Understanding Heart Attacks: Causes, Symptoms, and Prevention

 

Every year, approximately 7 million people worldwide die from heart attacks, with cardiovascular disease—the leading global killer—responsible for these events as well as other serious conditions like strokes.

What Causes a Heart Attack?

The heart, like all muscles, requires oxygen to function. During a heart attack, oxygen supply is cut off due to blockages in the coronary arteries, which deliver oxygenated blood to the heart. These blockages form as fatty deposits, or plaques, accumulate on artery walls over time.

Plaques can become inflamed, harden, or rupture, triggering blood clots that can fully block the artery. Once blood flow is obstructed, heart cells deprived of oxygen begin to die within minutes, resulting in what’s known as a myocardial infarction, or heart attack. Left untreated, the heart’s ability to pump blood diminishes, potentially causing fatal rhythm disturbances or sudden death.

Recognizing the Signs of a Heart Attack

Chest pain is the hallmark symptom, often described as crushing or vice-like, and it may radiate to the left arm, jaw, back, or abdomen. However, symptoms can vary:

Common Signs: Chest pain, shortness of breath, and nausea.

Atypical Signs (common in women, elderly, or diabetics): Fatigue, weakness, or even no pain at all (silent heart attacks).

Responding to a Heart Attack

Quick action is critical. If you suspect a heart attack:

1. Call emergency services immediately.

2. Administer aspirin (to thin the blood) and nitroglycerin (to open arteries) if available.

3. In the hospital, doctors will confirm the diagnosis with tests such as an electrocardiogram (ECG) and blood work.

Treatment options include:

Angioplasty: Using a balloon to reopen the blocked artery, often with a stent to keep it open.

Bypass Surgery: Redirecting blood flow around the blockage with a graft from another blood vessel.

Preventing Heart Attacks

While genetics play a role, lifestyle changes significantly reduce risk:

Exercise: Combine aerobic activities with strength training several times a week.

Heart-Healthy Diet: Focus on fiber-rich vegetables, whole grains, nuts, chicken, and fish, while limiting sugar and saturated fats.

Weight Management: Maintain a healthy weight to lower your risk.

Medications: Manage risk factors like high blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes with prescribed treatments.

Long-Term Strategies

Avoid tobacco, get adequate sleep, and embrace laughter to keep your heart healthy. Heart attacks may be common, but with a proactive approach to lifestyle and medical care, they are not inevitable. Taking care of your heart now ensures it keeps beating strong for years to come.