What is a Heart Attack?

Atherosclerosis is when plaques formed by fat and cholesterol accumulation on the inner wall of blood vessels harden over time and narrow the inner diameter of the vessel. Rupture or cracking of the plaque can cause blood to clot in this area. The clot can lead to complete blockage of the artery, which means the heart muscle cannot receive nourishment and die. Heart attackIt is also called "myocardial infarction" in medical terminology.

What Causes a Heart Attack?

Atherosclerosis is the accumulation of fat, cholesterol and other substances on the inner wall of the coronary arteries, forming hard plaques. Over time, these plaques can grow and narrow the inside of the artery. Cracking of Plaques: The cracking or rupture of the plaque formed in the vessel wall causes blood to clot in this area. This clot quickly blocks the vein and cuts off blood flow, which poses a big problem.

Coronary Artery Spasm is a temporary narrowing and widening of the coronary arteries. In this case, even if there is no plaque formation in the artery, the vessel goes into spasm. Excessive physical exertion, especially an activity you are not accustomed to, can increase the risk, especially for individuals who already have heart disease. Severe infections, conditions that increase blood clotting, or inflammation heart attack increases the risk.

What are the symptoms of a heart attack?

Heart attackSometimes it manifests itself with obvious symptoms, and sometimes it can occur with less obvious symptoms. Symptoms may vary from person to person. Some people experience typical symptoms, while others may experience milder symptoms. If you experience any of these symptoms, it is vital that you seek immediate medical attention.

• Intense pressure, squeezing or burning sensation in the chest.
• Difficulty breathing that begins suddenly or occurs during physical activity.
• Pain or discomfort in the arms, shoulders, back, neck, jaw, or stomach.
• Sudden onset of cold sweats.
• Sometimes it shows symptoms such as stomach discomfort such as nausea and vomiting.
• Sudden dizziness or fainting.

Heart attack What are the Risk Factors?

Smoking is one of the most important risk factors that increases the risk of coronary artery disease. While nicotine creates extra stress on the heart by increasing blood pressure, carbon monoxide reduces the amount of oxygen the heart muscle can receive. It may increase the risk of high LDL (bad cholesterol) levels and low HDL (good cholesterol) levels. High blood pressure strains the heart muscle and can narrow the coronary arteries.

Being overweight or obese also triggers other risk factors, especially high cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes. Diabetes can increase risk, especially if you don't keep blood sugar under control. Regular physical activity can lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Excessive alcohol consumption can trigger high blood pressure.

45 years and above for men, 55 years and above for women heart attack may increase the risk. Men have a higher risk than women, but women's risk increases after menopause.

If you have first-degree relatives (mother, father, sibling) with a family history of heart disease, your risk may increase. Certain ethnic groups, especially African Americans, have a higher risk.

Many risk factors can be changed. Quitting smoking, adopting a healthy diet, exercising regularly and having your health checked regularly can help reduce the risk. It is also important to regularly take medications recommended by your doctor and make lifestyle changes.

What are the Heart Attack Treatment Methods?

Before starting treatment, the doctor usually confirms the diagnosis with tests such as ECG, blood tests, and coronary angiography. Heart attack The goal of treatment is to quickly restore oxygenated blood flow to the heart muscle, limiting damage and preventing further complications.
First of all, drug treatment is used for recovery. It is very important that you use it under the control of a doctor who specializes in cardiovascular diseases. With early diagnosis by your doctor, the disease can be prevented from reaching serious levels.

Percutaneous Coronary Intervention, a procedure in which a balloon catheter is used to widen a narrowed or blocked coronary artery. At the same time, a stent can be placed to keep the vein open.

Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery uses veins taken from other parts of the heart to “bypass” blocked arteries. This allows the blood to flow normally, bypassing the blocked section.

arrhythmia treatment, heart attack Some patients may experience heart rhythm disturbances (arrhythmias) afterwards. Medicines or medical devices are used for arrhythmias.