Useful heart attack management tipsSteps leading to a heart attack

Knowing what really happens when one suffers a heart attack is very important. To start with, you should know that the heart needs to be nourished constantly by oxygen rich blood. This critical supply of blood to the heart is supplied by coronary arteries. People with coronary artery disease have narrow arteries and the blood doesn’t flow properly as it should normally. Calcium, fatty matter, inflammatory cells and proteins build up in the arteries forming different sizes of plaques. Hardening of the plaque leads to the outer shell cracking and platelets, which facilitate clotting of blood, come to the area. When a clot blocks the artery totally, this leads to the starving of the heat muscles and failure to get sufficient oxygen. Heart muscle cells die within few minutes of the attack and this result to permanent damage or heart attack.

A coronary artery spasm can also cause a heart attack even though this is highly unusual and this results from the restriction of arteries or they tend to spasm on and off. This reduces the supply of blood to heart muscles and can occur at rest even to people not suffering from coronary artery disease. Soon after the heart attack, the heart muscle starts to heal and this takes a period of about eight weeks. The healing forms a scar just like in any other skin wound, but this new scar tissue isn’t able to contract. As such, the pumping ability of the heart is lessened and this depends on the location and size of the scar.

Symptoms of heart attack

Common symptoms include pressure, discomfort, and pain in chest, below the breastbone or arm and even heaviness. One also feels great discomfort that radiates to the back, arm, throat and jaw and you can also experience a chocking feeling, fullness and indigestion. Other symptoms include dizziness, vomiting, sweating or nausea, anxiety, extreme weakness or breathe shortness as well as irregular or rapid heartbeats. These symptoms might last for about 30 minutes or even longer and even placing nitroglycerin under your tongue or taking rest doesn’t relief you of the condition.

What to do in case you experience a heart attack

When a heart attack strikes, it is essential that quick treatment is provided for opening up the blocked artery and this will help to considerably minimize the damage. Emergency treatment services should be summoned immediately by calling 911 at the onset of first symptoms. Treating a heart attack within the first one or two hours increases the chance of survival for the patient. Waiting longer is highly discouraged as this can put the grave at a grave risk. Seeking medical care immediately is crucial in providing relief for heart attack and it is essential that you get in touch with your doctor once you start experiencing these signs.