8 signs of myocardial infarction in which you need to call an ambulance

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

People often die from a heart attack. Therefore, you need to act very quickly.

What is a heart attack and where does it come from

Myocardial infarction is a necrosis (death) of heart tissue. It appears when, for some reason, blood stops flowing to the heart muscle (myocardium). Due to a lack of oxygen, parts of the heart begin to die off.

The most common cause is narrowing of the arteries feeding the heart - for example, due to cholesterol plaques. This condition is called coronary artery disease. In order for ischemic disease to transform into a heart attack, sometimes no provoking factors are needed: it is enough to wake up and get out of bed for the plaque to rupture and the resulting thrombus to block the blood vessel. With stress or unusual physical activity, this risk increases.

Another, albeit less common, cause is a sudden spasm of a coronary artery that stops blood flow to the heart muscle.

When you need to urgently call an ambulance

At the slightest suspicion of a heart attack, you should immediately call 103 or 112, or go to the nearest emergency room. If we are really talking about a heart attack, help should be provided within a maximum of 1-2 hours. Otherwise, the consequences of a heart attack may become irreversible, and the risk of death will increase significantly.

Therefore, it is important to know what the symptoms of a heart attack look like.

1. Severe pain behind the sternum, which grows gradually and sometimes spreads to the left arm, shoulder, jaw, neck, under the left shoulder blade. The pain is different: presses behind the sternum, burns, bursts. This is the most common symptom.
2. Panic fear that often comes with pain. The man is worried, clutching at his heart.
3. A feeling of shortness of breath, as in an asthma attack. Moreover, if a person is asthmatic and quickly takes a drug that facilitates breathing, it does not become easier for him.
4. Shortness of breath despite the fact that there is no physical activity.
5. Weakness, sudden dizziness, blurred consciousness.
6. An accelerated, uneven heartbeat.
7. Cold sweat.
8. Nausea, heartburn, abdominal pain.

The signs of a heart attack can be different: someone has a lot of them and they are pronounced. Some, on the other hand, experience only mild chest pain and weakness. But the more symptoms you have, the higher the risk that it is indeed a heart attack.

What to do before the ambulance arrives if someone else has a heart attack

1. Lay down the victim. The position should be semi-seated.
2. Unbutton clothing if it interferes with breathing.
3. Open the window or otherwise provide fresh air.
4. Give the victim nitroglycerin, if previously prescribed by a doctor. Follow the instructions carefully.
5. Give aspirin. First, it relieves pain. Secondly, the drug thins the blood. This improves blood flow and may relieve the condition. Please note that aspirin should not be taken if there is an allergy to it or a person suffers from diseases associated with low blood clotting.
6. Do everything to calm the person down.
7. Tell the visiting doctors when the attack began, what symptoms were accompanied by and whether the pills were taken - which and in what quantity.

What to do before the ambulance arrives if you have a heart attack

Call an ambulance and lie down. If possible, take medications - nitroglycerin and aspirin, if they are nearby and you feel the need for them. Next, wait for the doctors.

What to do if a person is unconscious

In this case, before the ambulance arrives, check whether the victim has a pulse and is breathing. If there is no pulse or breathing, it is necessary to start cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

How to reduce the risk of heart attack, including recurrent

Heart attacks are more common in men over 45 and women over 55. Those who have already had heart attacks in their families are also at risk. Unfortunately, these risk factors cannot be dealt with. But there are others, which are completely within your power to defeat.

Here's what you need to do to reduce your chances of having a heart attack.

1. Try to quit smoking and give up alcohol.
2. Move more. According to experts from Johns Hopkins University, low physical activity is even more dangerous than smoking.
3. Spend as little time as possible sitting. A sedentary lifestyle is another powerful risk factor.
4. Watch your pressure. High pressure can damage the arteries that feed the heart. If you have bouts of hypertension, be sure to consult with a physician or cardiologist and learn how to return pressure to normal.
5. Control your cholesterol levels.
6. Watch your weight. Try not to bring the situation to obesity.
7. Learn to deal with stress.

Yes, these are boring recipes for prevention. But others do not work, and there is no magic pill for heart attack. Everything is in your hands, and this also concerns the heart.