A heart attack occurs when something obstructs blood flow to the heart, preventing the organ from receiving the oxygen that it needs to function properly. Unfortunately, heart attacks are a common concern, affecting millions of people around the world each year. Here’s what you should know about this serious health concern.
1. Symptoms vary from person to person
According to registered nurse Rosemary Byrnes*, heart attack symptoms do tend to vary from person to person. “One may experience just one symptom or a combination of symptoms,” she explains.
Some of the most common symptoms, however, include discomfort or pain in the chest, tightness in one or more parts of the upper body; nausea; cold sweats and shortness of breath. Interestingly, certain symptoms are more likely in women than in men — women are more likely, for example, to experience a sense of discomfort in the gut, much like indigestion; or pain that affects the neck, shoulders and back.
2. Heart attacks are caused by a blocked blood supply
In order for your heart to function as it should, it needs to have a constant supply of oxygen-rich blood. This blood supply is provided by the coronary arteries, but if these arteries become blocked or narrowed, blood flow will be affected. If you have coronary artery disease, plaques build up in the arteries —these plaques typically comprise inflammatory cells, as well as fat, calcium and proteins.
Each coronary artery is responsible for providing blood to a different part of the heart. The extent of damage done to the heart muscle as the result of a heart attack will depend on the area that the blocked artery supplies, as well as how much time passes between the attack and medical treatment.
3. It’s possible for the heart to heal
The good news is that it is possible for the heart muscle to repair after a heart attack. This healing process generally occurs over the course of a couple of months. Much like a skin wound, a scar forms in the damaged part of the heart. The size, as well as the location of the scar, will have an impact on the heart’s ability to pump in the long-term. Byrnes explains that it is common to experience lasting side-effects following a heart attack. “These include chest pain, swelling of the extremities and shortness of breath,” she says.
4. Lifestyle changes can help to prevent further damage
If you have had a heart attack, it is important that you adhere to any instructions that your doctor has given you regarding medications and/or any appropriate lifestyle changes. Ideally, you should try to keep your heart as healthy as possible in order to prevent further damage. Byrnes recommends regular exercise, along with a balanced, low-salt diet. “Weight loss is advisable if you are overweight,” she says. “And ensure that blood pressure, cholesterol and stress levels are well controlled.”
Also read: Tips for a healthy heart
Visit the Heart and Stroke Foundation website for more information.
*Rosemary Byrnes* is a registered nurse and the Head of Campus at South Cape Karoo Nursing Campus at the Western Cape College of Nursing in George.
IMAGE CREDIT: 123rf.com
* Reliance on any information provided on this Website is solely at your own risk.
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