How a Heart Attack Happens?
Every year 190 thousand people lose their lives in our country due to heart attacks. Everyone is afraid of having a heart attack, none of us want to have a heart attack. But how does a heart attack happen? How does it occur? Let’s examine it together.
Our heart beats between 60 and 80 beats per minute during rest. Our heart is a powerful structure that pumps the blood our body needs for life. However, it feeds not only the body but also itself. The vessels that the heart feeds itself are called coronary arteries. Sometimes there are problems in the circulation of the coronary arteries and coronary insufficiency occurs. The severity and gender of coronary insufficiency vary according to the degree of stenosis. Sometimes the chest pain that occurs only during intense exertion passes when rested. In some cases, a heart attack can develop, which manifests itself with severe chest pain caused by blockages and causes the person to lose his/her life.
How does a heart attack happen? How does it occur?
A heart attack is caused by blockage of blood vessels with cholesterol and fats. If there is a complete blockage and the blood flow is completely cut off, the person may lose his/her life.
The heart, which starts beating in the womb and pumping the blood the body needs, has to feed itself with blood. The vessels responsible for feeding the heart are the coronary arteries. When these vessels become blocked or narrowed, coronary insufficiency occurs. In partial blockages, the chest pain that occurs in the patient passes with rest, but complete blockages that develop suddenly disrupt the heart’s nutrition and cause a heart attack. As we have just mentioned, heart attacks are caused by cholesterol-induced plaques that build up on the walls of the blood vessels. This leads to blockage of the coronary arteries and insufficient blood supply to the heart muscle, leading to the death of heart muscle cells and the loss of function of the heart muscle in the blocked part. Every second is very important. Because every second the heart muscle cells continue to die. Therefore, it is vital to intervene early in a heart attack.
What are the symptoms of a heart attack?
Although a heart attack is a condition that occurs suddenly, it takes years for its foundation to form. Heart attacks are among the most common causes of death both in the world and in Turkey. There are symptoms and important signals of a heart attack. Everyone should know these symptoms and signs. Only in this way can a heart attack be recognized and early intervention be provided. If we do not have information, we can pay the price by losing life. Symptoms of a heart attack to watch out for
Tightness, pressure and heaviness in the center of the chest that persists for more than a few minutes,
Chest pain, which radiates to the shoulders, arms and neck and starts at the jaw level.
When chest complaints are accompanied by fainting, fainting, dizziness, nausea, cold cold sweat, it is necessary to seek professional medical support without wasting time.
How is a Heart Attack Treated?
Patients admitted to emergency services with suspected heart attack are first checked for oxygen levels and given oxygen support. Some patients may have extreme pain, and opioid painkillers can be used to reduce this pain.
The aim of heart attack treatment is to remove the blockage in the blocked coronary artery vessel as soon as possible and to ensure that the heart is restored. In this case, techniques called PCI, which involves entering and intervening in the vein and administering clot-dissolving drugs, are used. According to a study conducted abroad, when people who have had a heart attack are given clot-dissolving drugs until they reach the hospital by ambulance, there will be a decrease in the death rate caused by heart attack.