First aid for an attack of angina pectoris: methods, procedure, review of drugs

In the article, we will consider how to provide first aid for an attack of angina pectoris.

Angina pectoris is a specific term that indicates the development of pathologies in the system of the heart and blood vessels, which face serious consequences, up to disability or death. However, many people do not perceive the symptoms of angina pectoris as a problem that needs to be addressed immediately. That is why pathology occupies one of the leading places in the world in mortality. It is extremely important for any person to know how to provide first aid for an attack of angina pectoris - this can help save a person’s life.

Symptomatology

It is quite difficult for a non-specialist to distinguish an onset of angina attack from the initial stage of myocardial infarction. Both diseases have similar symptoms, while the consequences vary greatly. Previously, angina pectoris was called angina pectoris. Knowledge of the clinical manifestations of this pathology can prevent serious consequences for the body. You also need to know the first aid measures for an attack of angina pectoris.

Among the symptoms are:

1. Soreness in the area behind the sternum, which lasts a long time, has a burning, compressive, pressing character. Often the pain radiates to other areas - to the abdominal cavity, jaw, back, arms, neck.
2. An attack can occur during physical activity and is called angina pectoris, as well as during rest. This condition is called angina pectoris.
3. When an attack occurs, a person begins to feel a lack of air, shortness of breath develops, which is accompanied by numbness of the limbs.
4. A panic attack develops.

How to provide first aid for signs of an attack of angina in women and men, it is important to find out in advance.

Causes

Fatigue during emotional or physical exertion is the first sign that the cardiovascular system does not fully cope with its main task, which is to provide tissues and organs with blood in a volume that is sufficient for their active functioning.

To understand what a sudden pain in the heart can threaten, a minimal knowledge of the cause of its occurrence will allow. It is known that the heart is a pump that pumps blood to body tissues through a branched vascular system. This ensures the supply of nutrients and oxygen to the cells.

The appearance of atherosclerotic plaques on the walls of the coronary arteries leads to a narrowing of their lumen, obstruction of the outgoing blood flow. This is the main reason why angina pectoris develops. When the body is at rest, it has enough blood flow, but during exercise, the need for cells in oxygen increases sharply. If a person has atherosclerosis, the intense activity of the heart is insufficient, the body experiences oxygen starvation. The most prone to myocardial hypoxia, that is, the heart itself. During an ischemic attack from the heart muscle, an alarm signal comes in the brain, expressed in pain and indicating the development of an angina attack.

With significant atherosclerosis, overlap of most of the lumen of the coronary artery is observed. In this case, an angina attack can develop when a person is at rest, often when he is sleeping. If the attack persists for 20 minutes, the death of the myocardial cell structures begins. This marks the beginning of the development of a heart attack. That is why it is important that a person with an angina attack receive emergency care as soon as possible.

Possible pathological conditions that led to angina pectoris

It is worth noting that atherosclerosis is not the only cause leading to the development of angina pectoris. The following pathological conditions can also cause it:

1. Increased physical, psycho-emotional stress.
2. Belonging to the stronger sex - in women, angina attacks develop much less frequently.
3. Genetic feature of the body.
4. Age over 40 years.
5. ENT pathology.
6. Pathological menopause neurosis.
7. Gastrointestinal diseases.
8. Pathology of the aorta.
9. Chronic forms of hypertension.
10. Arrhythmias.
11. Spasms in the coronary arteries.
12. Heart defects.
13. Surviving myocardial infarction.
14. Anemia.
    

Important in the formation of angina pectoris is the lifestyle that a person leads. Bad habits lead to the fact that the state of blood vessels deteriorates, they lose their elasticity.

High fat

Eating large quantities of sugary and fatty foods provokes an increase in blood fats, and this, in turn, is the main reason for the development of atherosclerosis. Hypodynamia also leads to the same result. The exclusion of these factors is the key to preventing the formation of cardiac pathologies.

First aid for an attack of angina pectoris

In the event of sudden pain behind the sternum, to prevent serious consequences, certain actions should be taken immediately.

