Are you experiencing chest pains?

Can you believe that approximately one million Americans suffer a heart attack each year? Four hundred thousand of them die as a result of their heart attack. That is such a large number of the population. So what is a heart attack? What are the signs and symptoms? How can it be treated? Well l am glad you asked as all these question and more are answered here in this post!

A heart attack is the "death" of the heart muscle from the sudden blockage of a coronary artery by a blood clot. The reason for this is the blockage of a coronary artery deprives the heart muscle of blood and oxygen, causing injury to the heart muscle. Injury to the heart muscle causes chest pain and chest pressure sensation.

If blood flow is not restored to the heart muscle within 20 to 40 minutes, irreversible death of the heart muscle will begin to occur. Muscles continue to die for six to eight hours at which time the heart attack usually is complete and you cannot be resuscitated. Heart failure is a condition in which the heart can't pump enough blood throughout the body. Ventricular fibrillation is a serious arrhythmia that can cause death if not treated quickly.

Heart Attack Warning Signs.

Some heart attacks are sudden and intense. But most heart attacks start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort in the chest area. Often people affected aren't sure what's wrong and wait too long before getting help. Here are signs that can mean a heart attack is happening:

• Chest discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.
• Discomfort in other areas of the upper body. Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
• Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort.
• Other signs may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheaded

Once you feel these problems please don't delay in contacting your doctor. Acting fast at the first sign of heart attack symptoms can save your life and limit damage to your heart. Treatment is most effective when started within 1 hour of the beginning of symptoms. It is better to be safe and get yourself checked out.

Causes of Heart Attack

The medical term for a heart attack is "myocardial infarction." "Myo" refers to "muscle;" "cardio" refers to "heart;" "infarct" refers to "death of tissue from lack of oxygen." Like any muscle, the heart needs a steady supply of blood. Without blood, heart cells are injured, causing pain or pressure. If blood flow isn't restored, heart cells can die and scar tissue can form, replacing working heart tissue. The lack of blood flow to the heart also may trigger irregular heart rhythms that can be fatal.

Most heart attacks occur as a result of coronary artery disease (CAD). CAD is the buildup over time of a material called plaque on the inner walls of the coronary arteries. Eventually, a section of plaque can break open, causing a blood clot to form at the site. A heart attack occurs if the clot becomes large enough to cut off most or all of the blood flow through the artery, as we can see in the picture below.

Another less common cause of heart attack is a severe spasm (tightening) of a coronary artery that cuts off blood flow through the artery. These spasms can occur in coronary arteries that don't have CAD. It's not always clear what causes a coronary artery spasm, but sometimes it can be related to:

• Taking certain drugs, such as cocaine
• Emotional stress or pain
• Exposure to extreme cold
• Cigarette smoking

Treatment

Early treatment can prevent or limit damage to the heart muscle. Acting fast, at the first symptoms of heart attack, can save your life. Medical personnel can begin diagnosis and treatment even before you get to the hospital. Certain treatments are usually started right away if a heart attack is suspected, even before the diagnosis is confirmed.

These include:

• Oxygen
• Aspirin to prevent further blood clotting
• Nitroglycerin, to reduce the workload on the heart and improve blood flow through the coronary arteries
• Treatment for chest pain

Once the diagnosis of heart attack is confirmed or strongly suspected, treatments to try to restore blood flow to the heart are started as soon as possible. Treatments include medicines and medical procedures. If a person survives a heart attack, the injured area of the heart muscle is replaced by scar tissue. Also remember a heart attack is associated with "older" people, but that is not always the case. Recently, Mr Ilhan, the owner of "Crazy John's", a phone compnay died at the age of 42 from a heart attack, while on a walk here is house.

Prevention It's never too late to take steps to prevent a heart attack - even if you've already had one. Drug therapy has become an increasingly important part of reducing the risk of a second heart attack and helping a damaged heart function better. Lifestyle factors also play a critical role in heart attack prevention and recovery. Doctors typically prescribe drug therapy for people who've had a heart attack or who are at high risk of having one.

How you live your life can largely affect the health of your heart. Taking the following steps can help you not only prevent but also recover from a heart attack.

• Following a low-fat diet rich in fruits and vegetables. Pay careful attention to the amounts and types of fat in your diet. Lower your salt intake. These changes can help lower high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol.
• Losing weight if you're overweight or obese.
• Quitting smoking.
• Doing physical activity to improve heart fitness. Ask your doctor how much and what kinds of physical activity are safe for you.

Make sure that you have an emergency action plan in case you or someone else in your family has a heart attack. This is especially important if you're at high risk or have already had a heart attack.

Having a heart attack is a scary experience. Even if your doctor says you're OK, you may still be afraid. How will this affect your life? Will you be able to get back to work or resume activities you enjoy? Even more frightening - will it happen again?

Fear is just one of the many emotions you and your family must deal with. These feelings are common, and openly discussing them with your doctor, a family member or a friend may help you better cope. You need to take care of yourself mentally as well as physically after a heart attack. Exercising and participating in cardiac rehabilitation sessions with other people who are recovering from a heart attack may help you work through these feelings. Surviving a heart attack doesn't mean that life as you knew it is over. On the contrary, most people lead full, active lives after a heart attack. But it may mean making some positive changes in your daily habits, being patient as you recover and adopting a can-do attitude.

(Sources: mayoclinic.com, americanheart.org, emedicinehealth.com,web-books.com)