Cardiovascular diseases are almost on the first place among the causes of mortality in many countries. One of the most common pathologies is a heart attack, what kind of disease is it, why is it developing, is it possible to prevent the disease and how to help the patient? We will try to answer all these questions in detail.
Heart attack - what is it?
Almost everyone knows that this is a dangerous condition, but the mechanism and causes of development are not always of interest, although this must be known in order to prevent such a pathology. A heart attack develops as a result of a violation of the blood supply to the areas of the heart muscle.
This pathology is also called one of the forms of coronary heart disease. If the blood supply is disturbed for more than 15-20 minutes, then necrosis of living tissues occurs, which is accompanied by severe pain and can be fatal.
Cardiologists note that in the male population, heart attack will occur much more often, because in the female body estrogens control blood cholesterol. Previously, the average age of heart attack development was 55-60 years, but now it is relatively younger. Cases of pathology are diagnosed even in young people.
A heart attack does not always end fatally for a person, but you need to know that after what has happened, a scar always remains on the heart, so many patients receive a disability after suffering such a disease.
How does a heart attack develop?
The formation of a heart attack begins long before its manifestation. It all starts with the formation of atherosclerotic plaques that begin to form in the vessels of bad cholesterol. The culprits of its appearance in the blood are errors in nutrition and a sedentary lifestyle. These plaques gradually narrow the lumen of the vessels, disrupting normal blood circulation.
The process is gradually exacerbated, plaques become so large that any pathological effect on them leads to rupture. At this point, blood coagulates, forming a blood clot, which clogs the vessel, preventing the blood from passing further. It is precisely this process that occurs in the region of the heart during a heart attack.
Reasons for the development of pathology
If a heart attack develops, the causes may be different, but the main one is the cessation of blood flow to some parts of the heart muscle. This is most often due to:
- Atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries, as a result of which the vessel walls lose their elasticity, the lumen is narrowed by atherosclerotic plaques.
- Coronary spasm, which can occur against a background of stress, for example, or exposure to other external factors.
- Arterial thrombosis, if the plaque comes off and is brought to the heart with a current of blood.
The factors that can provoke such conditions include:
- Hereditary predisposition to cardiac pathologies.
- High blood content of "bad" cholesterol.
- The presence of such a bad habit as smoking.
- Too much body weight.
- Arterial hypertension.
- Diabetes.
- A large amount of fatty foods in the diet.
- Chronic stress
- Some doctors also note the influence of psychosomatics, when excessive aggression and intolerance become the cause of a heart attack.
- Belonging to the stronger sex.
- Low physical activity.
- Age after 40 years.
It must be taken into account, if there is a combination of several factors, the risk of developing a heart attack increases.
Types of disease
If we analyze a pathology such as a heart attack (what it is, we already found out), then cardiologists distinguish several forms of pathology, depending on several criteria.
If we consider the stages of the disease, then there are four, each of which is characterized by its own characteristics. The size of the affected area is also taken into account in the classification. Allocate:
- Macrofocal infarction, when tissue necrosis captures the entire thickness of the myocardium.
- Small focal, a small part is affected.
By location, they distinguish:
- Right ventricular infarction.
- Left ventricle.
- Interventricular septum.
- Side wall.
- Back wall.
- The front wall of the ventricle.
A heart attack can occur with or without complications, so cardiologists distinguish:
- Complicated heart attack.
- Uncomplicated.
The localization of pain can also be different, therefore, the following types of heart attacks are distinguished:
- A typical form with pain behind the sternum.
- The atypical form can be manifested by abdominal pain, shortness of breath, cardiac arrhythmias, dizziness, and headache. Sometimes a heart attack develops in the absence of pain.
Types of heart attacks are also distinguished depending on the frequency of development:
- Primary pathology.
- Recurrent myocardial infarction.
- Repeated.
Life after a heart attack will depend on the severity of the pathology, its form and timely assistance.
Stages of heart attack development
Necrotic changes in the heart muscle develop in a certain sequence, therefore, the following stages of a heart attack are distinguished:
- Preinfarction condition. The duration of this period is from several hours to several weeks, at which time small foci of necrosis are already forming in the heart muscle, and then a heart attack develops in their place.
- The sharpest period can last from a few minutes to 2 hours. Myocardial ischemia is increasing.
- The acute stage of a heart attack lasts several days. During this period, a focus of necrosis is formed in the heart and partial resorption of damaged muscle tissue is observed.
- The post-infarction stage can last up to six months, a scar from connective tissue is finally formed.
Diagnosis of myocardial infarction
The diagnosis begins with a conversation with the patient. The doctor finds out when the pain appeared, what kind of pain they have, how long it lasts, how the patient relieves heart attacks and whether there is a result from taking medication.
Then, risk factors are necessarily identified, for this the doctor clarifies the characteristics of the lifestyle, culinary preferences, the presence of bad habits. An analysis of the family history is performed - the doctor finds out if there are heart diseases in the family, whether there were any cases of a heart attack.
Next, the patient is sent to the following examinations and analyzes:
- A general blood test is done, it allows you to detect an increased level of white blood cells, a high erythrocyte sedimentation rate, signs of anemia - all this begins to appear when the cells of the heart muscle are destroyed.