What is the first aid? The action algorithm for an attack of angina pectoris looks like this (it is worth noting the importance of performing the action in this order):

1. Contact an ambulance, as accurately as possible describing the clinical manifestations of the patient.
2. Waiting for a doctor to provide a person with complete peace, eliminating any movements as much as possible. The best position to reduce the load on the heart muscle is the reclining position.
3. If the patient has fear or a sense of anxiety, it is necessary to reassure him. The use of sedatives is allowed.
4. You can alleviate the condition by ventilating the room, which will provide an influx of fresh air, unfastening clothing if it makes breathing difficult.
5. It is necessary to give the patient under the tongue a tablet of “Nitroglycerin” - the first emergency medication for a person. What else is first aid for symptoms of an angina attack?
6. In order to prevent the development of an acute form of thrombosis, it is recommended to give the patient one Aspirin tablet under the tongue.
7. If there is no improvement, 10 minutes after the use of Nitroglycerin, the medication should be repeated. In case of an acute attack, a five-fold use of the medicine is allowed - every five minutes, until an ambulance arrives.
8. When relief occurs in a patient, a bed rest should be provided for at least two hours.
   

First aid for an attack of angina pectoris should be immediate.

Features of the use of "Nitroglycerin" in an attack

Angina pectoris is a manifestation of myocardial ischemia. In this regard, the task of first aid is to ensure the restoration of normal blood circulation. The first aid drug for an attack of angina pectoris is Nitroglycerin. It belongs to the group of nitrates. The principle of their effect is based on the expansion of blood vessels, including coronary arteries. As a result, there is a decrease in myocardial oxygen demand. In addition, Nitroglycerin is able to eliminate vasospasm, which is the second most frequent cause of angina attack. This effect of the drug is due to an increase in the contractility of the heart.

"Nitroglycerin" for patients suffering from heart failure is not only an emergency aid for angina attacks, but also a preventive medication that can prevent the development of pain behind the sternum, if increased psycho-emotional, physical activity is supposed.

It is worth noting that the use of "Nitroglycerin" is justified only if there are symptoms indicative of an angina attack. In other cases, the medication can provoke a significant and sharp deterioration in the patient's well-being.

Side effects of the drug

Nitroglycerin is produced not only in tablet form, but also in the form of an aerosol. The use of the drug can provoke the occurrence of negative symptoms:

1. Headache.
2. Sensation of severe ripple.
3. Visual impairment, which is manifested by the effect of flickering flies in front of the eyes.
4. The appearance of extraneous noise in the ears.
5. Dizziness.

How do doctors provide emergency care for symptoms of an angina attack?

Medical staff actions

If it was not possible to stop the attack by the time the ambulance arrived, the doctors administer the intravenous analgesics related to the drugs of the drug group (morphine hydrochloride, Fentanyl, Promedol) promptly. Their effect is supplemented with tranquilizers. The best effect is manifested when using a neuroleptic such as Droperidol.

After an anginal attack, the patient is shown an ECG, which will exclude the initial stages of myocardial infarction. If myocardial infarction is diagnosed, the patient is immediately hospitalized.

The procedure for a protracted angina attack

If anginal pain persists for 10 minutes or more, the attack is classified as protracted. It is advisable that medical assistance arrives at this time. If the arrival of the doctors was delayed, the following methods of eliminating the attack should be used:

1. Continue to use Nitroglycerin.
2. Inject intravenously 20 ml of glucose (5%).
3. If severe pain is present, intravenous administration of 5 ml of non-narcotic analgesics is allowed: Baralgin, Analgin, Maksigan.
4. The effect of analgesics should be supplemented with tranquilizers: “Diphenhydramine” in a dose of 2 ml or “Seduxen” in a dose of 4 ml.
5. Sublingual use of Aspirin will reduce the likelihood of thrombosis.
   

Conclusion

Most often, an angina attack does not last long, its symptoms disappear when using Nitroglycerin. If the effect of this medication is absent, then this may be evidence of significant stenosis of the coronary arteries. In this case, the patient is shown an additional examination in the form of coronarography. In some cases, surgery is required.

We examined what is the first aid for an attack of angina pectoris.