When a heart attack occurs, it's critical to recognize the signals and respond immediately. About half of all heart attack victims wait two hours or longer before deciding to get help. This reduces their chance of survival, because most heart attack victims who die do so within two hours of when the signals begin. Time is critical. Anyone experiencing the warning signals of a heart attack should be taken immediately to the nearest hospital with 24-hour emergency cardiac care. People who become unconscious before reaching the emergency room may receive emergency cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
Most communities have an emergency cardiac care system that can quickly respond to an emergency. This prompt care for heart attack victims dramatically reduces damage to the heart. In fact, 80 percent of heart attack survivors can return to work within three months. Prompt care for heart attack victims isn't the only reason so many people recover so quickly, but it's an important one.
The importance of time cannot be overemphasized. When a coronary artery gets blocked, the heart muscle doesn't die instantaneously - damage increases the longer an artery remains blocked. If a victim gets to an emergency room fast enough, a form of reperfusion therapy (called thrombolysis) sometimes can be performed. lt involves injecting a thrombolytic (clot-dissolving) agent, such as streptokinase, urokinase or tPA (tissue plasminogen activator), to dissolve a clot in a coronary artery and restore some blood flow. These drugs must be used within a few (usually 1-3) hours of a heart attack for best effect. The sooner a drug is used, the more effective it's likely to be.
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Angina treatement
How is angina treated?
Angina pectoris can be treated with drugs that affect 1) the supply of blood to the heart muscle or 2) the heart's demand for oxygen. Some drugs, called coronary vasodilators, cause blood vessels to relax. When this happens the opening inside the vessels (the lumen) gets bigger. Then blood flow improves, allowing more oxygen and nutrients to reach the heart muscle. Nitroglycerin is the drug most often used. It relaxes the veins (reducing the amount of blood returning to the heart and thus lessening the work of pumping) and the coronary arteries (increasing the blood supply to the heart).
Alternatively, the heart's demand for oxygen also can be modified. For example, a drug can be prescribed to reduce blood pressure and thus reduce the heart's workload and need for oxygen. Drugs that slow the heart rate achieve a similar effect.
Invasive techniques that improve the blood supply to the heart also may be used. One technique is percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), also known as angioplasty or balloon angioplasty. Another procedure is coronary artery bypass graft surgery.
Before performing either of these procedures, a doctor must find the blocked part of the coronary arteries. This is done using coronary arteriography, which is done during a procedure called cardiac catheterization. In this procedure a doctor guides a thin plastic tube (a Catheter) through an artery in the arm or leg and into the coronary arteries. Then the doctor injects a liquid dye visible in X-rays through the catheter. High-speed X-ray movies record the course of the liquid as it flows through the arteries. Doctors can identify obstructions in the arteries by tracing the liquid's flow.
Some newer diagnostic procedures are available to evaluate how well the heart works. These tests may be done before or after a heart attack. Some of these tests are still relatively experimental and are limited to larger medical centers.
PTCA is a procedure designed to dilate (widen or expand) narrowed coronary arteries. In it a doctor inserts a catheter into an artery in an arm or leg and guides it to an obstructed coronary artery. Then a second catheter with a balloon tip is passed inside the first, and the balloon tip is inflated at the arterial blockage. This compresses the plaque, enlarging the inner diameter of the blood vessel so blood can flow more easily. Then the balloon is deflated and the catheters are withdrawn.
Angina pectoris can be treated with drugs that affect 1) the supply of blood to the heart muscle or 2) the heart's demand for oxygen. Some drugs, called coronary vasodilators, cause blood vessels to relax. When this happens the opening inside the vessels (the lumen) gets bigger. Then blood flow improves, allowing more oxygen and nutrients to reach the heart muscle. Nitroglycerin is the drug most often used. It relaxes the veins (reducing the amount of blood returning to the heart and thus lessening the work of pumping) and the coronary arteries (increasing the blood supply to the heart).
