Timely Treatment & Care for Heart Attack

Causes of Heart Attack

The coronary arteries are primary vessels in the cardiovascular system that provide oxygenated blood supply to the heart.

• Atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries due to gradual build up of cholesterol or fatty deposits are usually the cause of coronary artery blockage.
• This plaque may accumulate over time. culminate into a blood clot and rupture the coronary artery causing an interruption in the process of blood supply to the heart.
• In case timely treatment is not administered and oxygenated blood supply is not restored to the heart by a heart attack specialist, part of the heart muscle that does not receive blood and oxygen may die, resulting in an infarction.
• The dead muscle is unable to pump blood, the heart functioning weakens and heart rhythm is affected causing a heart attack.

Symptoms of Heart Attack

Mentioned below are some symptoms and early signs of a heart attack:

• Pain in the chest or chest heaviness
• Feeling of prolonged acidity or acid reflux
• Pain that extends from the back towards the jaws and the arms
• Abnormal heart rhythm of more than 100 bpm at rest position
• Feeling of anxiety with profuse sweating and nervousness
• Bluing of lips and/or limbs (hypoxia)
• Shortness of breath
• Unexplained fatigue and listlessness

Risk Factors of a Heart Attack

People with multiple risk factors or more than one health condition are more susceptible to getting a heart attack. Some factors may be genetic and cannot be changed, however, in most cases, a change in lifestyle, healthy eating and regular exercise may help avoid a heart attack altogether.

Some of the risks are as follows:

• High blood pressure & cholesterol
• Lack of physical activity
• Poor diet & nutrition
• Excessive smoking or alcohol intake
• Substance and drug abuse
• Obesity or high BMI
• Family history of cardiovascular diseases
• Genetic predisposition
• Unregulated stress and anxiety