Heart attacks are a major health problem we face today. Our fast food, fast paced, instant pleasure world has increased people's need for heart attack treatment. Most people deny any heart pain, which denial is actually consider a symptom. Another symptom most people have heard, of is the heart pain, or elephant on the chest as most heart attack victims describe; what they are actually feeling is chest pressure.
Along with heart pain or pressure there is the same pressure feeling in other parts of the upper body; being jaw, neck, back, shoulders. Some heart attack victims will have nausea and even vomit. Shortness of breath, anxiety, sweating, fainting are more signs of a heart attack, and you should seek help immediately. Heart attacks are caused by plaque clogging your arteries, which blocks oxygen rich blood from flowing, causing heart muscle to die. The sooner heart attack treatment is start less of the muscle will die.
Heart Attack Treatment
Upon arriving at the hospital there will many steps to determine your heart attack and treating it. It is important to note not all will require the same care. There will be a series of blood taken for you, the staff is looking for what they call positive troponins. You can expect a EKG which takes a picture of your heart's electrical system. You may be kept at the hospital and put on a heart monitor, it is like a EKG but it shows a constant ongoing picture of your heart. If at any time while you are at the hospital you should let the staff know if there is any increase of heart pain, or changes in your symptoms. Some victims will be started off on medicine for their heart attack treatment, this will include oxygen being put on you. Nitroglycerin is a term you will hear, it comes in pill and patch form; it is one of the most common medicines used for heart attack treatment. It may reduce your heart pain. Depending on your doctor and the type of heart attack, you may be subscribed a clot busting medication, blood thinners, or beta blockers which not only help relieve heart pain but helps to prevent future heart attacks.
Non Medicine Treatment
For some medication will not work as a treatment option. Angioplasty may be required. A angioplasty unclogs the artery that the clog is in. You will have a catheter inserted in a vein near the groin area. While being watching through live x-ray images, the catheter will be guided up to the clog in the artery. Once reaching the clog a balloon will be inflated to break up the clog. The artery will be open to let the blood flow back through. For some a stent may be placed after the balloon is inflated. A stent is mesh wire that expands and will help keep the blood flowing. A coronary artery bypass graft is a surgery that may be needed. Cabg is a short term for this surgery, that is open heart surgery. The surgeon will take a blood vessel called a graft from either your chest wall or legs. The graft will then be attached above and below the blockage. It will the redirect the blood flow, bypassing the blockage. Recovery time from such a major surgery can depend on the person. Soreness and pain can be expected, many test to make sure every thing is in proper working order will be required. A pace maker may also be inserted, before leaving the hospital. The best heart attack treatment is prevention. If heart attacks run in your family medical history, you are more prone to one. You can get a ton of diet and lifestyle advice to stay health, and a healthy diet, an active lifestyle does help. There are people that are health that still will have a heart attack, that is why regular check ups with a doctor is everyone's best prevention. A doctor will run tests, keep in mind your family history and will help suggest any changes that maybe needed.
