Heart attack is one of the leading causes of death among metro people who usually live in the city area and are often consumed by the hectic lifestyle which they always hate. But no matter how they feel they still can’t get out of their hectic schedule and sooner or later it will start taking a toll on their body like cardiovascular problems, heart attacks, stroke etc. Heart attack is also known as myocardial infarction. However, chest pain is one of the most common alarming signs of heart attack but there are some other symptoms as well like lightheadedness, nausea, shortness of breath etc. Anyone who is suffering from heart problems should read this article for their own good.
Define heart attack.
A heart attack occurs when the blood supply to the heart is interrupted or blocked. The very reason for heart attack is the low oxygen level in the blood flow which can cause severe problems in the heart. As a result, heart muscles start to shrink causing severe chest pain. However, when your heart isn’t getting enough blood with oxygen then it starts collapsing in doing its basic functions which is pumping blood for circulation. Therefore, if you are experiencing chest pain and sudden collapse then make no mistake you are having a heart attack. Under such circumstances, you shouldn’t waste any time and get immediate medical attention.
Heart attack causes
Heart attack is mainly caused by atherosclerosis which is a plaque build up in the heart arteries. However, it will lead to Coronary Heart Disease. This disease could be the very reason why plaque in your arteries keeps coming back as you are struggling with a heart attack. There are two different types of heart attack depending upon the plaque blockage in the heart:-
- Type 1 heart attacks generally refer to the blockage in the inner lining of the heart arteries that ruptures and releases cholesterol and other substances which creates a blood clot in the arteries blocking the bloodstream and causing immense chest pain.
- Type 2 heart attacks refer to when your heart doesn’t receive enough oxygen-rich blood as it needs to pump the blood properly then it becomes partially blocked causing slow and unsettling chest pain.
There are some other causes of heart attack which have been described below:-
- Torn blood vessels due to any cardiac failures leading to excessive internal bleeding.
- Blood vessel spasms could be really unsettling as the heart stops recovering oxygen blood causing sudden discomfort.
- The misuse of drugs could be really bad because taking any medication in excessive amounts could lead to fatal consequences.
- Hypoxia is a condition where your body starts lowering down and causing vasoconstriction in the veins.
Heart attack symptoms are worth discussing
Heart attacks can be death-causing if not given immediate medical treatment. Therefore, knowing about the symptoms can be really helpful in handling such situations:-
- Chest pain is the most common one due to its direct impact on the body as the patient will feel unbearable pain in the cardiac area.
- The shortness of breath is truly a deep symptom because of the low oxygen in the blood and the inability to pump blood throughout the body.
- You will experience a sensation of pain in your arm, shoulder, and neck.
- Nausea is also a common symptom that triggers our sensory organs to react to chest pain.
- Excessive sweating during a heart attack could be related to the high blood pressure in the blood vessels.
- Lightheadedness or dizziness could be another symptom marking something unusual.
- Fatigue and a tired body could be overwhelming due to the constant chest pain.
- Upper body pain as the blood pressure rises alarmingly causing body pain as well.
- Trouble in breathing could be an extra caution for asthmatic patients because your lungs can’t breathe properly.
Anyone who is suffering from any of these symptoms is more likely to have a heart attack and should immediately contact medical authorities for better care.
Why is heart attack becoming common these days?
Modern lifestyle is all about accepting the social norms despite knowing that some of these are really bad. As we all know, human beings have always been social animals which brings us to the necessity of living in society. But in reality, society is as hypocritical as humans themselves because it doesn’t create parallel to its teachings leading to individual conflicts which can affect one’s physical and mental health. One such conflict is following the modern norm of convenience or being desperate to be a part of something more than yourself. Heart attack risks become quite relevant causing a stir in the people’s population as more people are following a specific lifestyle in general which could be life threatening in the long term. Some of the factors have been listed below with their potential risks:-
- Smoking is one of the many reasons why people are getting hooked on nicotine after knowing it’s bad for them.
- High cholesterol is inevitable because people are getting used to eating, cooking and preserving high-cholesterol food.
- Obesity is literally a chronic illness which can be death-causing due to excessive fat.
- A sedentary lifestyle could be really bad for your heart because of a lack of exercise.
- Stress and anxiety could increase blood pressure causing a blockage in the arteries.
- Diabetes and pre-diabetic patients who are currently on medications could really obstruct heart functions.
- Excessive consumption of trans fat and saturated fat could lead to high HDL levels causing blockage in the arteries.
- Excessive alcohol consumption could be deadly due to the dehydration effect on the body where blood becomes thick and ruptures the arteries.
- Sleep apnea is a very direct disease causing the loss of senses due to insomnia.
People are being aware of their lifestyle choices but still unable to make the right decisions for their health. As a result, they often end up in the death bed due to severe heart problems and inevitable obesity issues naturally.
Heart attack treatments
Heart attacks can be easily treated with surgical or non-surgical methods depending upon the conditions of the heart. However, most people often come to the hospital when they have tried every non-surgical treatment leaving only surgeries to operate them correctly and prevent any further heart attacks. So, listed below are some of the most common heart attack treatments:-
- A stent is a wire tube which is inserted in the arteries after getting angioplasty. However, this method is really the front solution of the blockage caused by plaque in the heart arteries. It will not only clear the blockage but also prevent blood clots from forming in the arteries.
- Angioplasty is indeed the removal of blockage caused by the plaque using a balloon. However, it’s really important to note that surgeons don’t use angioplasty alone but add an extensive treatment to go with the recovery process creating a sense of calm state. This is indeed a better solution than stent due to the constant approval of some potential benefits.
- Heart bypass surgery is a heart reroute surgery where your heart arteries are being rerouted to different blood vessels as the previous artery has been blocked due to plaque buildup.
- Heart valve surgeries refer to the repairing or replacement of the heart valves to keep the heart pumping without any worry. Following this, there are several other benefits of changing the heart valve which could be really helpful in preventing further heart attacks.
- A pacemaker is a device that gets implanted beneath the skin to match the rhythm frequency of the heart bringing some unique characteristics. However, it also brings forward some of the most amazing solutions to bring medical advancements to reach the epitome of achievements.
Lifestyle changes to prevent heart attack
Every health illness begins with a small disease which requires immediate attention and better recovery treatments. This could be an alarming sign which requires your direct attention to bring positive changes within the body. Listed below are some of the best lifestyle changes that you can bring to slow down heart attack:–
- Eat a healthy diet with a balanced meal to keep your body active and functioning on different grounds of fitness. You should try to include nutrient-rich foods and protein resources which could be the best thing to do for a healthy lifestyle.
- Start doing regular exercises which you can do at your home and easily adapt to the changes that will make you love the lifestyle you are following.
- Start checking your cholesterol levels as soon as possible to know the current state of HDL and LDL, for taking the necessary steps in the treatment.
Final take on heart attacks
For many years heart attack has been a deadly problem but since the scientific advancements, people have been living with heart conditions and still enjoying their life to the fullest. But for that, they should know the proper diagnosis method to treat it correctly. This is the very reason why most people fail to identify the symptoms of heart attack and often make decisions which will cost the patient their life.
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