The heart can be described as a fist-sized muscular pump which relies on a constant blood supply rich in oxygen. Without an adequate supply of blood, the heart muscles die off. This is what happens in the event of heart attacks. Medically, a heart attack brings about death or heart tissue damage. Most heart attacks happen when the coronary arteries fail. The arteries are the networks of blood vessels which supply oxygen to your heart. The heart muscles get starved from nutrients and oxygen in the process. Millions suffer from heart attacks nationwide. It is unfortunate that a third of these victims lose their lives from the attack.
You can adopt several steps to reduce the adverse effects of heart attacks. This begins by making healthy lifestyle choices accompanied by sound medical care. This article offers some guidelines on Understanding a Heart Attack.
What are the Leading Causes of a Heart Attack?
The leading cause of heart attacks is coronary artery diseases. A narrowing or blocking of such arteries is what causes this. The narrowing brings about a buildup in fatty substances on the artery walls. Medically, the process is referred to as atherosclerosis which is derived from Greek word sclerosis. Plaque forms when the arterial walls are clogged. As the years’ pass, fat builds up fast on the artery walls. The body’s internal healing remedy is the release of chemicals that trap and seal the fat deposits. Unfortunately, such chemicals bring about unwanted substances such as inflammatory cells. Simply described, this is a plaque. With time, plaque can bring about ruptures that expose the fatty interior deposits. In response, clotting blood particles referred to as platelets will re-seal the ruptures. The blood clot formations hinder smooth blood flow to the heart. This breaks off blood vessels as they travel through small arteries.
Coronary Spasms
A less severe cause of heart attack is spasms in the coronary arteries that bring them up intermittently, diminishing blood supply to the heart muscles. Any spasms in the coronary arteries happen over long periods. It might happen when resting on people suffering from a coronary alert disease. Treatment of heart attack Among the heart attack treatment provided by patients suffering from heart attacks are:
Angioplasty and Stent Placement
The thin and flexible catheter guides your blood vessels to the blocked artery. Inflation of the tiny balloon at the catheter tip stretches the clogged artery-opening flattening the plaque. This helps restore your regular blood flow.
The Coronary artery bypass surgeries
Blood vessels are harvested from other parts of the patient’s baby. A bypass to the blocked coronary artery is created. The bypass can be performed on patients suffering from blockages.
Clot-Busting Drugs
Among the thrombolytic agents available are tissue plasminogen activation capable of dissolving blood clots. This reduces the severity of heart muscles which ultimately saves lives. These drugs can be administered through drip surgeries.
Conclusion
Emergency cardiac care specialists believe in the slogan time and muscle. As soon as you receive emergency care, blood flow is restored to the heart. If you do not receive immediate attention in the time that elapses between coronary heart attack and a balloon catheter, there is a high chance you will not survive without permanent heart damage.