Heart attack is the death of heart muscle cells caused by total or partial obstruction of coronary arteries, which reduces blood flow and oxygen supply to the myocardium, resulting in symptoms such as chest pain that radiates to the arm, nausea, sweating cold or pale, for example.
A heart attack, also called acute myocardial infarction (AMI) or heart attack, generally occurs due to the accumulation of fatty plaques inside the coronary arteries, which occurs due to genetics or risk factors such as smoking, obesity and unbalanced diet.
Read too: Acute myocardial infarction: what it is, symptoms, causes and treatment
A heart attack is a medical emergency that can put your life at risk and, therefore, you must immediately go to the emergency room to undergo the treatment recommended by your cardiologist with medication, catheterization or angioplasty to regulate the flow of blood to the heart.
Check out, in the following video, the main questions about heart attacks with Dr. João Petriz:
Heart attack symptoms
The main symptoms of a heart attack are:
- Pain on the left side of the chest in the form of tightness, which radiates as numbness or pain to the left arm or right arm, neck, back or chin;
- Pallor (white face);
- Nausea;
- Cold sweat;
- Dizziness;
- Burning sensation in one of the arms or jaw;
- Shortness of breathe;
- Bad to be.
Heart attack symptoms usually begin gradually and gradually worsen, lasting more than 20 minutes.
However, in some cases, the heart attack can happen suddenly, with very rapid worsening, a situation known as a fulminant heart attack.
Furthermore, the most common heart attack symptoms in women are abdominal pain, dizziness or a feeling of heaviness in the arms, often without feeling chest pain, which can be confused with less serious problems, such as gastritis, gas or anxiety.
Read too: Heart attack or anxiety: main differences (and what to do)
As the treatment has to be carried out in the hospital, as soon as the first symptoms appear it is important to call SAMU immediately, and if there is loss of consciousness it is important to have a cardiac massage until medical help arrives. Learn how to do cardiac massage correctly.
How the diagnosis is made
The diagnosis of a heart attack is made by a cardiologist or general practitioner at the hospital through the evaluation of symptoms and the results of tests such as the electrocardiogram, also called ECG, and laboratory tests, such as troponin. See more about exams that evaluate the heart.
Consult the nearest cardiologist to evaluate the risk of a heart attack:
Taking care of your health has never been easier!
Causes of heart attack
Most of the time, a heart attack is caused by the total or partial blockage of one or more coronary arteries, by fatty plaques, called atherosclerosis, which prevents blood flow and the supply of oxygen to the heart muscle, leading to death. myocardial cells.
Read too: 9 main causes of heart attack (and what to do)
In addition, heart attack can also occur due to spasms in the coronary arteries, infections or damage to the heart muscle, or dissection (rupture) of coronary arteries.
Risk factors for heart attack
The main factors that can increase the risk of heart attack are:
- Personal history of heart attack or pre-eclampsia;
- History of heart attack in the family;
- Smoking habit;
- High pressure;
- Diabetes mellitus;
- High LDL or low HDL cholesterol;
- High triglycerides;
- Abdominal obesity;
- Metabolic syndrome.
Furthermore, some autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus or rheumatoid arthritis, or the use of illicit drugs can also increase the risk of heart attack.
Other risk factors for heart attack are a sedentary lifestyle, depression, stress and a diet low in vegetables and fruits and/or high in fat.
Read too: Chest pain: 11 causes (and when it could be a heart attack)
Heart attack risk calculator
Use the calculator below and find out your risk of having a heart attack:
The heart attack risk calculator is just a guidance tool, not serving as a diagnosis or replacing a consultation with a cardiologist.
How the treatment is carried out
Heart attack treatment is carried out in the hospital, under the guidance of a cardiologist, and aims to reestablish blood flow to the heart muscle and avoid complications.
The main treatments for heart attack are:
1. Use of medicines
The use of medicines for heart attacks is started as soon as the person arrives at the hospital, and is generally done with:
- Antiplatelet agentssuch as acetylsalicylic acid;
- Anticoagulantslike heparin;
- Opioidssuch as morphine, to help relieve pain;
- Nitratessuch as nitroglycerin, to increase the dilation of blood vessels, facilitating the flow of oxygen to the heart;
- Statinsto reduce cholesterol;
- Medicines to reduce blood pressure and heart worksuch as beta blockers or angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors.
In addition, thrombolytic or fibrinolytic medications, such as tenecteplase or alteplase, can be applied to the vein to dissolve the clot or thrombus that is obstructing the coronary artery.
2. Oxygen therapy
Oxygen therapy, if necessary, is also started immediately as soon as the person arrives at the hospital, to increase the amount of oxygen in the blood and reduce the effort on the heart, being done together with the use of medication and intensive monitoring of the disease.
This type of treatment can be done with a nasal catheter, oxygen mask or even mechanical ventilation, which varies depending on the severity of the symptoms presented and oxygen saturation in the body.
3. Non-drug treatment
Non-drug treatment for heart attack can be done through cardiac catheterization or coronary angioplasty, with placement of stentto unblock the coronary arteries and restore blood flow to the myocardium.
Furthermore, in some cases, the doctor may recommend bypass surgery. See how the saphenous bypass is done.
Read too: How is treatment carried out after a heart attack?
How to avoid heart attack
To prevent a heart attack, it is recommended:
- Maintain an adequate weight, avoiding obesity;
- Practice physical activities regularly, at least 3 times a week;
- Do not smoke;
- Control high blood pressure with medication prescribed by a cardiologist;
- Control cholesterol, with diet or use of medicines advised by your doctor;
- Correctly treat diabetes;
- Avoid stress and anxiety;
- Avoid excessive alcohol consumption and drug use.
Furthermore, it is recommended to make a check-up regularly, at least once a year, with the general practitioner or cardiologist, so that the risk factors for heart attack are detected as soon as possible, and guidance is given that can improve health and reduce the risk.
Read too: 7 essential habits to avoid heart attack and stroke
Possible complications
A heart attack can cause complications such as arrhythmias, heart failure, pericarditis, heart valve problems, cardiogenic shock or cardiac arrest.
Read too: 7 symptoms of cardiac arrest and what to do
Therefore, it is important to seek medical help or go to the emergency room immediately as soon as symptoms of a heart attack appear, to quickly start treatment and avoid complications that can put your life at risk.