- A urinalysis will help to find concomitant pathologies that can provoke heart attacks.
- A biochemical blood test is performed to determine:
- cholesterol content;
- the ratio of "bad" and "good" cholesterol;
- the presence of triglycerides;
- blood sugar to assess the risk of arteriosclerosis.
If there is a suspicion of a heart attack, then a study of specific blood enzymes is carried out.
A coagulogram is made, it gives blood coagulation indicators that help to choose the right dosage of drugs for treatment.
Diagnosis of myocardial infarction is impossible without electrocardiography. According to the results, the specialist can determine the localization of the pathology, the prescription of development and the degree of damage.
An ultrasound examination of the heart is performed to study the structure and size of the heart muscle, to assess the degree of vascular damage by atherosclerotic plaques.
An x-ray helps to detect changes in the thoracic aorta, lungs and detect complications.
Coronary angiography is used to clarify the diagnosis, it allows you to accurately determine the place and degree of vasoconstriction.
Computed tomography with contrast allows you to get an accurate image of the heart, identify defects in its walls, valves, deviations in functioning and narrowing of blood vessels.
After all studies, a physician consultation may be necessary.
Only after the diagnosis is clarified, the patient is prescribed effective therapy that will help life after a heart attack lead back to normal.
Symptoms of pathology
As a rule, a heart attack does not develop from scratch, usually the patient has already been diagnosed with angina pectoris or other cardiac pathologies. If a heart attack develops, symptoms, the first signs in women and men may be as follows:
- Pain behind the sternum becomes more intense and prolonged. The pain has a burning character, compression and squeezing is felt, it can be given to the shoulder, arm or neck.
- Irradiation and expansion of the pain zone appear.
- The patient can not tolerate physical activity.
- Reception of "Nitroglycerin" does not already give such an effect.
- Even at rest, shortness of breath, weakness, and dizziness appear.
- There may be discomfort in the stomach.
- Heart rhythm is disturbed.
- Breathing becomes difficult.
- Cold sweat appears, the skin turns pale.
If at least some of the listed symptoms appear, it is urgent to call a doctor.
First aid to the patient
If there is a suspicion of a heart attack, symptoms, the first signs in women will only progress, if you do not provide emergency care. It is as follows:
- A person needs to be seated or put in a comfortable position.
- To undo the squeezing clothes.
- Provide air access.
- Give a tablet of "Nitroglycerin" under the tongue, if the attack is strong, then two can be.
- If there is no Nitroglycerin, then you can use Corvalol or Aspirin.
Emergency care for a heart attack will help relieve pain during an attack and reduce the risk of complications.
Complications after a heart attack
It is very rare that a heart attack occurs without complications, the consequences are almost always. They reduce life expectancy after the pathology. Most often, the following complications are diagnosed:
- Heart failure.
- Rupture of the heart muscle.
- Aneurysm.
- Cardiogenic shock.
- Violation of the rhythm of the heart.
- Postinfarction angina pectoris.
- Pericarditis.
A heart attack may have late consequences, for example:
- After a few weeks, a post-infarction syndrome may develop.
- Thromboembolic complications are often noted.
- Neurotrophic disorders of the nervous system.
Many patients are interested in the question of how much can you survive after a heart attack? The answer will depend on several factors: the degree of damage to the heart muscle, the timeliness of first aid, the effectiveness and correctness of therapy, the development of complications.
According to statistics, about 35% of patients die, most of them do not even reach a medical institution. Those patients who have suffered a heart attack, most often forced to change the scope of their activities or even to leave work, many receive disabilities.
How to prevent a repeated heart attack or prevent its occurrence altogether
Everyone now understands about a heart attack, that this is a very serious disease that can result in death or make it disabled. But everything is in the hands of the person himself - if you follow some recommendations, you can significantly reduce the risk of developing this pathology:
- Constantly control the level of blood pressure, especially if there is a periodic increase in it.
- Monitor your blood sugar.
- In the summer, avoid exposure to direct sunlight for a long time.
- You need to review your diet, reduce the consumption of fatty foods, processed foods and add fresh vegetables and fruits.
- Increase physical activity, it is not necessary to go to the gym, it is enough to take walks every day, walk a lot, ride a bicycle.
- If health is more expensive, you will have to give up smoking and alcohol abuse, as well as not get carried away with coffee.
- To keep your weight normal, if you yourself can’t reduce it, you can visit a nutritionist who will help you create an individual nutrition program.
- In the presence of chronic diseases, it is necessary to treat them periodically, especially, this applies to cardiac pathologies, vascular diseases.
- If relatives were diagnosed with myocardial infarction, then they should take their health more seriously and avoid hard physical labor.
- Every year you need to arrange a good rest for yourself away from the bustle of the city, you can go to the mountains or to the sea coast.
- Expose yourself to psychoemotional loads as little as possible, learn relaxation techniques.
- Regularly undergo an examination and take all the necessary tests to timely detect elevated levels of sugar or cholesterol in the blood.
If a heart attack could not be avoided, then all efforts must be made to prevent a second attack. To do this, you must follow all the doctor's recommendations, take prescribed medications and change your lifestyle.