Heart Attack Symptoms | Heart Failure

Heart attack occurs when the coronary arteries are blocked. The blocked arteries reduce or stop the supply of blood to the heart muscles. If the stoppage prolongs for a few minutes, the heart muscles suffer permanent injury and die. This will result in a fatal end or disability by the extent of heart muscle damage.

Heart attacks and heart failure are among the commonest causes of death

Angina: When enough oxygen carrying blood is not received by the heart it experiences an initial cramping pain, which is called as Angina. Aptly termed as "a cry for help from the heart".

Symptoms Of Heart Pain

The centre of the chest experiences a discomfort or a dull pain brought on by

physical exertion
strong emotion
a heavy meal or cold weather

Angina usually subsides when the precipitating action or event ceases.

The sensation will not be uniform. Different people feel different sensation. common descriptions are

Chest tightness
a heavy weight pressing on the chest
hollow feeling

It can spread to the shoulder, upper arm, jaw or throat and may be accompanied by,

sweating
nausea
shortness of breath or light-headedness

These heart attack symptoms will occur when the coronary arteries become narrow. Angina gives a warning that the coronary arteries are narrow and if neglected, could well lead to a fatal heart attack.

Risk factors:

Chest pain of this type almost always indicates that the coronary arteries are blocked.

It is more likely to be experienced by ,

smokers
diabetics
those who are overweight or
high blood pressure or cholesterol

Precaution to be taken

Anyone with these risk factors for heart disease who experiences angina must get themselves checked by a doctor

Even doctors may not be sure that this is angina, so blood tests and ECGs will be required.

Sometimes a special ECG taken while exercising (exercise stress

ECG) will be required

Medications

Doctors have many medications that can help. Glyceryl Trinatrate (GTN spray on Anginine tablets) helps relieve angina. Other tablets can dilate the coronary arteries and improve blood flow to the heart muscle, while beta-blockers can slow heart rate and reduce its demand for oxygen.

A daily dose of aspirin reduces the clottability of blood and prevents clot formation in narrowed arteries.

If the arteries to the heart are significantly blocked, some form of surgery-

either Angioplasty (to widen narrowed vessels) or

Bypass Grafting ( to replace diseased vessels using normal arteries from the arm or chest wall)- can be undertaken.

Heart failure

Heart failure, also called as congestive heart failure, is a condition whereby the heart is so weak and it is not in a

position to pump enough blood.

Heart failure suggests that the heart is so weak that it is likely to breakdown and stop working at any moment.

since the basic function of the heart is to pump oxygen - containing blood around the body," heart failure" simply means that the heart is failing to meet this demand. Blood circulation will be much more sluggish.

This happens because the heart (a chamber made of strong muscle that contracts over 100,000 times each day) suffers some form of damage that weakens the muscle

Damage may occur from a heart attack-the sudden stopping of blood flow to a portion of heart muscle damages it.
Repair effected to replace the dead muscle with fibrous tissue, may leave the heart weakened and unable to pump effectively.
Uncontrolled high blood pressure is dangerous- the heart wears itself our pumping against a high pressure gradient.
Too much alcohol can result in the heart muscle becoming progressively flabby and unable to contract forcefully (Alcoholic Cardiomyopathy)

Heart Failure Symptoms

Typical symptoms of heart failure are

fatigue
breathlessness and
generalized swelling of the body

Because adequate oxygen-carrying blood doesn't reach the cells, they cannot function properly-making one feel fatigued and lifeless.

Breathlessness occurs because the sluggish circulation allows fluid to leak out of blood vessels into the lung tissue, "water-logging" the lungs which then cannot absorb oxygen from the inspired air into the blood stream.

Medical care

Thanks to modern medical care many people now survive heart attacks that would have killed people 50 years ago.

These survivors need ongoing medical care to prevent the damaged heart from getting further damaged and gradually failing.

managed properly, someone with heart failure can look forward to many years of quality life. But if neglected, it leads to repeated exacerbations requiring expensive admissions to hospital.

Aim

The aim of treatment is to

alleviate symptoms
prolong good quality life and
reduce hospital admissions

The best treatment of course is

prevention.
having your blood pressure checked regularly and keeping it uncontrolled.
ensuring that you don't allow alcohol to damage your heart
treating heart failure requires also non-medical methods - stay active with regular exercise "within the limits of your capability" is important to improve circulation- as is taking a suitable salt free, anemia preventing, low fat diet.
As for medicines, take the medications prescribed for you. If some tablets don't agree with you, don't stop taking them. Discuss the side effects with your doctor because your doctor can often provide an alternative
Some medications are designed to strengthen the hearts pumping action, others to extract fluid from the waterlogged lungs and feet. Certain tablets replace vital electrolytes, others improve blood flow to vital organs.

Practicing a healthy life style is more important to avoid heart attack. Plan your diets and have good eating habits. Do simple exercises regularly and in this regard walking has no substitute. Do not worry over unnecessary things, have peace of mind and sound sleep. Have regular medical check-up to prevent heart failure.