Alternatively, the heart's demand for oxygen also can be modified. For example, a drug can be prescribed to reduce blood pressure and thus reduce the heart's workload and need for oxygen. Drugs that slow the heart rate achieve a similar effect.
Invasive techniques that improve the blood supply to the heart also may be used. One technique is percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), also known as angioplasty or balloon angioplasty. Another procedure is coronary artery bypass graft surgery.
Before performing either of these procedures, a doctor must find the blocked part of the coronary arteries. This is done using coronary arteriography, which is done during a procedure called cardiac catheterization. In this procedure a doctor guides a thin plastic tube (a Catheter) through an artery in the arm or leg and into the coronary arteries. Then the doctor injects a liquid dye visible in X-rays through the catheter. High-speed X-ray movies record the course of the liquid as it flows through the arteries. Doctors can identify obstructions in the arteries by tracing the liquid's flow.
Some newer diagnostic procedures are available to evaluate how well the heart works. These tests may be done before or after a heart attack. Some of these tests are still relatively experimental and are limited to larger medical centers.
PTCA is a procedure designed to dilate (widen or expand) narrowed coronary arteries. In it a doctor inserts a catheter into an artery in an arm or leg and guides it to an obstructed coronary artery. Then a second catheter with a balloon tip is passed inside the first, and the balloon tip is inflated at the arterial blockage. This compresses the plaque, enlarging the inner diameter of the blood vessel so blood can flow more easily. Then the balloon is deflated and the catheters are withdrawn.
Heart's collateral circulation
Collateral circulation involves small arteries that connect two larger coronary arteries or different segments of the same artery. They provide an alternate route for blood flow to the heart muscle. Everyone has collateral vessels, at least in microscopic form. These vessels aren't open under normal conditions but grow and enlarge in some people with coronary heart disease. When a collateral vessel enlarges, it lets blood flow from an open artery to either an adjacent artery or further downstream on the same artery. Myocardial ischemia stimulates collateral vessels, so they can form a kind of "detour" around a blockage, providing alternate routes of blood flow.
Research has shown that while everyone has collateral vessels, they don't open and become available in all people. Some people have available collaterals; others don't. People who have open collateral vessels are lucky, because collateral vessels help protect heart muscle from tissue death if the normal blood supply is cut off.
Research has shown that while everyone has collateral vessels, they don't open and become available in all people. Some people have available collaterals; others don't. People who have open collateral vessels are lucky, because collateral vessels help protect heart muscle from tissue death if the normal blood supply is cut off.
Silent Heart Attack
A heart attack is a very serious and very sudden condition and occurs when a section of the heart does not receive blood. This lack of blood flow can cause the heart tissue to die and scar. Heart attacks can range from mild to severe affecting areas both small and large areas of the heart. Almost always, heart attacks are life threatening and require immediate attention.
Silent heart attacks can happen to anyone, but people most likely to experience silent heart attacks are those that have had a prior heart attack, individuals who have diabetes, women, men and women over the age of 65 and those prone to strokes. Individuals taking medication on a regular basis may also experience a silent heart attack.
Symptoms of a Silent Heart AttackThe best way to identify this disease is through careful study of medical history, ECG (electrocardiogram; measures heart activity) and testing blood for cardiac enzymes. The most important treatment in silent heart attack is restoring the blood flow to the heart.
Restoring blood flow can be accomplished by dissolving clots found in the artery (thrombolysis) or by pushing the artery open using a balloon (angioplasty). Both thrombolysis and angioplasty may be used at the same time.
It is reported that as much as 25 percent of those having a heart attack and being diabetic never felt any of the common warning signs such as crushing chest pressure, weakness, arm pain or others.
Silent heart attacks and heart attacks in general can damage to nerves that affect the heart (autonomic neuropathy, or AN) could be the culprit.
Symptoms of a silent heart attack can include discomfort in your chest, arms or jaw that seem to go away after resting, shortness of breath and tiring easily. The most common complaint of visitors to the emergency room is Chest Pain which is by far the most symptom you're having a heart attack. Although Chest Pain takes 1st place as an indicator, second place would be given to extreme shortness of breath! Oddly enough, many heart attack victims reported a feeling of overwhelming doom just before an attack.
