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Heart Attack Causes, Symptoms, Risk Factors, Diagnosis and Treatment

Article Updated on December 22, 2020 By George

What is a Heart Attack?

Heart attack, also known as myocardial infarction, is where the heart doesn’t receive oxygenated blood due to blockage of the artery that transports blood to the heart. This blockage leads to tissue damage which will lead to tissue death when blood is not supplied for quite a while.

What Causes of Heart Attack/ Myocardial Infarction?

Heart attack photo
Heart attack photo

It occurs when the blood vessels that supply the heart with blood becomes blocked and the tissue dies due to lack of oxygen supply, lack of glucose supply for energy thus leading to an accumulation of toxic substances in the heart cells. This happens due to the continuous deposition of fatty deposits such as cholesterol on the walls of the coronary arteries over a period of time. This narrowing is known as atherosclerosis. The blockage can be due to a clot that cannot pass through the narrowed artery.

The coronary arteries can be either be partially or completely blocked. If it is ;

  • Complete blockage of the artery means you suffered STEMI heart attack (ST-elevation myocardial infarction)
  • While Partial blockage  means NSTEMI heart attack (non ST-elevation myocardial infarction)

What are the risk factors leading to a heart attack/ myocardial infarction?

There are some factors that might increase the chances  of one having a myocardial infarction:

  • High blood pressure.
  • Diabetes mellitus.
  • Obesity.
  • High cholesterol specifically the low-density lipoprotein (LDL).
  • Tobacco use.
  • Old age.
  • Excessive alcohol intake.
  • High levels of stress.
  • Eating food with high-fat content.
  • Male sex.
  • Genetics and family history.
  • postmenopause.
  • Preeclampsia.
  • Autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis.

What are the signs and symptoms of heart attack/ myocardial infarction?

Signs and symptoms that one might experience due to myocardial infarction:

  • There is shortness of breath.
  • Extrem chest pains/tightness/pressure for some minutes (angina) mostly on the left side of the chest.
  • Nausea.
  • Heartburn.
  • Abdominal pain.
  • Indigestion.
  • Sudden dizziness.
  • Fatigue.
  • Lightheadedness.
  • Cold sweat.
  • Irregular heartbeat.
  • Left-sided chest pain.
  • Pain that you will feel jaw or throat pain.

Note: some of these signs and symptoms can be present in other diseases and thus it is important to seek the physicians/doctor’s advice.

Diagnosis of heart attack /myocardial infarction

once you start experiencing such signs and symptoms it is advisable to visit your physician/doctor. These are some of the things that you might expect from your physician/doctor:

  • The physician/doctor will first take into account: age, overall health, medical history, and family history.
  • The physician/doctor will take your temperature, blood pressure and pulse rate.

The physician might send you to the lab for the following diagnostic tests:

  • Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG)
  • Chest X-Ray
  • Echocardiogram
  • Blood tests
  • Cardiac catheterization
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
  • Cardiac computed tomography (CT)

Treatment for heart attack/ myocardial infarction

In case of any myocardial infarction signs or symptoms, it is advisable to seek medical attention as early as possible to prevent any more damage from happening to the heart. If your doctor/physician suspects any occurrence of myocardial infarction, treatment is started immediately. The physician/doctor has to confirm first what kind of a heart attack. It can be either  First This may be done by:

  • You may be given aspirin which will percent blood clotting in case of any damage to the vessels.
  • Oxygen therapy would be done so as to increase the amount of oxygen supply to the cardiac tissues.
  • Nitroglycerine might be given to improve your blood flow to the cardiac tissues that may be damaged
  • Will be given some medication to relieve you from the chest pain that you may experience
  • In case of a clot blocking the coronary artery, the national guidelines recommend that surgery should be done within 90 minutes for a better outcome.

