When the heart health deteriorates, it doesn’t just affect the patient, but everyone around them. And the unfortunate part of it is, it always happens without warning. In this regard, listening to your heart and the signs that it gives you become even more important to decode, paying attention to your heart health is essential to avoid emergency scenarios.
Heart is a Complex Being
Heart wants to live in the modern times but doesn’t understand the complexities of it all. The heart is not meant to take the pressure of the long working hours, neither is it meant for an inactive indulgent lifestyle. It doesn’t like smoking or drinking, and it certainly doesn’t feel good about pleasure diets. All of these things are heavy on the heart. Add to that, the underlying conditions including Diabetes and high BP. Gradually, plaque starts to build inside the arteries, restricting and sometimes even completely blocking the blood flow to the heart, damaging the heart tissue. The first sign of heart problems is the chest pain and discomfort, leading straight up to a heart attack.
Sometimes, heart attack complications stay even after the treatment procedure. These complications reflect on one thing primarily, the damage that the heart muscle took for the lack of the blood supply, and how quickly the patient received the treatment.
Even after a successful procedure, a patient may develop irregular heart rhythm, medically known as Arrhythmia, a condition that can become critical if not managed properly. Some patients may experience heart failure, where the damage to the heart muscle was already so much that even after the procedure the weakened heart struggles to pump blood effectively. In severe cases, these heart complications can result in permanent damage to heart valves, or even rupture of the heart tissue. Immediate medical care significantly reduces the risk of these complications. Recognising the symptoms early makes all the difference.
Heart Attack vs Cardiac Arrest: Understanding the Difference
The first thing to know about what happens in a heart attack and cardiac arrest is that they’re not the same thing. A heart attack occurs when one or more arteries are narrowed or blocked and the optimum amount of blood does not flow to the heart, usually caused by a plaque build-up or a blood clot. If the blockage persists, the heart muscle starts to gradually die, in some cases the damage is permanent and is irreversible. Early recovery, however, can ensure full recovery.
Unlike a heart attack situation, in cardiac arrest the heart suddenly stops beating due to an electrical failure in the heart. The two conditions are different, and so are their emergency responses.
Signs of a Heart Attack Emergency
Common warning signs include:
- Chest pain
- Pain spreading to the arms or jaw
- Shortness of breath
- Cold sweating & nausea
- Sudden fatigue (specially in women)
If You Suspect a Heart Attack:
- Call the emergency helpline immediately
- Loosen any tight clothes, if any
- Do not make big bodily movements, like attempting to drive to the hospital
- If advised by a doctor or the medical attendee, chew an Aspirin while waiting for the help to arrive
- Remember, when it comes to heart, doing the right steps is more important than thinking about the right steps
Building a Heart-Healthy Life:
Post operative heart care is more about leading a heart-healthy lifestyle than it is about medication. A heart healthy lifestyle is made of a heart-healthy diet, physical activity, quitting smoking, keeping stress under check, and controlling blood sugar and blood pressure. Never to ignore the regular follow-ups with a cardiologist.
Conclusion: Awareness is the First Prescription
Warnings rarely precede heart attacks. We often miss the subtle warning signs. By thoroughly understanding a heart attack, recognizing its signs and symptoms, and being aware of all the heart complications, we can have a better chance of survival and even full recovery. Afterall, the heart never likes complications, it feels happier when we keep things clean and simple.