Definition Of Heart Attack - Heart attack is a condition that occurs when blood supply to the heart is inhibited. This is an emergency medical condition that is usually caused by blood clots or fat accumulation, cholesterol, and other elements. Disorders of blood flow to the heart can damage or destroy the heart muscle and can be fatal. In the medical world, heart attacks are also called myocardial infarction.
The following are symptoms that may appear in patients with heart attacks.
- Hard to breathe.
- Pain or pain in the chest.
- Feeling weak and dizzy.
- Very restless or anxious.
Heart attacks are not dependent on the severity of chest pain that is felt. The chest pain that is felt does not necessarily occur in all people who feel heart disease. Sometimes the pain is mild and misinterpreted as a common digestive disorder, such as gastric ( ulcer ) pain. Conversely, not all chest pain is the result of a heart attack.
Therefore, it is important for us to always be aware of these symptoms. Immediately consult a doctor to get a quick and proper treatment.
Cause of Heart Attack
The main cause of heart attack is coronary heart disease. Coronary heart disease occurs due to blockage of the main blood vessels that supply blood to the heart (coronary arteries). This blockage is caused by the accumulation of cholesterol in the form of plaque attached to the walls of blood vessels.
Cracked plaque will result in blood clots. Finally, this blood clot will block the supply of blood and oxygen to the heart through the coronary vessels. This condition eventually leads to heart attack. Several factors that can increase the risk of coronary heart disease, among others:
- Smoke.
- Diabetes .
- High cholesterol.
- High blood pressure .
- The habit of eating fatty foods.
- Overweight or obese.
Treatment of Heart Attack
A heart attack is an emergency medical condition that must be dealt with promptly. Immediately to the nearest hospital if you or someone is suspected of having a heart attack.
For the first treatment, immediately take aspirin with a normal dose of 300 mg, but beforehand make sure that the patient is not allergic to aspirin. These drugs can help thin the blood and reduce the risk of further heart attack.
Treatments given to heart attack patients are drugs to dissolve blood clots and surgical procedures to restore blood flow to heart. Treatment will be adjusted with the severity of heart attack patients.
Severe or late heart attacks can be handled can cause serious complications and even result in death. Complications that occur can occur immediately after a heart attack. Here are some complications that can occur due to a heart attack.
- Heart failure . This condition occurs when the heart can not pump blood to the body effectively. Heart failure occurs because the heart muscle has been permanently damaged by a heart attack.
- Arrhythmias . Conditions when the heart rate becomes abnormal. The heart beat faster until finally stopped beating and cardiac arrest or cardiac arrest .
- Cardiogenic shock . Conditions when the heart muscle is badly damaged and can no longer supply blood to the body properly. This causes the body function does not work properly.
- Heart rupture / cracks . Conditions when the muscles, walls, or heart valves have cracked.
Patients with heart attacks with complications often die before they reach the hospital.
Recovery and Life Opportunities
A person can recover from a heart attack depending on the extent of damage to the heart muscle that occurs. Some take several months and some take just a few weeks. The purpose of the recovery process is:
- Reduce the risk of recurrence of heart attack. This can be done with lifestyle changes that patients themselves. Including changes in diet and consumption of drugs.
- Restore physical fitness. This is so you can get back to doing activities according to your needs.
Death often occurs before the patient reaches the hospital, or within a month after the patient has a heart attack. If the patient survives for a month afterwards, they are likely to survive very well.
The chances of a person's life who have had a heart attack depend on several things. First is the age of the patient. If the age of people who have a heart attack older, the possibility of complications will increase.
Second, the severity of heart attacks also affect the chances of one's life. The most important is how severe the damage to the heart muscle that occurs. While the third, the time it takes a person until he gets help when having a heart attack. The longer the heart attack handling, then the chances of life will be reduced.