Signs and Symptoms of Heart Attack

A lot is written about the so called common signs of Heart Attacks and what they are supposed to typically consist of but what is fact and what is fiction? Here we take a look at the basic issues surrounding Heart Attacks or Myocardial infarctions.

A Heart Attack is also known as a Myocardial Infarction or MI or AMI when referred to as an Acute Myocardial Infarction.These occur when the blood supply to part of the heart is interrupted causing some heart cells to die. This is most commonly due to occlusion (blockage) of a coronary artery following the rupture of a vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque.An unstable collection of white blood cells (especially macrophages and lipids (like cholesterol) collectively known as Athersclerotic plaque separate from the wall of an artery.The end result of all of this (called ischemia) which is a restriction in blood supply) has been known to cause damage or death of the heart muscle tissue known as Myocardium.

Though symptoms of a Heart Attack do differ there are certain classic symptoms such as shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, pain in the arm, back and neck, and a growing sense of anxiety (also known as impending doom). Women may experience fewer typical symptoms than men, most commonly shortness of breath, weakness, a feeling of indigestion, and fatigue.{Approximately one quarter of all myocardial infarctions are silent, without chest pain or other symptoms.|It does have to be remembered though that 25 percent of all Myocardial Infarctions occur in silence and without classic symptoms such as chest pain.A heart attack is a medical emergency, and people experiencing chest pain are advised to alert their emergency medical services, because prompt treatment can be crucial to survival. To be quite honest in situations like these, minutes and seconds do matter.

Heart attacks are the leading cause of death for both men and women all over the world.Important risk factors are previous cardiovascular disease (such as angina, a previous heart attack or stroke), older age (especially men over 40 and women over 50), tobacco smoking, diet and exercise.

As is also imagined there are considerably more factors that are actually taken into consideration such as additional medical conditions of which potential or actual diabetes is one, obesity, high blood pressure or hypertension and/or incidence of kidney disease

Included in amongst immediate treatment for a suspected or acute heart attack is increased oxygen, the introduction of aspirin and also a liquid form of nitroglycerin known as sublingual glyceryl trinitrate.Pain relief is also often given, classically morphine sulfate.