Heart attack, Nigeria’s number 1 killer disease. A heart attack happens when there is a sudden complete blockage of an artery that supplies blood to an area of your heart. As we get older, the smooth inner walls of the arteries that supply the blood to the heart can become damaged and narrow due to the build up of fatty materials called plaque.
When an area of plaque breaks, blood cells and other parts of the blood stick to the damaged area and forms blood clots. A heart attack occurs when a blood clot completely blocks the flow of blood and seriously reduces blood flow to the heart muscle. As a result, some of the heart muscles start to die.
The longer the blockage is left untreated, the more the heart muscle is damaged. If the blood flow is not restored quickly, the damage to the heart muscle is permanent. A heart attack is sometimes called a myocardial infarction, acute myocardial infarction, coronary occlusion or coronary thrombosis.
Some people who are having a heart attack may have warning signs, while others show no signs. Some symptoms that many people report are: •chest pain, •upper body pain, •sweating, •nausea, •fatigue, •trouble breathing
What’s the difference between a heart attack and cardiac arrest?
A heart attack is when one of the coronary arteries becomes blocked. The heart muscle is robbed of its vital blood supply and, if left untreated, will begin to die because it is not getting enough oxygen. If you are having a heart attack you will be conscious.
A cardiac arrest is when a person’s heart stops pumping blood around their body and they stop breathing normally. If you are in cardiac arrest you will be unconscious and need to receive CPR immediately.
CAUSES OF
A HEART ATTACK
There are a few cardiac conditions that can cause heart attacks. One of the most common causes is plaque buildup in the arteries (atherosclerosis) that prevents blood from getting to the heart muscle.
Heart attacks can also be caused by blood clots or a torn blood vessel. Less commonly, a heart attack is caused by a blood vessel spasm.
RISK FACTORS
A number of factors can put you at risk for a heart attack. Some factors you can’t change, such as age and family history. Other factors, called modifiable risk factors, are ones you can change.
Risk factors that you can’t change include: •Age. If you’re over age 65, your risk for having a heart attack is greater. •Sex. Men are more at risk than women. •Family history. If you have a family history of heart disease, high blood pressure, obesity, or diabetes, you’re more at risk. •Race. People of African descent have a higher risk.
Modifiable risk factors which you can change include: •smoking, •high cholesterol, •obesity, •lack of exercise, •diet and alcohol consumption, •stress, •Uncontrolled high blood pressure.
HOW IS A HEART ATTACK DIAGNOSED?
To diagnose a heart attack, an emergency care team will ask you about your symptoms and begin to evaluate you. The diagnosis of the heart attack is based on your symptoms and test results. The goal of treatment is to treat you quickly and limit heart muscle damage.
TESTS AND TREATMENTS
If your doctor diagnoses a heart attack, they’ll use a variety of tests and treatments, depending on the cause. Your doctor may order a cardiac catheterization. This is a probe that’s inserted into your blood vessels through a soft flexible tube called a catheter. It allows your doctor to view areas where plaque may have built up. Your doctor can also inject dye into your arteries through the catheter and take an X-ray to see how the blood flows, as well as view any blockages.
If you’ve had a heart attack, your doctor may recommend a procedure (surgery or nonsurgical). Procedures can relieve pain and help prevent another heart attack from occurring.
COMMON PROCEDURES INCLUDE:
- Angioplasty
An angioplasty opens the blocked artery by using a balloon or by removing the plaque buildup.
- Stent: A stent is a wire mesh tube that’s inserted into the artery to keep it open after angioplasty.
Heart bypass surgery: In bypass surgery, your doctor reroutes the blood around the blockage.
Heart valve surgery: In valve replacement surgery, your leaky valves are replaced to help the heart pump.
- Pacemaker: A pacemaker is a device implanted beneath the skin. It’s designed to help your heart maintain a normal rhythm.
- Heart transplant. A transplant is performed in severe cases where the heart attack has caused permanent tissue death to most of the heart.
Your doctor may also prescribe medications to treat your heart attack, including: •aspirin •drugs to break up clots, •antiplatelet and anticoagulants, also known as blood thinners, •painkillers, •nitroglycerin •blood pressure medication
Since heart attacks are often unexpected, an emergency room doctor is usually the first to treat them. After the person is stable, they’re transferred to a doctor that specializes in the heart, called a cardiologist.
ALTERNATIVE TREATMENTS
Alternative treatments and lifestyle changes can improve your heart health and reduce your risk of a heart attack. A healthy diet and lifestyle are essential in maintaining a healthy heart.
PREVENTION
While there are many risk factors that are out of your control, there are still some basic steps you can take to keep your heart healthy. Smoking is a major cause of heart disease. Starting a smoking cessation program can reduce your risk. Maintaining a healthy diet, exercising, and limiting your alcohol intake are other important ways to reduce your risk. If you have diabetes, be sure to take your medications and check your blood glucose levels regularly. If you have a heart condition, work closely with your doctor and take your medication. Talk to your doctor if you have any concerns about your risk of a heart attack.
The single most important step you can take for heart health starts with what you put on your plate. A truly healthy diet features a broad range of fruits, vegetables, nuts and legumes.
- Spinach: Lowers blood pressure prevents atherosclerosis (be sure not to overcook so as to maximize the nutritional value).
- Oranges: Reduce blood pressure, cholesterol, and heart failure (An orange is great, but so are strawberries, apples, bananas, and kiwifruit, you can mix fruits up to make a fruit salad, if you are diabetic then stick to half an apple a day, eat more of cucumbers, garden egg).
- Garlic: Reduces blood pressure and plaque, I know the pungent smell is a huge turn off for most people, if you are scared of the garlic-breath, then do not chew it but crush and swallow a clove instead at bed time •Red Wine: Boosts HDL, reduces unwanted clotting
- Dark Chocolate: Reduces blood pressure
- Sardines: Lower triglycerides, raise HDL
- Lentils: Reduce blood pressure ( this is not common in our local markets but can be found in big supermarkets)
- Almonds: Reduce LDL and fatal arrhythmias
- Avocado: Reduce atherosclerosis Heart healthy foods are easy to add into your diet! You just have to know where to start. No one is too old to start taking charge of their health. In fact, the earlier you start with foods that help your heart, the better off you’ll be when you reach the age where heart attacks are more likely. Make sure to incorporate all these foods in your diet to lower your risk and avoid a heart attack or stroke.
HEALTH CHECKS
If you’re 40-74 you should ask your doctor or nurse for a heart health check to assess your risk of having a heart attack in the next 10 years.
Identifying and managing a condition such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol could help lower your risk of a heart attack in the future. You are considered to have a family history of heart and circulatory diseases if:
- your father or brother was under the age of 55 when they were diagnosed with heart and circulatory disease, or
- your mother or sister was under the age of 65 when they were diagnosed with heart and circulatory disease.
For women, your hormones may give you some protection from heart and circulatory diseases in your pre-menopause years. Post menopause, your risk rises – and continues to rise as your get older. It is then important to be aware of the lifestyle factors that can increase your chances of developing heart and circulatory diseases.
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