What is heart attack?

Heart attack, medically called myocardial infarction, is a serious heart condition wherein the blood flow to the heart gets blocked. Chest pain due to partial blockage of blood flow, commonly called angina, is a warning sign of a more severe heart attack, if left untreated. Complete blockage of blood flow due to a blood clot may cause serious results, including death.

What causes heart attack?

A group of blood vessels, called coronary arteries, deliver a generous supply of blood and oxygen to the heart. Any fatty deposits and/or blood clot in these blood vessels can partially or completely block the blood flow to the heart, causing a heart attack.

Who is more prone to heart attack? Can heart attack be prevented?

The risk of heart attack is higher if you have:

• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol levels
• Diabetes
• Lifestyle-related risk factors, such as low physical activity, increased body weight, smoking and excessive alcohol intake.

However, the good news is that all the risk factors of heart attack can be prevented or controlled. Below tips can help reduce the risk of heart attack:

• Be physically active – aim for at least 30 minutes of exercise everyday.
• Quit/reduce smoking and alcohol intake.
• Manage your blood pressure, cholesterol levels and diabetes by taking prescribed medications and controlling diet.

What are the heart attack symptoms and warning signs?

The warning signs may vary depending on whether it is a mild or severe attack. Also, the signs may differ from person to person. They include:

• Uncomfortable pressure, pain, tightness, heaviness or squeezing kind of feeling in the middle of the chest region, lasting for a few minutes or in a pattern of going and coming back
• Chest pain or discomfort from the chest, spreading to the jaw, neck, arm, shoulder or back
• Feeling weak and light-headed (dizziness)
• Shortness of breath
• Sweating and nausea

What to do if you think you have a heart attack? (First aid for heart attack)

Always remember heart attack is an EMERGENCY. The chances of surviving a heart attack are high with timely medical attention. If you experience any of the above warning signs:

• STOP whatever you are doing.
• Call a nearest heart emergency center. If you are in Hyderabad, call 105910 Yashoda 24 hours emergency.
• If you are not able to call, drive attention from people around you.
• A paramedic can assist with emergency medicines and/or CPR  (cardio pulmonary resuscitation) until ambulance arrives.

How is heart attack diagnosed?

The diagnosis of heart attack is done on the basis of:

• Blood tests.
• A detailed medical history
• An electrocardiogram (ECG)
• An angiogram: A routinely performed procedure to identify the narrowed or blocked coronary arteries. Using local anaesthesia, a long, flexible tube is passed inside the artery of wrist or groin region, up to the heart. The narrowed/blocked areas are then identified with a special dye and a series of X-rays. The entire procedure takes less than an hour.

How can heart attack be treated?

When a patient visits with heart attack symptoms, medications are given to bring back normal blood flow and to relieve the pain and anxiety. In many cases, surgery may be required to get back the proper blood flow to the heart.

• Coronary angioplasty and stenting (PTCA):

  After angiogram, a balloon along with a soft guide wire is pushed to the site of blockage. The balloon is then inflated which opens the blocked vessel. A stent, which is a wire mesh, is then placed to keep the artery open.

• Coronary artery bypass graft, CABG (Heart bypass surgery)

  In this procedure a piece of healthy artery or vein (usually from leg or chest) is used to create a bypass for blood flow over a blocked coronary artery.

What is the cost for angioplasty in Hyderabad?

Patients with heart attack are best managed at an advanced cardiac centre with state-of-art technology and by well-experienced cardiologists and cardiac surgeons. Check with your insurance provider if you are eligible for the coverage. In general, the cost of angioplasty in Hyderabad ranges between  1,20,000/- and 1,50,000/-. The actual cost may vary depending upon:

 

• Type and number of stent’s used
• Presence of other health complications
• Hospital infrastructure and technology used
• Availability of skilled surgeons and advanced techniques
• Length of hospital stay and category of room opted

How fast is the recovery after a heart attack?

• Depending upon your condition, your doctor will advise you to slowly return to normal physical activity and diet.
• Adhere to the instructions recommended by your doctor to ensure a faster and complete recovery.
• Maintain the lifestyle changes recommended by your cardiologist and dietician.
• Continue the medications, as suggested by your cardiologist, to keep the risk of another heart attack to the minimum.

To know more about heart attack and its management, you can request for a call back and our experts will call you and answer all your queries.

Our informative blog on heart attack:

• What is the difference between Heart attack and Cardiac arrest?

References:

• American Heart Association. What is a Heart Attack? Available at: http://www.heart.org/idc/groups/heart-public/@wcm/@hcm/documents/downloadable/ucm_300314.pdf.Accessed on 9th December 2017.
• Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. Heart attack. Available at: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heart-attack/symptoms-causes/syc-20373106.Accessed on 9th December 2017.
• Merck and the Merck Manuals. Acute Coronary Syndromes (Heart Attack; Myocardial Infarction; Unstable Angina). Available at:http://www.merckmanuals.com/en-ca/home/heart-and-blood-vessel-disorders/coronary-artery-disease/acute-coronary-syndromes-heart-attack-myocardial-infarction-unstable-angina.Accessed on 9th December 2017.
• National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. What is a Heart Attack? Available at:https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/heartattack .Accessed on 9th December 2017.
• National Heart Foundation of Australia. Heart attack: Recognising the warning signs. Available at:https://www.heartfoundation.org.au/images/uploads/publications/CON-100.v5-HeartAttack-LR-secure.pdf .Accessed on 9th December 2017.
• World Health Organization. Avoiding Heart Attacks and Strokes. Available at:http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/43222/1/9241546727.pdf.Accessed on 9th December 2017.

Disclaimer:

“The content of this publication has been developed by a third party content providerwho are clinicians and/or medical writers and/or experts. The information contained herein is for educational purpose only and we request you to please consult a Registered Medical Practitioner or Doctor before deciding the appropriate diagnosis and treatment plan.”