Medication  for heart attack/myocardial infarction

Your physician/doctor can prescribe the following medication for you. It is quite crucial that you should follow the prescription and the advice in order to prevent any more damage and reduce the chances of having a myocardial infarction again. If there some suspicion of a myocardial infarction you can be  started on some of these medications:

  • Antiplatelet agents such as aspirin.
  • Digitalis medication such as digoxin.
  • Anticoagulants such as warfarin and heparin.
  • Beta-Blockers such as propranolol, labetalol and metoprolol
  • Calcium Channel Blockers such as Nifedipine, Amlodipine and Amlodipine.
  • ACE Inhibitors such as Enalapril, Captopril, Benazepril and Quinapril.
  • Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers such as Iosartan, Varsatan and Ilmesatan.
  • Cholesterol-lowering medications such as niacin, Cholestyramine and Simvastatin.

Prevention for a heart attack/myocardial infarction

  •  Reduce or stop smoking.
  • Control of underlying conditions
  • Having a balanced diet
  • Avoidance of excessive drinking.
  • Avoidance of  excessive stress
  • Regular exercises
  • Avoid foods with high cholesterol intake especially with low-density lipoprotein (LDL)

Complications for a heart attack/myocardial infarction

  • Breathlessness
  • Irregular heartbeats
  • Palpitations
  • Chest pain
  • Dizzyness
  • Heart rapture
  • Difficulty in breathing

 

Filed Under: Health, Uncategorized Tagged With: Diseases, Health, Health & Living, heart attack, Medical Conditions

Rickets Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment, Prevention and FAQs

Article Updated on November 6, 2019 By gachie

What is rickets?

Rickets is a condition that results in weak or soft bones in children. Symptoms include bowed legs, stunted growth, bone pain, large forehead, and trouble sleeping. Complications may include bone fractures, muscle spasms, an abnormally curved spine, or intellectual disability. [Read more…] about Rickets Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment, Prevention and FAQs

Filed Under: Health Tagged With: Medical Conditions

Polio Causes, Spread, Post-polio, Signs, FAQs and Treatment

Article Updated on November 6, 2019 By gachie

Polio

Polio which is also referred to as poliomyelitis or infantile paralysis is an infectious illness caused by the poliovirus. The poliovirus is divided into three types which affect the body differently. The poliovirus is mainly spread through contact with food, water or hands that are contaminated with the feces or throat secretions of an infected person. [Read more…] about Polio Causes, Spread, Post-polio, Signs, FAQs and Treatment

Filed Under: Health Tagged With: Medical Conditions

Syphilis Causes, Symptoms, Transmission, Stages, FAQs and Treatment

Article Updated on November 6, 2019 By gachie

Syphilis

Syphilis is a sexually transmissible infection (STI) caused by a bacterium called Treponema pallidum. It can affect both men and women. It is transmitted through close skin-to-skin contact and is highly contagious when the syphilis sore (chancre) or rash is present. [Read more…] about Syphilis Causes, Symptoms, Transmission, Stages, FAQs and Treatment

Filed Under: Health Tagged With: Medical Conditions

Travel sickness Causes, Symptoms, Risks and FAQs

Article Updated on November 6, 2019 By gachie

Travel sickness

Travel sickness or Motion sickness may occur in response to certain types of movement, whether it is the person or what they are looking at (for example, a movie screen) that is moving. Motion sickness is not considered to be a disease as it can occur in nearly every person. [Read more…] about Travel sickness Causes, Symptoms, Risks and FAQs

Filed Under: Health Tagged With: Medical Conditions

Urinary Tract Infection Causes, Types, Symptoms, Risks and FAQs

Article Updated on November 6, 2019 By gachie

Urinary Tract Infection

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are very common – particularly in women, babies and older people. Around one in two women and one in 20 men will get a UTI in their lifetime.

[Read more…] about Urinary Tract Infection Causes, Types, Symptoms, Risks and FAQs

Filed Under: Health Tagged With: Medical Conditions

Stroke Causes, Types, Symptoms, Prevention and Treatment

Article Updated on November 6, 2019 By gachie

What is a Stroke?