Identify a Silent Heart AttackThe best way to identify a silent heart attack is through careful study of medical history, ECG (electrocardiogram; measures heart activity) and testing blood for cardiac enzymes. The most important treatment in silent heart attack is restoring the blood flow to the heart.
Restoring blood flow can be accomplished by dissolving clots found in the artery (thrombolysis) or by pushing the artery open using a balloon (angioplasty). Both thrombolysis and angioplasty may be used at the same time.
Fast Treatment of a Heart AttackOne item that is mentioned repeatedly in case studies is aspirin. If you feel you have had a silent heart attack, you may want to take a non-acetaminophen aspirin as studies have shown doing so may help prevent heart damage that can occur from a silent heart attack.
Many people permanently damage their hearts because of pride! If you feel you may be having a heart attack, don't mess around! Seek medical attention immediately and whatever you do, do NOT drive yourself if possible. There is no shame in seeking medical attention for what you believe to be a heart condition. Do NOT be embarrassed if it's a false alarm, it's your life we're talking about!
Silent heart attacks can happen to anyone, but people most likely to experience silent heart attacks are those that have had a prior heart attack, individuals who have diabetes, women, men and women over the age of 65 and those prone to strokes. Individuals taking medication on a regular basis may also experience a silent heart attack.
Symptoms of a Silent Heart AttackThe best way to identify this disease is through careful study of medical history, ECG (electrocardiogram; measures heart activity) and testing blood for cardiac enzymes. The most important treatment in silent heart attack is restoring the blood flow to the heart.
Restoring blood flow can be accomplished by dissolving clots found in the artery (thrombolysis) or by pushing the artery open using a balloon (angioplasty). Both thrombolysis and angioplasty may be used at the same time.
It is reported that as much as 25 percent of those having a heart attack and being diabetic never felt any of the common warning signs such as crushing chest pressure, weakness, arm pain or others.
Silent heart attacks and heart attacks in general can damage to nerves that affect the heart (autonomic neuropathy, or AN) could be the culprit.
Symptoms of a silent heart attack can include discomfort in your chest, arms or jaw that seem to go away after resting, shortness of breath and tiring easily. The most common complaint of visitors to the emergency room is Chest Pain which is by far the most symptom you're having a heart attack. Although Chest Pain takes 1st place as an indicator, second place would be given to extreme shortness of breath! Oddly enough, many heart attack victims reported a feeling of overwhelming doom just before an attack.
Identify a Silent Heart AttackThe best way to identify a silent heart attack is through careful study of medical history, ECG (electrocardiogram; measures heart activity) and testing blood for cardiac enzymes. The most important treatment in silent heart attack is restoring the blood flow to the heart.
Restoring blood flow can be accomplished by dissolving clots found in the artery (thrombolysis) or by pushing the artery open using a balloon (angioplasty). Both thrombolysis and angioplasty may be used at the same time.
Fast Treatment of a Heart AttackOne item that is mentioned repeatedly in case studies is aspirin. If you feel you have had a silent heart attack, you may want to take a non-acetaminophen aspirin as studies have shown doing so may help prevent heart damage that can occur from a silent heart attack.
Many people permanently damage their hearts because of pride! If you feel you may be having a heart attack, don't mess around! Seek medical attention immediately and whatever you do, do NOT drive yourself if possible. There is no shame in seeking medical attention for what you believe to be a heart condition. Do NOT be embarrassed if it's a false alarm, it's your life we're talking about!
How to Survive A Heart Attack when Alone
Since many people are alone when they suffer a heart attack, without help, the person whose heart is beating improperly and who begins to feel faint, has only about 10 seconds left before losing consciousness. However, these victims can help themselves by coughing repeatedly and very vigorously. A deep breath should be taken before each cough, and the cough must be deep and prolonged, as when producing sputum from deep inside the chest. A breath and a cough must be repeated about every two seconds without let-up until help arrives, or until the heart is felt to be beating normally again. Deep breaths get oxygen into the lungs and coughing movements squeeze the heart and keep the blood circulating. The squeezing pressure on the heart also helps it regain normal rhythm. In this way, heart attack victims can get to a hospital.
