Heart Attack Causes and Treatment of Complications

After experiencing a heart attack, at every minute of the more heart tissue loses oxygen and eventually rot or die. Measures to prevent the continuation of this heart damage is to restore blood flow as quickly as possible.

Drugs are Used

The following are the drugs that will be given to treat heart attacks.

• Aspirin. These drugs are useful for reducing blood clotting. In effect, the flow of the blood flow through vessels that have narrowed.
• Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors). These drugs function widens the blood vessels and lower blood pressure, thereby reducing the burden of heart.
• Thrombolytics. This drug helps dissolve blood clots that block blood flow to the heart. The sooner patients receive these drugs after a heart attack, the chances of survival will increase, and less heart tissue damage.
• Antiplatelet drugs. This drug prevents blood clots from forming and keep clots that have occurred are not getting bigger.
• Nitroglycerin. This drug works to increase blood flow to the heart by dilating blood vessels.
• Blood thinners such as heparin are also usually given to prevent blood clots from happening again.
• Beta blocker medication (beta blockers). These drugs slow the heart rate function and protect the heart of adrenalin and noradrenalin in the body. These drugs are usually given when the heart can not pump blood around the body properly.
• Painkillers (morphine). These drugs may be given to relieve pain, anxiety, or discomfort felt by the patient.

Operation and Handling Procedure Heart Attack
Here is a surgical procedure that may be necessary to follow a heart attack has occurred.

• Coronary angioplasty. Catheter or a small pipe with a balloon on the end is inserted into a large blood vessel in the groin or arm. The balloon will be redirected to the narrowed vessel. After being in the vessel, the balloon is inflated to open blood vessels and destroy plaque.
• Heart bypass surgery or coronary artery bypass graft (CABG). This operation is performed when there are many blockages of coronary arteries. The blood flow to the heart will be creating a new path. CABG involves taking a blood vessel from another part of the body, usually taken from the chest or leg, to be used as a new branch.
• Heart transplant. This is the replacement procedure cardiac patients who have died with the donor heart is still healthy. Donors come from people who have died and approval from the family of late to donate their organs.

Recovery After Experiencing Heart Attack

If you survive after a heart attack, the recovery period is needed could take months. This recovery should be carried out slowly.

The main purpose of this recovery is to restore physical fitness to be able to resume daily activities (cardiac rehabilitation) and reduce the risk of a repeat heart attack.

Heart attack patients will be advised to do light activity or rest after returning from the hospital. Activities such as walking short distances and up and down the stairs several times to do. Gradually, increase physical activity for a few weeks. Restoration to the initial conditions depends on the patient's health in general and also the condition of the heart.

To determine the cardiac rehabilitation program, you can find out and inquire directly to the hospital in your area. The program is usually done one to two months after discharge from the hospital.

Cardiac rehabilitation program is usually accompanied by some kind of sport depends on the choices made and performed one or two times a week. Often associated with aerobic exercise. The aim of this exercise strengthens the heart, lowers blood pressure and improves blood circulation in the body.

Here are things to consider when recovering from a heart attack.

• Sexual activity. This activity can usually be done one to two months after suffering a heart attack. This activity does not increase the risk of repetition of a heart attack, but some drugs heart attacks and anxiety level of a person's emotions can affect sexual performance. Ask your doctor if you experience it and some medications can be prescribed to cope.Depression. Anxiety, fear, and trauma are reasonable things felt after having a heart attack. As a result, feelings of depression and continue to grieve may haunt the patient for several weeks after discharge from hospital. Immediately ask your doctor how to handle it, a person's emotional state was also influential in the recovery process.
• Back to work. This type of work and health conditions are very influential to determine whether and when you can return to work after having a heart attack. Ask and tell the doctor about your type of work and the overall medical condition before you decide to return to work.
• Driving a motor vehicle or machinery. Before driving or operating machinery, it is advisable to rest for a month after suffering a heart attack.

Causes of Heart Attack

A heart attack occurs because the blood supply to the heart is interrupted. The heart needs a constant supply of oxygenated blood, as well as other organs and tissues in the body. If the heart is not getting enough blood supply, the heart muscle will be damaged and may eventually die.

The heart muscle may be damaged which can not be recovered if not treated promptly. Heart would stop beating if damage occurs to most of the heart, is known as cardiac arrest. In the end, this condition will lead to death.

The main condition that often leads to heart attack is coronary heart disease. It is a condition in which the coronary artery is clogged by the buildup of cholesterol (plaque). Established after some time, the plaque will have cracks. As a result, blood clots occur in the plaque cracked. The flow of blood supply to the coronary vessels passing through the heart of this will be blocked by clots, and ultimately lead to a heart attack.

