Heart Attack Causes and Symptoms

What is a Heart Attack?

• A heart attack, also known as myocardial infarction, occurs when the blood flow to the heart is blocked, causing damage to the heart muscle.
• This blockage is often caused by a blood clot that forms in a coronary artery, which supplies blood to the heart.

Causes of Heart Attack

• Coronary artery disease (CAD): The buildup of plaque in the coronary arteries, which can lead to blockages.
• Blood clots: Form in the coronary arteries, blocking blood flow to the heart.
• Other factors: High blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, diabetes, obesity, and family history.

Symptoms of Heart Attack

• Chest pain or discomfort: Often felt in the center of the chest, but can also be felt in the arms, back, neck, jaw, or stomach.
• Shortness of breath: Feeling like you can't catch your breath or feeling winded even when sitting still.
• Cold sweats: Breaking out in a cold sweat, even if you're not hot or exercising.
• Lightheadedness or dizziness: Feeling like you might pass out.
• Fatigue: Feeling extremely tired or weak, even after resting.
• Palpitations: Irregular heartbeat or feeling like your heart is racing.
• Coughing or wheezing: If you're experiencing heart failure, you may cough or wheeze due to fluid buildup in the lungs.

Diagnosis of Heart Attack

• Electrocardiogram (ECG): Measures the heart's electrical activity to detect signs of a heart attack.
• Blood tests: Check for elevated levels of certain enzymes, such as troponin, which are released when the heart muscle is damaged.
• Imaging tests: Such as echocardiograms or coronary angiograms, which can show the extent of the damage to the heart.

Treatment of Heart Attack

• Medications: To dissolve blood clots, reduce pain, and lower blood pressure.
• Angioplasty: A procedure to open blocked coronary arteries using a balloon or stent.
• Thrombectomy: A procedure to remove blood clots from the coronary arteries.
• Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG): A surgical procedure to bypass blocked coronary arteries.

Prevention of Heart Attack

• Lifestyle changes: Quitting smoking, exercising regularly, and maintaining a healthy diet.
• Managing risk factors: Controlling high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes.
• Medications: Taking medications as prescribed to lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

What is a Heart Attack?

• A heart attack occurs when the blood flow to the heart is blocked, causing damage to the heart muscle, also known as myocardial infarction.
• Blockage is often caused by a blood clot that forms in a coronary artery, which supplies blood to the heart.

Causes of Heart Attack

• Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the buildup of plaque in the coronary arteries, leading to blockages.
• Blood clots form in the coronary arteries, blocking blood flow to the heart.
• Other factors contributing to heart attack include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, diabetes, obesity, and family history.

Symptoms of Heart Attack

• Chest pain or discomfort is often felt in the center of the chest, but can also be felt in the arms, back, neck, jaw, or stomach.
• Shortness of breath is a feeling of being unable to catch your breath or feeling winded even when sitting still.
• Cold sweats, lightheadedness, or dizziness may occur.
• Fatigue is feeling extremely tired or weak, even after resting.
• Palpitations are irregular heartbeat or feeling like your heart is racing.
• Coughing or wheezing may occur due to fluid buildup in the lungs in cases of heart failure.

Diagnosis of Heart Attack

• Electrocardiogram (ECG) measures the heart's electrical activity to detect signs of a heart attack.
• Blood tests check for elevated levels of certain enzymes, such as troponin, released when the heart muscle is damaged.
• Imaging tests, such as echocardiograms or coronary angiograms, show the extent of the damage to the heart.

Treatment of Heart Attack

• Medications dissolve blood clots, reduce pain, and lower blood pressure.
• Angioplasty is a procedure to open blocked coronary arteries using a balloon or stent.
• Thrombectomy is a procedure to remove blood clots from the coronary arteries.
• Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is a surgical procedure to bypass blocked coronary arteries.

Prevention of Heart Attack

• Lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking, exercising regularly, and maintaining a healthy diet, can help prevent heart attacks.
• Managing risk factors, such as controlling high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes, is important.
• Taking medications as prescribed to lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels can also help prevent heart attacks.