A stroke is a sudden interruption in the blood supply of the brain. Most strokes are caused by an abrupt blockage of arteries leading to the brain (ischemic stroke). Other strokes are caused by bleeding into brain tissue when a blood vessel bursts (hemorrhagic stroke). [Read more…] about Stroke Causes, Types, Symptoms, Prevention and Treatment

Filed Under: Health Tagged With: Medical Conditions

Snoring Causes, Treatment, Natural Remedies and Solutions

Article Updated on November 6, 2019 By gachie

Snoring

Snoring is a very common condition that affects both men and women. Anyone who’s been on the receiving end of someone who snores knows how disruptive it can be to a good night’s sleep. [Read more…] about Snoring Causes, Treatment, Natural Remedies and Solutions

Filed Under: Health Tagged With: Medical Conditions

Cholera Causes, Symptoms, History, Complications, Prevention, Treatment and FAQs

Article Updated on November 4, 2019 By gachie

What is cholera?

By the start of the 20th century, there had been six major cholera pandemics. The world is now fighting its seventh, caused by a new strain of the Vibrio cholerae bacterium, El Tor. [Read more…] about Cholera Causes, Symptoms, History, Complications, Prevention, Treatment and FAQs

Filed Under: Health Tagged With: Medical Conditions

Helicobacter pylori Bacteria Causes and Treatment

Article Updated on November 4, 2019 By gachie

Helicobacter Pylori Bacteria

produce ammonia, which helps protect it from stomach acid. a type of bacteria that causes peptic ulcers. this bacteria attacks the mucosa top layer of the stomach exposing it to gastric acid resulting in sores. However, some people grow with the bacteria in their blood sytem from childhood though they don’t get ulcers. Research is still on this point of interest. they are spiral in shape

H.Pylori Treatment

use of Antibiotics

Bismuth subsalicylate

proton pump inhibitor

H Pylori prevention

Observing cleanliness and sanitation e.g washing fruits and hands thoroughly

Avoiding food that isn’t cooked thoroughly

 

 

Is H Pylori Contagious

highly contagious

spread from one person’s mouth to another. transmitted from contaminated stool to human body. however some people have a higher risk of attack. they include;

Sharimg house and toilet with infected patients

living in overcrowded areas

lack of clean reliable water

Helicobacter Pylori Infection Symptoms

heartburn

Ulcers

Abdominal pain

Bloating

Feeling hungry

 

Helicobacter Pylori Infection

can result in Inflammation of the stomach lining

Peptic ulcers

Stomach cancer.

How H Pylori Is Diagnosed

pressing on your belly to check for swelling, tenderness, or pain.

Tests of your blood and stool

Urea breath test

Scope test using endoscopy.

Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging

Upper GI tests

 

What Is H Pylori Infection

Helicobacter Pylori Causes

h. pylori bacteria

Helicobacter Pylori Transmission

person-to-person by saliva

fecal contamination of food or water

transmitted in crowded areas

Vertical transmission from mother to child during birth

transmitted in unhygienic conditions

maybe transmitted through oral sex

Helicobacter Pylori Sintomas

Helicobacter Pylori Disease

How H Pylori Is Contracted

mainly spread through utensils, water and unsanitary conditions

oral sex

contact with fecal matter

Helicobacter Pylori Urea Breath Test

This test involves Patients swallow urea liquid afterwhich they breathe into a bag. After 15-20 mins, H Pylori bacteria turns the ammonia in urea to carbon dioxide, thus the exhaled gas has high levels of carbon dioxide. However, if the exhaled gas has little carbon dioxide to the accepted limit, then H Pylori bacteria may not be present.

Helicobacter Pylori Forum

A platform that member persons share and hold conversations about their different encounters with h. pylori bacteria and infection. This forum enables members to create awareness on the disease.

Helicobacter Pylori Cancer

may result in stomach cancer

FAQ

Filed Under: Health Tagged With: Medical Conditions

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