Causes Heart Disease
The heart disease is one of the principal causes, because of the modern life styles. Modern medicine developed several effective treatments for the heart disease extending from drugs and the life style. Naturally, the prevention is always better than treatment, thus before we look at some of the symptoms of the cardiac disease, you can help your body to eliminate the risks. healthy life style can reduce the chances to develop cardiac problems. with careful adjustments of our life styles we can improve.
The smoking causes the accumulation of the fatty deposits in the arteries also posing problems of circulation. stop smoking and excessive drinking and do exercise to reduce the weight towards avoiding problems. Palpitations that is strongly and unequally beating heart can be a sign of problems of heart. A feeling of tinkling in the body such as in fingers, toes or lips is often a sign in which your circulation system does not deliver enough oxygen it is a sign of the problems of heart. The sign of the cardiac problems are feeling of pain in the trunk, a condition known under the name of angina. The angina can develop in heart disease. healthy life style will reduce considerably the heart disease.
Age: increase in age the chances for the coronary heart disease occurs. Hereditary factors: It is said that the coronary heart disease occurs because of heredity. This means that person who has family past history is to develop the disease. Sex: research discovered that the men have a greater risk to develop the coronary heart disease than women. Smoking: those who smoke are likely to die due to sudden cardiac death for approximately twice than the nonsmokers. It is the reason basically that people are strongly advised to stop the smoking. cholesterol: When the level of cholesterol increases in the body, there are chances of CHD to develop. This can even lead to hypertension. uncontrolled cholesterol level can lead to the obesity, which is but with one of the greatest causes for heart disease. Inactive life style: people who have greater risks to develop the coronary heart disease are advised to take the regular exercise which can help to increase the flow of blood and oxygen to the body. It can even reinforce the contractions of heart, making your heart to pump more blood without much effort.
Thus such are basically the principal causes of the coronary heart disease. It is wise to note them and understand to identify the best treatment easily. And if you want that the heart disease keeps distance from you, to do something to change the causes. To make your heart healthy which can help to avoid heart disease.
The smoking causes the accumulation of the fatty deposits in the arteries also posing problems of circulation. stop smoking and excessive drinking and do exercise to reduce the weight towards avoiding problems. Palpitations that is strongly and unequally beating heart can be a sign of problems of heart. A feeling of tinkling in the body such as in fingers, toes or lips is often a sign in which your circulation system does not deliver enough oxygen it is a sign of the problems of heart. The sign of the cardiac problems are feeling of pain in the trunk, a condition known under the name of angina. The angina can develop in heart disease. healthy life style will reduce considerably the heart disease.
Age: increase in age the chances for the coronary heart disease occurs. Hereditary factors: It is said that the coronary heart disease occurs because of heredity. This means that person who has family past history is to develop the disease. Sex: research discovered that the men have a greater risk to develop the coronary heart disease than women. Smoking: those who smoke are likely to die due to sudden cardiac death for approximately twice than the nonsmokers. It is the reason basically that people are strongly advised to stop the smoking. cholesterol: When the level of cholesterol increases in the body, there are chances of CHD to develop. This can even lead to hypertension. uncontrolled cholesterol level can lead to the obesity, which is but with one of the greatest causes for heart disease. Inactive life style: people who have greater risks to develop the coronary heart disease are advised to take the regular exercise which can help to increase the flow of blood and oxygen to the body. It can even reinforce the contractions of heart, making your heart to pump more blood without much effort.
Thus such are basically the principal causes of the coronary heart disease. It is wise to note them and understand to identify the best treatment easily. And if you want that the heart disease keeps distance from you, to do something to change the causes. To make your heart healthy which can help to avoid heart disease.
