Learning about heart attack..

When a blood clot blocks the coronary artery, the flow of blood and oxygen to the heart will cease and the heart will be unable to get oxygen; when this happens, a heart attack occurs.

Most heart attacks are caused by coronary heart disease (CHD) which is also known as coronary artery disease. This diseases causes the arteries to become narrow, thereby, inhibiting the flow of blood to the heart. Calcium, fat, inflammatory cells and protein build up to form a sticky substance called plaques in the arteries; blood clots form around the plaques and then block the artery. The formation and build-up of plaque can take place over a period of years and as such, can go undetected for a long time.

Each coronary artery is responsible for the supply of blood to specific parts of the heart muscle. The level of damage to the heart muscle is determined by the size of the are which the blocked artery supplies blood and oxygen to and the time between detection and treatment.

It takes the heart about eight weeks to heal after a heart attack. After the wound heals, a scar will form on the damaged area, however, once a heart attack occurs, the pumping of blood to the heart reduces indefinitely.

Symptoms of a heart attack include;

- discomfort or pain in the chest; this will be around the middle or left side of the chest and might be off and on for a few minutes. The person might feel like they have indigestion or heartburn. There might also be pain and heaviness in the arm, back or below the breastbone.

- shortness of breath
- feeling chocked
- weakness and dizziness
- anxiety
- palpitations
- nausea and vomiting

Heart attack symptoms differ from person to person; a person who has suffered a heart attack before may have different symptoms if it happens again.

What to do if you think you’re having a heart attack

Don’t attempt to sit out symptoms of a heart attack; call for medical assistance. Studies have shown that taking an aspirin (unless you react negatively to it normally) will help thin the blood to prevent further clotting while you wait for medical help. Sit in a comfortable position, preferably on the floor with your back up against a chair or wall and wait until medical help gets to you or until someone can get you to a hospital.

If you are with someone who is having a heart attack and is unconscious, you are advised to try cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) immediately; unless you are a professional, you are advised not to waste time trying to find a pulse first. CPR is administered to artificially regulate the flow of blood from the heart.

Before you administer CPR, you are advised to check if the person is breathing by placing your ear close to their ear and mouth; if the person is breathing, you are advised not to give CPR as doing so might cause the heart to stop beating. In the event that the person is not breathing, you can then administer CPR.

To administer CPR, you must first:

- make sure that the person is lying flat, on their back so as to prevent injury during chest compressions.
- place the heel of one of your hands on the person’s breastbone, right between the nipples.
- put your second palm face down over the first palm; make sure your fingers are interlocked.
- position your body directly over your palms to ensure that your hands are straight.
- press both palms down directly over the breastbone relatively fast about 30 times.;so that you don’t crush the person’s chest in the process, the pressing down should not be more than two inches down.

Maintaining a healthy heart

In order to maintain a healthy heart, it is important to exercise for at least thirty minutes everyday. Taking long walks and jogging are one way to do this, however, one must be careful not to do more than the necessary exercise to prevent unnecessary strain on the heart.

Maintaining a healthy diet and avoiding unhealthy weight gain is also important. Having too much extra weight can put a lot of strain on the heart and weaken it. Avoid drinking alcohol too frequently and do regular checks with your doctor to ensure that your blood pressure and cholesterol levels are okay