According to the CDC, someone from the U.S. will have a heart attack every 40 seconds. So today, let’s discuss what to look for and how you can treat it.
A heart attack is also called a myocardial infarction. It occurs when blood flow to the heart muscle is blocked, which could be caused by a build-up of cholesterol or fat. And although this condition can be fatal, there are still many treatments for it.
Keep reading to learn about heart attack causes, symptoms, treatments, and prevention.
Heart Attack Causes:
There are many different conditions and risk factors that could contribute to a heart attack. When speaking about diseases, heart attacks can be caused by atherosclerosis, blood clots, or a torn blood vessel.
Other risk factors include:
- Family history of heart attacks
- Age (65+)
- Being male
- High cholesterol
- High blood pressure
- Excessive stress
- Stroke
- Lack of exercise
- Diabetes
- Obesity
- Smoking
- Alcohol consumption
Heart Attack Symptoms:
The symptoms of a heart attack are different for men and women. Men are likely to experience the “typical” symptoms of a heart attack, whereas women’s symptoms are much less noticeable.
The symptoms for men include:
- Arm pain
- Chest pain
- Neck pain
- Chest tightness
- Indigestion
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Cold sweats
The symptoms for women include:
- Mild chest discomfort
- Feeling generally ill
- Body aches
- Shortness of breath
- Trouble sleeping
Heart Attack Treatments:
If you or someone you know is having a heart attack, you should call 911 immediately.
It’s important to stay calm until the medics arrive and carefully follow the 911 dispatcher’s instructions. And if the person goes into cardiac arrest, they may use a defibrillator on them. If you are in need of defibrillator equipment, there’s more information here on defibrillator mounts.
The doctors will do some tests to diagnose the heart attack, and may prescribe some medications or suggest a medical procedure. Medications they may prescribe include:
- Aspirin
- Pain killers
- Nitroglycerin
- Beta-blockers
- Blood thinners
- Statins
Medical procedures they may suggest include:
- Angioplasty
- Stent placement
- Pacemaker
- Heart bypass
- Heart valve surgery
Heart Attack Prevention:
There are some medications you can take to lower your risk of having a heart attack. And if your doctor prescribes you medications after a heart attack, you must take them consistently. However, there are also lifestyle changes you can make in your daily life.
Lifestyle changes to make include:
- Stop smoking
- Eat healthier
- Exercise more
- Limit alcohol consumption
- Maintain a good weight
- Manage stress
- Manage cholesterol levels
- Manage blood pressure
Now You Know All About Heart Attacks
While you want to try and prevent a heart attack from occurring, you now know what to look for if one does occur. And in the case of a medical emergency, you can take the best course of action. Your life or the life of a loved one may depend on it.
If you found this article on heart attack causes, symptoms, and treatments helpful, read more of our health content.
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