In addition to coronary heart disease, here are other causes for heart attack:

• Abuse of drugs. Nerve stimulant drugs such as cocaine, amphetamine (shabu) and methamphetamine (ecstasy) can cause narrowing of the coronary arteries, impeding blood supply, and trigger a heart attack. Heart attacks that occur in cocaine users is a major cause of death at a young age.
• Aneurysms. It is a condition when there is a weakness in the blood vessel wall. A weakened blood vessel wall will not ultimately be able to withstand the pressure of the blood flowing through it. As a result, the blood vessels will have cracks. If the aneurysm occurs in the coronary arteries, the blood flow stops and a heart attack occurs.
• Hypoxia or lack of oxygen in the blood. Oxygen levels in the blood may decline due to carbon monoxide poisoning or lung function were damaged. As a result, the blood drained body that does not contain oxygen and ultimately trigger a heart attack.

Risk factors

There are several risk factors that contribute in causing fat accumulation and eventually narrow the blood vessels. Some of the factors mentioned below can be handled or removed to avoid the occurrence of heart attacks.

• Age and sex. May increase a person's age, the chances of suffering from coronary heart disease also increases. Men are more likely of developing coronary heart disease than women.
• Smoke. Carbon monoxide and nicotine in cigarettes could increase pressure on the heart by making the heart work faster. Smoking can also cause blood clots. Chemicals in cigarettes can damage the lining of the coronary arteries. People who smoke are 24 percent higher risk for heart disease.
• Liquor. Consuming alcohol in excess can lead to hypertension and increased cholesterol levels. As a result, the risk of coronary heart disease also increases. People who like to consume alcohol tend to live a lifestyle that is worse, such as smoking, eating fatty foods and lack of exercise.
• Food. Foods that contain lots of saturated fat increases cholesterol levels in the blood. In addition, the risk of coronary heart disease and heart attacks will also increase. To lower your cholesterol, you can change your diet and taking statin drugs.
• Diabetes. In type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes, uncontrolled blood glucose levels are high damage the walls of the coronary arteries. Diabetics are more susceptible to coronary heart disease.
• Hypertension or high blood pressure. Coronary arteries will become weak if left untreated hypertension.
• Obesity or being overweight. This condition does not directly increase the risk of coronary heart disease or heart attack. But this condition can be a trigger for other risk factors. People with weight are more likely to have hypertension, eating fatty foods, and the risk of developing diabetes.
• Sport. Lack of exercise can lead to obesity and hypertension.
• Family health history. If there are any close family members, especially parents and siblings who have a history of heart disease, your risk will experience two-fold higher.
• Air pollution. Based on the research, exposure to air pollution, especially the fumes, can increase the risk of coronary heart disease.
• Have a problem with autoimmune diseases. Diseases such as arthritis, lupus, and other autoimmune diseases can increase the risk of having a heart attack.
• A history of pre-eclampsia during pregnancy. Women who develop preeclampsia or high blood pressure during pregnancy are more at risk of having a heart attack.

Complications of Heart Attack
A heart attack can cause complications ranging from mild to which can cause death. Mild heart attack would not cause complications, though this condition is also dangerous. Here are some of the complications that may occur in patients with heart attacks.

Heart failure
This condition occurs when the heart can not pump blood throughout the body. Heart failure occurs when the heart muscle damaged by a heart attack. This condition usually override heart or the left side of the left ventricle. The symptoms that arise, such as shortness of breath, fatigue, and swelling of the arms and legs. Medications may be given to address or if required would be operating.

rrhythmias
That is a condition when the heart rate is abnormal as a result of damage to the heart muscle. Muscle damage is disturbing the electrical signals flowing when the heart beats.

Here are some symptoms of arrhythmia that often occur:

• Or pain in the chest.
• Palpitations or pounding sensation in the heart of the heart or throat.
• Feel the dizziness and lightheadedness.
• Feeling out of breath and fatigue.

To deal with mild arrhythmia, drugs such as beta blockers or beta blockers could be given to the patient. For more severe cases, pacemakers will be installed with the operation.

Cardiogenic shock

Condition when the heart muscle is damaged and can no longer supply the blood to the body well. This causes the body functions do not work well. This condition is similar to heart failure, but more dangerous. Symptoms that usually arise when cardiogenic shock include:

• Mental confusion.
• The amount of urine is passed decreases or even non-existent because the kidneys stop functioning.
• Pale skin.
• Heart rate and rapid breathing.
• Hands and feet feel cold.

Blood-thinning drugs can be used to aspire these conditions so that the blood becomes more easily pumped. After the initial symptoms appear finished dealt with, there is the possibility of surgery in order to improve cardiac function is already impaired. Ask your doctor about a surgical procedure that can be done, and their risks and benefits.

Cardiac Rupture ( Rupture )

Condition when muscle, a wall, or a heart valve split. This could happen if the damage to the heart muscle is quite severe. Cardiac rupture occurs in about one to five days after a heart attack occurs. Cardiac rupture is a fairly common complication of heart attacks with symptoms similar to cardiogenic shock.

To handle this condition, surgery is needed to repair heart tissue opening or damaged heart muscle. Chances are, someone survive after suffering a cardiac rupture is not good. About 50 percent of people who have this condition will die within five days after cardiac rupture visible.

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