Heart attack symptoms, emergency signs, risk factors and treatment guidance.

Overview

What is a heart attack?

A heart attack is a medical emergency which occurs when the oxygen and blood flow to the heart gets blocked. This can damage the heart and decrease the flow of blood to other parts of the body.2n these vessels.

How common are heart attacks?

• Heart attacks are becoming increasingly common in India
• 32,457 deaths reported in 2022 alone
• Half of all heart attack-related deaths in India occur before the age of 50

Who is commonly affected?

Heart attacks are more common in:

• Men aged above 45 years
• Women aged above 50 or past menopause
• Those with close family members with heart disease
• Smokers
• Those with high blood pressure, cholesterol issues, diabetes, obesity, kidney disease
• People who eat food fried/salty/sugary foods
• Those who drink alcohol
• Drug users
• Those who do not get enough physical activity

What causes a heart attack?

• Most commonly caused by a buildup of fats and cholesterol in the blood vessels which supply oxygen-filled blood to the heart
• They can sometimes narrow the blood vessels, reducing the blood flow
• Or they can even break up and cause blood clots which also reduce blood flow
• If your heart is beating too fast for too long
• Other major heart-related conditions

Symptoms of a heart attack

• Chest pain or discomfort, which may spread to your jaw, neck, shoulder, arm or back
• Shortness of breath or trouble breathing
• Feeling very tired or weak for no clear reason
• Upset stomach, nausea or vomiting
• Anxiety or feeling like something bad is going to happen
• Sweating a lot
• Feeling dizzy or lightheaded
• Passing out

Warning signs of a severe condition

• Chest pain that feels tight or like squeezing on your chest
• Chest pain that's spreading to your arms, neck or jaw
• Severe difficulty breathing - you're gasping, choking or not able to get words out
• your lips or skin are pale, blue or grey - on brown or black skin this may be easier to see on the palms of the hands

Diagnosis

• Electrocardiogram or a graph recording of your heartbeats
• Blood test
• Echocardiography to view how well your heart is pumping blood
• Computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging

Treatment

A heart attack can be managed by

• Inserting a thin, flexible tube with a balloon at the end to clear the blocked blood vessel
• Medicines to help break up any blood clots
• Surgery in which a blood vessel from another part of the body is taken and used to bypass the blocked blood vessel

What is an angioplasty with stent?

An angioplasty is a procedure carried out to open up blocked blood vessels (arteries) using a small balloon at the end of a narrow, flexible tube.

What happens before the surgery?

• This procedure is often carried out in emergency situations like when someone has had a heart attack.
• In non-emergency situations, your doctor will first:
• Review all medicines which you might be taking at the time and ask you stop/modify certain ones
• Ask you not to eat or drink before the surgery
• On the day of the surgery, the medical team will check your heart rate, blood pressure, pulse and oxygen levels

What happens during a CABG?

• You are given a medicine to help you relax and numb the area (local anaesthesia) through which the needle will be inserted- usually through the arm or from the top of your thigh
• A small hollow tube is inserted through a cut made in the skin and guided through to your heart
• A special dye is injected which makes the catheter (second tube) visible under an x-ray. This tube then snakes to your heart.
• A ballon at the end of the second tube is inflated.
• A special mesh called a stent is placed to keep the artery open
• Sometimes the stent contains drug which is released over time to prevent further buildup of fats in the blood vessel
• The catheter is removed, and the insertion site is stitched back up

Type of anaesthesia: Local

Duration of surgery: 30 mins to 2 hrs

Benefits of this surgery

• Improved blood flow to the heart
• Relieves symptoms like chest pain and shortness of breath
• Lower risk of heart attack in the future

What are the possible risks of angioplasty?

After this surgery, you may experience/suffer from

• Bleeding
• Infection at the site where the catheter was inserted
• Re-narrowing of the artery
• Stroke

Post-surgery care

• You will be kept under observation for a few hours after the procedure
• Some bruising or soreness is expected
• You might return home the same day or be kept overnight at maximum When the doctors feel you are ready, you will be shifted to a general ward
• You will be given blood-thinning medicines to prevent any blood clots
• Hospital stay ca be longer if the procedure was done following a heart attack

Usual length of hospital stay: Half a day to 1 day

Recovery time

• Resume normal activity after a week
• You can drive after around 4-6 weeks if your doctor allows

Lifestyle & Prevention

Recommended diet

• Fruits and vegetables daily
• Whole grains (brown rice, oats)
• Lean proteins (fish, dal, legumes)
• Avoid eating fried food
• Reduce salt intake
• Limit consumption of sugar

Exercise

• At least 150 minutes/week moderate activity
• Walking, cycling, light exercise
• Start slowly after doctor approval

Long-term care

• Regular doctor follow-ups
• Take medicines on time
• Cholesterol and BP monitoring
• Cardiac rehabilitation program to help your heart become stronger and help you get back to your daily life as quickly as possible
• Stop smoking and alcohol consumption

When to contact a doctor?

• New or changing symptoms
• Side effects from medicines
• Sadness, worries or anxiety that won't go away
• Questions about which activities are safe for you to do

Myths and Facts

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)