HEALTH CARE TOPICS
"Heart Attacks- Be Careful"
What is a Heart Attack?
The leading cause of deaths among Americans in the United States is cardiovascular disease, disease of the heart and blood vessels. Among cardiovascular diseases, the greatest causes of deaths are due to diseases of the heart arteries (called coronary arteries) that supply blood to the heart muscles. A dreaded consequence of coronary artery disease is a heart attack, "death of the heart muscle cells due to a lack of blood supply."
A heart attack among clinical professionals is referred to as a myocardial infarction. A common symptom of a heart attack is chest pain (angina), or weakness or shortness of breath or a combination of symptoms. In addition, a very alarming presentation of coronary artery disease or a heart attack is sudden death. A healthy appearing person may suddenly develop symptoms and die immediately before arrival to a hospital.
How to Lower Your Risk for a Heart Attack?
(Reducing the Early Risk Factors Leading to a Heart Attack)
Coronary artery disease results from a process called atherosclerosis, "hardening of the arteries." In this process a large cholesterol filled plaque forms within the walls of the coronary arteries; thus narrowing the lumen and reducing the flow of blood to the heart. Atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries is caused by factors such as high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol levels, diabetes and high blood sugar levels, overweight and obesity, smoking, older age, and genetics. Genetics or family history may be illustrated by having several relatives within your family who have had a history of a heart attack. Means to reduce your risk for developing hardening of the heart arteries and formation of a cholesterol filled plaque include: control your blood pressure, cholesterol level, blood sugar level, and weight; exercise and eat healthy foods; and do not smoke tobacco.
Reducing the Latter Processes Leading to a Heart Attack
The condition that leads to a heart attack or myocardium infarctions in individuals with coronary artery disease is the rupture of the cholesterol plaque within the coronary artery blood vessel. This in turns leads to the formation of a blood clot that further occludes the flow of blood to the heart. In addition to control of the above factors, one can lower his or her risk by reducing stressful activities, cigarette cessation, and avoiding over working or exercising. Activities such as heavy lifting, prolonged jogging, and showering snow in the cold for too long have been commonly observed as precipitators of heart attacks. Finally, discuss with your doctor about taking a baby aspirin once a day to reduce your risk of forming a blood clot that may lead to a heart attack. Aspirin may have side effects such as bleeding, so be sure to speak with your doctor first.
This information may be a review to some or new to others. It is presented as basic and common points for you to understand or be reminded. It may help you to better converse with your doctor and family and others. May God continue to bless you!
Definitions in Review
Myocardial Infarction: a heart attack
Atherosclerosis: "hardening of the arteries"- a process in the blood
vessels that reduce blood flow to the heart and may lead to a heart attack
Coronary Artery Disease: disease of the heart arteries, caused by " hardening of the arteries," which may present as chest pain (angina) or a heart attack, or sudden death
Angina: Chest pain caused by "hardening of the arteries" of the heart and reduced blood flow to the heart muscles
Stable plaque: the hard cholesterol filled material within the heart blood vessels that forms as a result from the process of atherosclerosis
Ruptured plaque: a break in a once stable plaque leading to formation of a blood clot in the arteries of the heart, which further narrows the lumen of the heart arteries, resulting in a possible heart attack.