other diseases, and produce irregular heartbeats.
It contributes to obesity, alcoholism, suicide and accidents.
The risk of heart disease in people who drink moderate amounts
of alcohol (an average of one drink for women or two drinks for men per day)
is lower than in nondrinkers. One drink is defined as 1-1/2 fluid ounces
(fl oz) of 80-proof spirits (such as bourbon, Scotch, vodka, gin, etc.),
1 fl oz of 100-proof spirits, 4 fl oz of wine or 12 fl oz of beer. It's not recommended
that nondrinkers start using alcohol or that drinkers increase the amount
they drink.
Heart Attack Prevention
A heart attack can often be prevented by following a
heart-healthy lifestyle.
- Do not smoke or use tobacco products
- Exercise
- Eat a heart healthy diet
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Get regular health Screenings
Heart Articles:
Attacking the Heart Attack
It's hard to remember that a heart attack was once a death sentence.
These days, nearly 4 out of 5 heart attack victims survive.
Read Full Story: USNews.com: Attacking the heart attack
Heart Attack: What to Do if you are Alone
This is a powerpoint presentation on what you can do if you are alone
and experiencing a heart attack.
View PowerPoint
Presentation: 
Heart Attack: What to Do if you are Alone
What Happens During a Heart Attack
The heart muscle requires a constant supply of oxygen-rich blood to
nourish it. The coronary arteries provide the heart with this critical
blood supply.
Read Full Story: WebMD: What Happens During a Heart Attack
Nine Factors that Affect your Heart's Health
Nine risk factors account for 90% of the heart disease in every population
on earth, says Yusuf, a global heart specialist at McMaster University
in Toronto.
Read Full Story: Nine Factors that Affect your Heart's Health
Healthy Gums, Healthy Heart?
Researchers have found a link between gum disease and increased risk
for atherosclerosis, the build-up of plaque in the walls of the arteries
that can lead to heart attack and stroke.
Read Full Story: Healthy Gums, Healthy Heart?
'Next Frontier' in Heart Disease: Undoing it
If the research succeeds, any one of the treatments could turn back
the clock on decades of cholesterol buildup, without bypass surgery
or balloon angioplasty.
Read Full Story: 'Next Frontier' in Heart Disease: Undoing it
