Heart Attacks and Emergency Treatment

Dr Vernon Freeman can assist patients in emergencies, such as a heart attack. A heart attack is also known as a myocardial infarction. It occurs when the flow of blood to the heart is blocked. The blockage is most often made up of fat, cholesterol and cellular debris, which form a plaque in the coronary arteries that feed the heart. The plaque eventually breaks away, damaging the artery wall causing a clot to form. The lack of sufficient blood flow can damage or destroy part of the heart muscle.

A heart attack can be fatal, but treatment has improved dramatically over the years. It's crucial to call for emergency medical help if you think you might be having a heart attack. The damage done to the heart during an attack can lead to complications such as abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias), heart failure, and sudden cardiac arrest. An attack can damage so much heart tissue that the remaining heart muscle can't pump enough blood out of the heart, causing heart failure. Depending on the amount of damage, heart failure can be temporary, or it can be a chronic condition.

Common heart attack signs and symptoms include:

  • Pressure, tightness, pain, or an aching sensation in the chest or arms that may spread to the neck, jaw or back
  • Nausea, indigestion or heartburn
  • Abdominal pain
  • Shortness of breath
  • Cold sweat
  • Fatigue
  • Lightheadedness or sudden dizziness

Certain factors contribute to the unwanted accumulation of fatty deposits that narrows arteries throughout the body. Patients can improve or eliminate many risk factors and decrease their chances of having a heart attack.

Heart attack risk factors include:

  • Age - Men aged 45 or older and women aged 55 or older
  • Smoking or long-term exposure to second-hand smoke
  • High blood cholesterol levels.
  • Obesity
  • Diabetes
  • Family history of heart attack
  • Lack of exercise and physical activity
  • Excessive stress
  • Illicit drug use
  • A history of high blood pressure and high blood sugar
  • Having an autoimmune condition - rheumatoid arthritis or lupus can increase the risk of a heart attack.