Heart Attack and Heart Failure Overview PDF

A heart attack occurs when a part of the heart muscle does not receive enough blood, leading to damage....

A heart attack occurs when a part of the heart muscle does not receive enough blood, leading to damage. Definition and Causes The primary cause is coronary artery disease, which narrows the arteries supplying blood to the heart. Chest pain that may feel like pressure, tightness, or squeezing. Discomfort that spreads to the shoulder, Symptoms arm, back, neck, jaw, or teeth. Other symptoms include cold sweat, fatigue, heartburn, nausea, shortness of breath, and sudden dizziness. Appearance of Q waves exceeding 0.04 seconds. ST elevation and wave inversion. ECG Findings ST depression. Specific leads indicate anterior or inferior infarction. Elevated blood levels of cardiac enzymes Heart Attack (Myocardial Diagnosis Cardiac Enzymes like Troponin. Infarction) Treadmill test or exercise test to detect Exercise Testing myocardial ischemia. Echocardiogram Echo study to assess heart function. Other cardiovascular conditions such as unstable angina, myocarditis, aortic dissection, stable angina, acute pericarditis, aortic stenosis, and pulmonary embolism. Differential Diagnosis Aspirin and other blood-thinning medications to reduce clotting. Nitroglycerin to widen coronary vessels. Morphine for pain relief. Beta blockers and statins to manage heart Medications function and cholesterol. Clopidogrel and heparin as additional anticoagulants. Treatment Thrombolytic drugs to dissolve existing clots. Catheterization to restore blood flow. Procedures Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) for severe cases. Heart failure occurs when the heart's pumping power is weakened, leading to inadequate blood circulation and fluid accumulation in the lungs. Definition and Impact Reduced left ventricular function; the left ventricle enlarges and cannot pump Left-Sided Heart Failure enough oxygen-rich blood. The right ventricle fails to pump blood to Types of Heart Failure the lungs for oxygenation, often caused by left-sided heart failure or lung disease. Right-Sided Heart Failure Types include diastolic and systolic heart Heart Attack and failure. Heart Failure Atherosclerosis leads to angina or heart Overview Coronary Artery Disease attacks. Increased pressure forces the heart to work harder, leading to enlargement and High Blood Pressure weakening. Valve issues from disease or congenital Abnormal Heart Valves defects increase workload on the heart. Conditions like dilated cardiomyopathy or Heart Muscle Disease myocarditis damage heart muscle. Improperly formed heart chambers Congenital Heart Disease require extra effort from healthy parts. Causes Impaired lung function forces the heart to Severe Lung Disease work harder for oxygen delivery. Contributes to hypertension and Diabetes atherosclerosis. Obesity Increases workload on the heart. Severe Anemia Hyperthyroidism Abnormal Heartbeat Irregular rhythms can be too fast, too slow, or erratic. Shortness of breath and fatigue. Swelling in ankles, legs, and abdomen. Weight gain and nocturia (need to urinate Symptoms of Heart Failure at night). Rapid or irregular heartbeat (palpitations). Heart Failure (Congestive Heart Failure) Dry cough while lying down and loss of appetite. Irregular heartbeat and sudden cardiac arrest. Heart valve problems and fluid Complications of Heart Failure accumulation in the lungs. Pulmonary hypertension and damage to kidneys and liver. Stage A: High risk of developing heart failure due to factors like family history, hypertension, diabetes, or previous heart issues. Stage B: Diagnosis of systolic left ventricular dysfunction without symptoms; often with an ejection fraction (EF) of 40% or less. Stages of Heart Failure Stage C: Patients have heart failure with previous signs or symptoms, including shortness of breath and edema. Stage D: Advanced heart failure with persistent symptoms despite treatment. Assessment of medical history including diabetes, chest pain, hypertension, cholesterol levels, and family history of heart disease. Diagnosis Inquiry about tobacco use, alcohol consumption, and previous chemotherapy or radiation. Ejection fraction (EF) measures the percentage of blood the left ventricle pumps out with each heartbeat. Importance of Ejection Fraction Normal EF ranges from 53% to 70%. An EF of 65% indicates that 65% of blood is pumped out during each heartbeat. Blood tests, chest X-ray, stress tests, ECG, echocardiogram, and cardiac Common Tests for Heart Failure catheterization. Regular exercise, cessation of tobacco use, treatment for hypertension and high Stage A Treatment cholesterol, and avoiding alcohol. Includes Stage A treatments plus ACE inhibitors or angiotensin II receptor blockers, beta blockers for heart attack patients, and potential surgery for coronary artery blockage. Stage B Treatment Treatment by Stage Incorporates treatments from Stages A and B, with additional medications to manage heart rate and fluid retention, and possible pacemaker therapy. Stage C Treatment Focuses on managing coexisting conditions such as diabetes, kidney disease, anemia, hypertension, asthma, chronic lung disease, and thyroid disease. Stage D Treatment