Heart Attack Symptoms ! Online Medical Advice on Heart Attack


	Heart Attack Symptoms Heart attack symptoms are often difficult to identify, but are vital to recognize and act on fast. A heart attack involves blockages of the blood vessels supplying the heart resulting in ischemia (lack of blood supply). If the ischemic event lasts for long enough this will lead to permanent death of the heart tissue and muscle and serious cardiovascular disease. This is also referred to as myocardial infarction or MI and prevents the heart from pumping effectively, which in turn leads to heart failure or possibly cardiac arrest. Symptoms of heart attack Heart attack symptoms can be very non-specific and may not even be present. Some of the more common symptoms include: Central chest pain (also tightness or heaviness) Shortness of breath Nausea and/or vomiting Sweating Radiation of chest pain into arms or neck Lightheadedness or dizziness Women heart attack symptoms may vary slightly with many not suffering from as much chest pain, or possibly none at all. If you have any of these symptoms and think you may be at risk of having a heart attack it is important to seek medical advice as soon as possible. Investigations for heart attack Investigations for heart attack are similar to those for angina and involve identifying whether the cause of the chest pain is due to the heart or something else. The most common investigation performed on someone having a heart attack would be an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG). This helps to identify any ischemia (lack of blood supply) occuring to the heart muscle, which may result in myocardial infarction (death of part of the heart muscle). A chest x-ray is also routinely performed on people with pain in the chest as this can help to rule out some types of lung disease. Blood tests are also very important as they can identify certain markers that the cardiac muscle releases when it is damaged by ischemia. Treatment of heart attack Treatments for coronary artery disease involve the attempt to unblock the blood vessels supplying the heart. In all cases it is important that treatment is started rapidly (i.e. at the onset of heart attack symptoms), as a delay increases the risk of heart muscle death or myocardial infarction. Medication to open up coronary (or heart) vessels is often a first line treatment. These are commonly referred to as GTN or glyceryl trinitrate sprays or tablets. Blood thinning medications are also commonly used as these reduce the risk of clots in the blood which may increase the blockage in the coronary vessels. Some of these medications include aspirin, clopidogrel, clexane or heparin. The final stage of treatment involves the attempts to unblock the coronary vessels. This is done either through a coronary angiogram and stent insertion (angioplasty) or with thrombolysis. Coronary angioplasty is the gold standard for treating coronary artery disease and involves inserting small wires through vessels from the groin up into the heart. These are then used to help visualise any blockages and can then be unblocked by various methods. Thrombolysis is also still sometimes used when coronary angiography is not available, or if the patient has contraindications to the procedure. Thrombolysis involves the injection of an anti-thrombotic (anti-clotting) agent into the patients blood stream which helps to unblock the coronary vessels. Prognosis of heart attack Coronary artery disease or heart attack has a reasonable prognosis if treated quickly. However if a vessel remains blocked for too long then myocardial infarction is very likely and the heart muscle will not function as effectively. It is important to reduce your cardiac risk factors as this will reduce the risk of having another myocardial infarction. Follow-up should be arranged through a cardiologist (heart doctor) who will help to minimize risk of further coronary artery disease.
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