Chest Pain and Heart
Each one at a certain point in their lives will test the chest pain. The majority of people seeking assistance of help are concerned that they can have an attack. The extreme pain of chest, is one of the common symptoms of a heart attack, there are much of other common reasons which can be attributed with the pain of chest, even extreme chest pain. Even minor damage with the some parts of your body can leave you struck with extreme pain of chest.
This does not mean that you should not be concerned if you are struck with serious chest pain and should not seek a medical attention. You should not assume you will die if it arrives at you. Around the nerves in the back can cause part of the pain and it can advance suddenly and can leave you wrinkled more with pain of chest, which can make it difficult to the breath.
In fact of chest pain are not indicators of a problem with any of your vital organs, can be treated with a visit to your doctor and bed rest. However, the chest pain can be a panel of warning of the more serious problems with the vital organs enclosed in your chest. The chest pain can be one of the symptoms of a heart attack and you can have other symptoms with it.
The studies proved that 66 percent of patients who had the chest pain which was not related to the cardiac disorder, but suffered from the backward flow acid syndrome. The researchers studied the possibility that a certain pain of chest, not caused by cardiac or syndrome disorder of backward flow of acid then it can be caused by a intensified sensitivity. The studies proved that in some patients, the muscles of some bodies are sensitive and fast to send signals of pain to the brain. Nobody knows why this occurs, but continuous research.
Once the determination is made that no cardiac disorder is present, Antacids or the inhibitors are generally prescribed. The acid reflux syndrome should carefully be supervised that the stomach acid does not damage the esophagus.
Some prefer to treat the acid reflux syndrome with dietetic and changes or of life style. If those reduce the stomach acid effectively, then they should relieve the acid chest pain. Some changes of life styles which can help to relieve the acid reflux syndrome include giving up the use of tobacco and alcohol and weight loss. Some dietetic changes which can relieve the acid reflux syndrome include more frequent eating meals and to get rid of fried and fatty foods.
There are many herbs which can relieve the acid reflux syndrome and the chest pain. Those include the root of ginger, the chamomile and aloe. These ingredients and others are sometimes combined by herbalists to create a product for the relief of the acid reflux syndrome.
This does not mean that you should not be concerned if you are struck with serious chest pain and should not seek a medical attention. You should not assume you will die if it arrives at you. Around the nerves in the back can cause part of the pain and it can advance suddenly and can leave you wrinkled more with pain of chest, which can make it difficult to the breath.
In fact of chest pain are not indicators of a problem with any of your vital organs, can be treated with a visit to your doctor and bed rest. However, the chest pain can be a panel of warning of the more serious problems with the vital organs enclosed in your chest. The chest pain can be one of the symptoms of a heart attack and you can have other symptoms with it.
The studies proved that 66 percent of patients who had the chest pain which was not related to the cardiac disorder, but suffered from the backward flow acid syndrome. The researchers studied the possibility that a certain pain of chest, not caused by cardiac or syndrome disorder of backward flow of acid then it can be caused by a intensified sensitivity. The studies proved that in some patients, the muscles of some bodies are sensitive and fast to send signals of pain to the brain. Nobody knows why this occurs, but continuous research.
Once the determination is made that no cardiac disorder is present, Antacids or the inhibitors are generally prescribed. The acid reflux syndrome should carefully be supervised that the stomach acid does not damage the esophagus.
Some prefer to treat the acid reflux syndrome with dietetic and changes or of life style. If those reduce the stomach acid effectively, then they should relieve the acid chest pain. Some changes of life styles which can help to relieve the acid reflux syndrome include giving up the use of tobacco and alcohol and weight loss. Some dietetic changes which can relieve the acid reflux syndrome include more frequent eating meals and to get rid of fried and fatty foods.
There are many herbs which can relieve the acid reflux syndrome and the chest pain. Those include the root of ginger, the chamomile and aloe. These ingredients and others are sometimes combined by herbalists to create a product for the relief of the acid reflux syndrome.
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