What is an Heart Attack?
A heart attack is caused when the blood supply to the heart is cut off. The lack of oxygen rich blood causes the heart muscle to begin to die. The more time that passes without adequate blood flow to the heart, the more damage occurs. The quicker people recognize the symptoms of a heart attack and seek care, the less damage to the heart.
A heart attack usually does not come on suddenly, but occurs over several hours. Early recognition of the symptoms and fast action are the best weapons against damage from a heart attack. People treated within the first two hours of a heart attack, receiving early and appropriate treatment, can reduce the damage to the heart muscle, decrease or prevent complications from the heart attack and improve their personal outcomes. A person having a heart attack may experience the following (could be some or all):
Symptoms of Heart Attack:-
A) Chest pain or uncomfortable pressure, burning, fullness or squeezing in the center of the chest, lasting several minutes or coming and going.
B) Prolonged pain in the abdomen
C) Shortness of breath
D) Lightheadedness, dizziness, fainting
E) Sweating (cold sweat) and chilling
F) Nausea or vomiting
G) Shoulder or arm pain (one or both sides), pain in the back, neck, jaw or throat. Pain spreading to the shoulders, neck or arms. The pain may be mild to intense. It may feel like pressure, tightness, burning or heavy weight.
H) Other Symptoms: May include anxiety, nervousness, cold, Increased or irregular heart rate. Profuse sweating is a common accompaniment.
Symptoms mimicking a Heart Attack and often ignored:
A) Severe upper abdominal discomfort with feeling of fainting or throwing up.
B) Pain in the jaw and teeth without any local dental problem, this is a referred pain and often accompanied by sweating and difficulty in breathing.
First Aid in Case of a Heart Attack:
Minutes count! If you or someone you know is experiencing these symptoms, it is imperative to seek emergency medical help right away. Time is the most important factor to save the heart muscle from getting permanently damaged with bad short term and long term prognosis. The first hour after heart is also called the “Golden Hour” because effective treatment instituted within 1 hour to open the blocked artery can lead to complete reversal of the damage suffered. Delay in starting the treatment leads to irreversible damage to the heart. Treatment started more than 12 hours after suffering a heart attack is of very little use in most instances.
The best place to manage a patient with a heart attack is a hospital with facility of ECG monitoring and providing critical care. Coronary Care Units (CCU) are specialized areas where equipment and medical personnel to manage these sick patients is kept at one place. Early detection and prompt treatment is the goal of keeping these patients in this area which reduces the mortality of a heart attack from approximately 20% to 3-5%. This is achieved by restoring the blood flow in the blocked coronary artery either by using drugs “clot busters” (Streptokinase, tenectaplase etc) or if facilities exist by doing an emergency angioplasty and stenting.
Pre- Hospital Measures:
General measures before patient is shifted to a hospital or a medical center• Have the person sit down and calm. If clothing is tight then loose it.
• Immediately transport to the nearest hospital or ambulance service. Do not leave the person alone.
• Nothing should be given except for sublingual tablets or any other medication prescribed by the doctor. A tablet of aspirin helps person to limit the damage. 300 mgs of aspirin chewed at the time of heart attack can reduce the mortality by 15 to 20%.
• Take nitroglycerin, if prescribed. If you have previously been prescribed nitroglycerin by your physician, take it as directed. You should never take someone else’s prescriptions because it could put you in greater danger.
• Make sure the patient continues breathing and has a pulse until the ambulance arrives or the patient reaches the emergency department of a hospital.
• If there is no breathing or pulse, give Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). Immediately place the palm of your hand on the patient’s chest just over the lower part of the sternum (breast bone) and press your hand in a pumping motion once or twice by using the other hand. This may make the heart beat again. If possible, raise the legs up 10 to 15 inches to allow more blood to flow towards the heart.
It should be remembered that prompt recognition and diagnosis of a heart attack is the key and such patients should be rushed to the nearest hospital without any delay. Delay can be fatal.
Post- Hospital Measures:Call 126 126 a Cardiac / Heart Helpline Number or your local medical emergency number. If you don’t have access to emergency medical services, have someone drive you to the nearest hospital emergency room. Drive yourself only as a last resort, if there are absolutely no other options, keep in mind that you place yourself and others at risk when you drive under these circumstances.
NOTE: Please remember that anyone with the above symptoms should be immediately rushed to the hospital as delay can be fatal. If you are yourself having an Heart Attack, then Drive yourself only as a last resort, if there are absolutely no other options, keep in mind that you place yourself and others at risk when you drive under these circumstances.
Thanks & Regards Prashant Uikey Founder - "IT'S MY RIGHT" Forum: CLICK TO JOIN Striving For Protection & Successful Implementation Of Citizen's Rights
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