To many people a heart attack is any prolonged episode of chest pain. However, to a medical professional, "heart attack" is a specific injury to the heart leading to death of heart muscle. The pain associated with a heart attack can vary from person to person but, most men and women describe a pressure, heaviness, squeezing, or tightness around their chest on either the left or right side and frequently behind the breastbone. The discomfort usually starts slowly and builds in intensity over several minutes reaching a level which is very severe and sometimes is associated with sweating, shortness of breath, nausea, and weakness, or profound fatigue.
Women with heart attacks often have less typical symptoms, including jaw discomfort, back discomfort and even pain up the sides of the neck and into the lower parts of the ears. In both men and women the pain associated with a heart attack frequently radiates (moves) to the arms (both left and right arms can be affected) as well as into the pit of the stomach leading to a feeling of indigestion and nausea.
The pain of the heart attack is an indication that a blockage has occurred in one of the blood vessels feeding the heart muscle. This blockage is most commonly caused by a blood clot formed on a cholesterol plaque within the vessel. Even after only a few minutes of blockage the loss of oxygen and nutrition supplied to the heart muscle begins to cause permanent damage and because of this, the most important rule for surviving a heart attack is: "Call 911 quickly and get to the hospital as soon as possible." By using an ambulance, rather than having a loved one drive you to the hospital, you're not only safer, but the emergency medical technicians can often perform a full electrocardiogram in the ambulance that can speed the diagnosis of your heart attack and shorten the time to give treatment when you arrive at the emergency room.
The only self treatment which you should consider is taking an aspirin as soon as you recognize the possibility that a heart attack is occurring. Aspirin has actually been shown to improve survival in a heart attack by slowing the development of the clot which is blocking the heart's blood supply. Lying down and resting quietly can also help by decreasing the workload of the heart and thus decreasing the likelihood of bad rhythms or increasing heart damage brought about by a fast heart rate from the excitement of the heart attack itself.
Modern day treatment of a heart attack requires the treating physician to dissolve or otherwise open the blood clot which is blocking oxygen supply to your heart muscle. This may require the use of "clot buster medications" in addition to aspirin and other blood thinner agents. Currently, the safest and most effective method of opening a blocked blood vessel for a heart attack requires emergency heart catheterization with balloon angioplasty. Immediately opening the blood vessel using a balloon device often followed by a metallic stent to help keep the vessel open gives your heart the best chance for recovery.
No matter what treatment is ultimately chosen for you, the rapid recognition of the symptoms of a possible heart attack and efficient arrival at the hospital is the key to improving survival. By learning the possible symptoms of a heart attack and acting quickly to reach medical care you truly are making the greatest contribution to saving your own heart and ultimately your own life.
For more information on cardiovascular health, call Mark Shima, M.D. at the Hannibal Regional Medical Group Cardiovascular Institute at (573)629-3300.