Heart Attack: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, and Prevention

The heart muscle is one of the largest in the body. The myocardium is the muscle that pumps the heart, and it is located on the heart's outer wall. Due to a blocked artery, this muscle tissue is deprived of oxygen. Infarction occurs when there is a severe lack of oxygen, and many cells die as a result. Acute myocardial infarction is the medical term for a heart attack (MI). A heart attack, or myocardial infarction, is also characterised by discomfort in the chest and other parts of the body and various symptoms. A person's life can be saved if they can recognise the warning signs of a heart attack and seek medical attention as soon as possible. Cardiac arrest, in which the heart is fully paralysed, is not a heart attack. Both are medical emergencies that can result in cardiac arrest if left untreated.

Heart attack symptoms include:

1. Pressure, weight, tightness, squeezing, or pain in your chest or arm or below your breastbone2. Back, jaw, throat, or arm pain that you can't shake3. Inflammation, bloating, or a sense of choking (it may feel like heartburn)4. Vomiting, diarrhoea, or dizziness are all symptoms of an allergic reaction.5. Serious exhaustion and exhaustion, as well as shortness of breath6. The heartbeat is erratic or fast.

The symptoms of a heart attack can range greatly between men and women, but there are a few general differences.

In women, symptoms such as weariness, sleep difficulties, anxiety, shortness of breath, or pain in the arms and back without chest discomfort are more likely to be experienced. Pain is not the only symptom that women may have; they may also have indigestion or a feeling of pressure or discomfort in their chest. The symptoms of a heart attack that don't fit neatly into any of the standard categories should be closely monitored by women in particular, and they should seek medical attention if they have any reason to be concerned.

What are the causes of a heart attack?

Cardiovascular disease is the major cause of heart attack—plaque forms in the arteries that supply the heart with blood. Atherosclerosis is the term used to describe the process by which plaque accumulates in the arteries.

Heart attacks can be divided into two categories: non-ischemic and ischemic.

Type I heart attacks occur when plaque on the artery's inner wall ruptures, allowing cholesterol and other chemicals to enter the bloodstream. A blood clot can then form, causing the artery to become blocked.

There is no full blockage of an artery in type II heart attack. Thus, the heart does not receive as much oxygen-rich blood as it normally would.

Medication and Prevention

First, reduce risk factors like smoking, obesity, high cholesterol, and high-fat diets.

Discuss personal risk factors and lifestyle adjustments to lower heart attack risk with your doctor.

1. Quit smoking2. Regular exercise helps reduce weight and cholesterol.3. Keeping an eye on your diet - a nutritionist can recommend foods that can help lower cholesterol.

Moreover, your doctor may propose a treatment (surgery or nonsurgical) when a heart attack occurs.

These procedures can provide pain relief and reduce the risk of having another heart attack.

1. An angioplasty is a procedure that uses a balloon to unblock a blocked artery or removes the plaque accumulation. It's worth noting that doctors no longer commonly use angioplasty as a stand-alone procedure.
2. After angioplasty, surgeons put a wire mesh tube called a stent into the artery to keep it open.
3. In heart bypass surgery, your blood is rerouted to avoid obstruction.
4. Surgery to replace the valves in the heart. Repair or replacement of leaking valves is the goal of valve repair or replacement surgery.
5. It is possible to implant a pacemaker under the skin. This can maintain a normal heartbeat.
6. If the heart attack permanently kills most of the heart's tissue, surgeons may recommend a heart transplant to save the patient.

Early heart attack treatment restores blood flow and preserves cardiac muscle. After a heart attack, you require post-MI therapy to repair and avoid future attacks. Depending on the heart attack severity, cardiac rehab may continue for weeks or months after returning home. Post-MI care includes medication, lifestyle adjustments, and therapy.

If you are looking for highly experienced Cardiologist in MP for heart treatment, Dr. Sarita Rao is one of the Best cardiac surgeons in Indore at Apollo Hospital. She has been a torchbearer for many new procedures in central India and she is the first female surgeon to have conducted the Live TAAVI procedure in the whole of SARC Countries. Her intellectual pursuits have been recognized in many National and International journals through publications of her research works.

For appointment call +91 9893925000 or more information.

Dr. Sarita Rao is a Sr. Interventional Cardiologist at Apollo Hospitals, Indore. She is the first female Interventional Cardiologist in Central India. She is Fellow of American College of Cardiology(FACC) and Fellow of European Society of Cardiology(