Having a heart attack is a serious
condition and can, in some cases, be fatal. But apart from fearing the
onset of this condition, most of us do not really know what a heart
attack actually is.
In this post, Dr Tilak Suvarna, Senior Interventional Cardiologist, Head of the Cardiology department at the Asian Heart Institute tell you everything you need to know about the condition.
What is a heart attack? Why does it happen?
Known medically as a ‘myocardial infarction’, A heart attack is a serious medical emergency in which the supply of blood to the heart is suddenly blocked – usually by a blood clot or deposits of cholesterol called plaques. This lack of blood flow to the heart can seriously damage the heart muscle.
A heart attack is usually due to the rupture of one of the plaques, causing a blood clot to develop at the site of the rupture. This clot may then block the supply of blood running through the coronary artery, triggering a heart attack.
Who is at risk of suffering from a heart attack?
Risk factors for developing a heart attack are divided into two main categories – nonmodifiables (factors that cannot be changed) and modifiables (those factors that can be altered).
Nonmodifiables
Age: The older you get, the more likely you are to develop some degree of coronary heart disease.
Sex: Men are 2-3 times more likely to have a heart attack than women.
Hereditary: If you have a first-degree relative (a parent, brother or sister) with a history of heart disease – such as angina, heart attack or stroke – you are twice as likely to develop similar problems, compared to the general population.
Modifiables:
Smoking: Chemicals in cigarette smoke damage the lining of the coronary arteries, leading to increased risk of formation of blood clots. Smokers are four times likelier to suffer a heart attack than a non-smoker.
Diabetes: The increased levels of blood glucose associated with diabetes can damage the coronary arteries, making them more vulnerable to heart attack. It is estimated that people with diabetes are 2-5 times more likely to develop coronary heart disease than the general population. Read more about diabetes.
High cholesterol: If you eat a diet high in saturated fat, your blood cholesterol levels will rise. This leads to an increase in your risk of heart attacks.
High blood pressure: Having poorly controlled high blood pressure (hypertension) can weaken the coronary arteries, making them more vulnerable to heart attacks. The higher your blood pressure, the greater your risk of heart attacks. Read more about hypertension.
Obesity: Being overweight or obese does not directly increase your risk of heart attacks, but leads to related risk factors that do. In particular, people who are overweight or obese have an increased risk of developing high blood pressure, tend to have higher levels of cholesterol as a result of eating a high-fat diet and have an increased risk of developing diabetes.
Sedentary lifestyle: Lack of exercise is not directly related to an increased risk of CHD (coronary artery disease) and heart attacks. However, it is linked to an increased risk of being overweight or obese and having high blood pressure.
Air pollution: Research has found that exposure to air pollution – specifically traffic pollution – can cause a significant rise in your chance of developing coronary heart disease and, in turn, heart attacks.
What are the common symptoms of a heart attack?
Symptoms of a heart attack include:
It is not uncommon for the heart attack symptoms to be confused with acidity or gas, leading to delay in correctly recognizing the symptoms and seeking prompt medical attention, which can lead to fatal consequences.
How is a heart attack diagnosed?
If a heart attack is suspected, you should be admitted to hospital immediately. You will usually be admitted to the emergency department or ICU for evaluation. A heart attack is usually suspected by typical clinical symptoms, and is confirmed by carrying out the following tests: FULL STORY
What is a heart attack? Why does it happen?
Known medically as a ‘myocardial infarction’, A heart attack is a serious medical emergency in which the supply of blood to the heart is suddenly blocked – usually by a blood clot or deposits of cholesterol called plaques. This lack of blood flow to the heart can seriously damage the heart muscle.
A heart attack is usually due to the rupture of one of the plaques, causing a blood clot to develop at the site of the rupture. This clot may then block the supply of blood running through the coronary artery, triggering a heart attack.
Who is at risk of suffering from a heart attack?
Risk factors for developing a heart attack are divided into two main categories – nonmodifiables (factors that cannot be changed) and modifiables (those factors that can be altered).
Nonmodifiables
Age: The older you get, the more likely you are to develop some degree of coronary heart disease.
Sex: Men are 2-3 times more likely to have a heart attack than women.
Hereditary: If you have a first-degree relative (a parent, brother or sister) with a history of heart disease – such as angina, heart attack or stroke – you are twice as likely to develop similar problems, compared to the general population.
Modifiables:
Smoking: Chemicals in cigarette smoke damage the lining of the coronary arteries, leading to increased risk of formation of blood clots. Smokers are four times likelier to suffer a heart attack than a non-smoker.
Diabetes: The increased levels of blood glucose associated with diabetes can damage the coronary arteries, making them more vulnerable to heart attack. It is estimated that people with diabetes are 2-5 times more likely to develop coronary heart disease than the general population. Read more about diabetes.
High cholesterol: If you eat a diet high in saturated fat, your blood cholesterol levels will rise. This leads to an increase in your risk of heart attacks.
High blood pressure: Having poorly controlled high blood pressure (hypertension) can weaken the coronary arteries, making them more vulnerable to heart attacks. The higher your blood pressure, the greater your risk of heart attacks. Read more about hypertension.
Obesity: Being overweight or obese does not directly increase your risk of heart attacks, but leads to related risk factors that do. In particular, people who are overweight or obese have an increased risk of developing high blood pressure, tend to have higher levels of cholesterol as a result of eating a high-fat diet and have an increased risk of developing diabetes.
Sedentary lifestyle: Lack of exercise is not directly related to an increased risk of CHD (coronary artery disease) and heart attacks. However, it is linked to an increased risk of being overweight or obese and having high blood pressure.
Air pollution: Research has found that exposure to air pollution – specifically traffic pollution – can cause a significant rise in your chance of developing coronary heart disease and, in turn, heart attacks.
What are the common symptoms of a heart attack?
Symptoms of a heart attack include:
- Chest pain: This is felt as a sensation of pressure, tightness or squeezing in the centre of your chest.
- Pain in other parts of the body: This usually feels like the pain is travelling from your chest to your arms (most commonly the left arm is affected, but it can affect both arms), jaw, throat, neck, back and abdomen.
- feeling lightheaded or dizzy
- Profuse sweating
- Shortness of breath
- Nausea or vomiting
- An overwhelming sense of anxiety (similar to having a panic attack)
- Coughing or wheezing
It is not uncommon for the heart attack symptoms to be confused with acidity or gas, leading to delay in correctly recognizing the symptoms and seeking prompt medical attention, which can lead to fatal consequences.
How is a heart attack diagnosed?
If a heart attack is suspected, you should be admitted to hospital immediately. You will usually be admitted to the emergency department or ICU for evaluation. A heart attack is usually suspected by typical clinical symptoms, and is confirmed by carrying out the following tests: FULL STORY
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