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Heart Attack
Most heart attacks happen when a blood vessel supplying part of the heart
becomes blocked and doesn’t get enough blood and oxygen. Usually the blockage is
caused by a fatty material (plaque) that builds up on the inside of the blood vessels and
a blood clot.
Signs and symptoms of a heart attack vary. Many people feel severe chest pain,
but some people have little pain or other symptoms instead. Common symptoms are:
• Chest pain — you may feel pain, pressure, or squeezing along the breast bone
or in other parts of your chest. It may spread to your arm, jaw, neck, or back.
The pain may feel sharp, dull, or achy, and it doesn’t go away when you rest.
• Shortness of breath — you may have trouble catching your breath.
• Sweating and paleness — your skin may become pale or look blue, and your
arms and legs may feel cool and moist.
• Weakness, nausea, or stomach upset — you may vomit or feel queasy.
If you think you may be having a heart attack, immediately call 911! You’ll be
asked about pain or other symptoms, including when they started and if anything makes
them feel better or worse. You’ll be asked about your medicines (prescription, over-the-
counter, and herbal) and if you have other medical problems, including allergies. (If you
are a man taking drugs for erectile dysfunction, be sure to mention them because these
drugs can interact dangerously with some heart medications.)
You will be given oxygen, a physical exam, blood tests, and you’ll have an
electrocardiogram — a painless test that records the heart’s electrical activity. You’ll
probably be given 3 medicines — nitroglycerin to increase blood flow to the heart, aspirin
to prevent blood clots from forming and blocking blood vessels, and morphine to ease
pain and increase blood flow to the heart. Depending on how long you’ve been having
symptoms, you may receive a “clot-busting” drug to clear the blocked vessel. Or you
may need a cardiac catheterization and angioplasty to open the blood vessel or bypass
surgery to restore blood flow to the affected part of the heart.
Your health care provider will talk about lifestyle changes to keep your heart
healthy, refer you to a cardiac rehabilitation program, and may refer you to a support
group. You should also:
• Stop smoking — nicotine causes block vessels to narrow.
• If you have high blood pressure or diabetes, follow your health care provider’s
plan to keep your blood pressure, blood sugar, and weight under control.
• Eat a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, such as the DASH eating plan.
• Limit alcohol to one drink per day for women or two per day for men.
• Exercise regularly.
Source: Nursing2006
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