Myocardial Infarction
Back to Heart DiseaseWhat is Heart Disease
There are many types of heart disease. About 25% of all Americans have one or more types of cardiovascular disease.The major types of heart disease are atherosclerosis, coronary, rheumatic, congenital, myocarditis, angina and arrhythmia.
Heart disease can arise from congenital defects, infection, narrowing of the coronary arteries, high blood pressure, or disturbances.
The first stages of heart disease are lesions and cracks forming in the blood vessel walls normally at the points of highest pressure or stress (near the heart). The second stage is the body trying to repair itself by depositing fatty substances (cholesterol, lipoproteins) inside the blood vessels to fill the cracks.
Over time, without the proper body nutrient, vitamin C, to help keep the blood vessel walls from cracking and requiring constant repair, these fatty substances can begin to build up and clog the blood vessels causing stroke and heart attack
A heart attack is also called a myocardial infarction or an MI. Myocardial refers to the myocardium, the heart muscle. Infarction is tissue death due to a local lack of oxygen
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What happens during a heart Attack
The heart works 24 hours a day, pumping oxygen- and nutrient-rich blood to the body. Blood is supplied to the heart through its coronary arteries.In coronary heart disease (CHD), plaques or fatty substances build up inside the walls of the arteries. The plaques also attract blood components, which stick to the artery wall lining. Called atherosclerosis, the process develops gradually, over many years. It often begins early in life, even in childhood.
The fatty buildup or plaque can break open and lead to the formation of a blood clot that seals the break. The clot reduces blood flow.
The cycle of fatty buildup, plaque rupture, and blood clot formation causes the coronary arteries to narrow, reducing blood flow.
When too little blood reaches the heart, the condition is called ischemia. Chest pain, or angina, may occur. The pain can vary in occurrence and be mild and intermittent, or more pronounced and steady. It can be severe enough to make normal everyday activities difficult. The same inadequate blood supply also may cause no symptoms, a condition called silent ischemia.
If a blood clot suddenly cuts off most or all blood supply to the heart, a heart attack results. Cells in the heart muscle that do not receive enough oxygen-carrying blood begin to die. The more time that passes without treatment to restore blood flow, the greater the damage to the heart.
What Causes a Heart Attack?
The most common cause of heart attack is the sudden blockage of one of the heart's arteries by a blood clot. These clots typically form in arteries that are already affected by atherosclerosis - that is, the arteries are narrowed by fatty deposits of plaque and other materials.Click Here to read the Seven Steps to a Healthy Heart
Symptoms of heart disease
Symptoms of heart disease varies according to the type of heart disease.Unfortunately, some heart diseases cause no symptoms early in its course. When symptoms occur, they vary from person to person.
Symptoms may may include chest pain, shortness of breath, weakness and fatigue, palpitations (the sensation of the heart beating in the chest), lightheadedness, and fainting, or feeling about to faint.
Heart Disease Prevention and Cure
Some forms of heart disease can be prevented.To prevent coronary heart disease, one must exercise consistently, have a low salt and low fat diet, restrain from smoking and lose a couple of pounds if overweight.
Healthy diets also help prevent heart disease
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Preventing Heart Disease
Given the prevalence of cardiovascular disease, there are many good reasons to take prevention to heart!Certain risk factors increase the likelihood that you will develop cardiovascular disease. The three big risk factors are smoking, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
Smoking
Quitting smoking is important. And today, there’s a lot of support available to patients, from counseling to medications, which can help people overcome addictions to nicotine. UConn cardiologists urge patients to speak to medical professionals if they need help breaking the habit.
High Cholesterol
Reducing saturated fat and cholesterol in your diet, shedding excess weight and exercising can help you lower your cholesterol. If no improvement in cholesterol is seen after these modifications are made, your physician may recommend cholesterol-lowering medications.
These days, there are many options to help patients get their cholesterol under control. For example, a class of anticholesterol drugs known as statins has been available since 1985 and has very few side effects.
High Blood Pressure
Blood pressure should normally be less than 140/90 mm Hg. Blood pressure that stays above this level is considered high. Diet, exercise and medication can help to improve blood pressure. Also, note that blood pressure is highest in the morning, so you need to check it several times during the day to get an accurate reading.
Y! Health Heart & Vascular Health News
- Prevention clinics help control heart fatal (Reuters)
Reuters - In 1999, UK researchers reported that patients with coronary heart disease who attended nurse-led prevention clinics had reductions in death and heart disease events at one year. In 2003, the same team reported that patients who switched to the clinics later on had "caught up," to the point where there were no longer differences between the two groups. - Doctors match machines in spotting heart disease: study (AFP)
AFP - A routine examination by a doctor works almost as well as an electrocardiogram -- better known as an ECG or EKG -- in predicting heart disease, according to a study published Friday. - Heart Failure Accounts for 37% of Medicare Spending (HealthDay)
HealthDay - WEDNESDAY, Nov. 12 (HealthDay News) -- Medicare beneficiaries with heart failure have many more doctor visits and take more medications than those without heart failure, researchers are reporting. - Illness beliefs shape prevention program adherence (Reuters)
Reuters - Individual beliefs about heart disease, including its symptoms, controllability, likely duration, and consequences influence adherence to secondary prevention regimens designed to reduce risk, researchers report. - Fat hormone may help predict heart failure: study (Reuters)
Reuters - High levels of a hormone made in fat cells may be a strong indicator of the onset of heart failure, U.S. researchers said on Wednesday. - Beta Blocker Use Questioned in Non-Heart Surgery (HealthDay)
HealthDay - MONDAY, Nov. 10 (HealthDay News) -- An analysis of 33 studies on drugs known as beta blockers has concluded that they are not useful in any surgical procedure other than heart surgery. In fact, using beta blockers for non-coronary surgery may actually increase the risk of stroke, the scientists say. - Long-Term Help Regimen Cut Heart Attack Recurrence (HealthDay)
HealthDay - TUESDAY, Nov. 11 (HealthDay News) -- Heart attack survivors can significantly reduce their risk of non-fatal coronary recurrence by participating in an intensive, long-term prevention program, according to an Italian study that included 3,240 patients. - Study Questions Screening Heart Attack Patients for
Depression (HealthDay)
HealthDay - TUESDAY, Nov. 11 (HealthDay News) -- There's not enough evidence to support a recent American Heart Association (AHA) call to automatically screen heart patients for depression, according to international experts who contend the "premature" recommendation would consume a vast amount of resources without any proof it would improve patient care. - After Decades, Decreases in Heart Risk Factors Level Off (HealthDay)
HealthDay - TUESDAY, Nov. 11 (HealthDay News) -- Three decades of a pronounced reduction in risk factors for heart disease is slowing considerably. - New test superior for detecting heart failure in ER (Reuters)
Reuters - A new blood test to identify heart failure patients in most dire need of treatment when they turn up at an emergency room complaining of shortness of breath proved better than current tests, according to results of a study unveiled on Tuesday.
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