What is a heart attack?
Our heart is a hollow muscle, and all our muscles need blood for oxygen and energy. The heart muscle gets these via the coronary arteries, and it’s these that can become blocked and cause a heart attack, otherwise known as a myocardial infarction or MI.
Heart attacks are regarded as a medical emergency that require immediate attention, as a lack of blood flowing to the heart can damage the muscle, and can be fatal. Although heart attacks can be a major cause of death and morbidity, there are ways to prevent them, whether that’s through quitting smoking, or receiving treatment.
This article will highlight why heart attacks happen, the symptoms, what happens if you do have one, and most importantly, how to prevent them in the first place.
Heart attack symptoms
The heart attack symptoms experienced can differ depending on the individual. Gender can affect this. Although the most common symptom displayed in women and men is chest pain, women seem more likely to experience nausea, back and jaw pain. Not only this, certain individuals may only experience minor symptoms that are similar to indigestion. Some people may have no symptoms at all – a silent heart attack – which is only found if they have tests later.
Recognised heart attack symptoms include:
- Chest pain that can spread to other areas of the body. Such as your arms (generally the left, but both can be affected), jaw, neck, back and stomach
- Feeling dizzy or lightheaded
- Sweating
- Shortness of breath
- Nausea or vomiting
- Sudden feeling of anxiety, which is comparable to a panic attack
- Coughing or wheezing
It’s important to note that alternative underlying health conditions can cause similar symptoms. For instance, indigestion and panic attacks.
If you or someone you know is displaying heart attack symptoms, it’s crucial that you call 999 immediately. The faster help is received, the higher the chances of survival or avoiding irreversible damage to your heart. Follow the advice of ambulance control while you’re waiting. They may ask you to give the person an aspirin tablet, for instance.
Causes of heart attacks
The leading cause of heart attacks is coronary heart disease (CHD) – a medical condition that involves the coronary arteries becoming clogged with cholesterol deposits, known as plaques.
The following may increase your risk of CHD, and consequently, suffering a heart attack, but there are factors you can control, and ones you can’t:
Factors you can control
- Smoking
- Being overweight or obese
- A high-fat diet
- Diabetes
- High cholesterol
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
- Recreational drugs – such as cocaine and amphetamine
- Lack of exercise
Factors you can’t control
- Age
- Family history
- Ethnic background
Heart attack complications
If a heart attack isn’t tended to as soon as possible, the complications can be serious, or fatal in some cases. Their onset can be immediate, which may cause some individuals to die before receiving treatment. Certain factors can affect the likelihood of this happening, such as old age, the severity of the heart attack, and how long it took for treatment to be received – the faster, the better.
Heart attack complications include:
- An abnormal heart rhythm – For example, the beats may quicken, then stop beating (cardiac arrest).
- Cardiogenic shock – This is when the heart’s muscles become damaged and are unable to contract properly. Therefore, they won’t be able to supply enough blood to maintain bodily functions.
- Heart rupture – This is where the heart’s muscles, walls or valves split (rupture).
What you can expect in hospital
If you have experienced a heart attack, the treatment that you receive in the hospital will differ depending on the severity. The NHS should be able to get you to a specialist heart centre rapidly.
The main treatment options for a heart attack can include:
- Taking medication to dissolve the blood clot
- Having surgery to ensure that blood is able to reach the heart
- Beta blockers
- ACE inhibitors
- Coronary angioplasty and stenting – a procedure that’s designed to open clogged heart arteries
- Coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) – also known as open heart surgery
What you can expect after discharge
A gradual recovery process
Although having a heart attack can be a scary and overwhelming experience, many people go on to live a long, healthy life – with the right care. Again, the recovery time required after having a heart attack will depend on the severity. In some instances, recovery can take several months as it’s important not to rush the process. Instead, it will be gradual, and will usually happen in stages – beginning with you being closely monitored in the hospital to determine your needs moving forwards, and once discharged, your recovery will continue at home.
Receiving support
Whilst you’re in recovery, you’ll be supported by healthcare professionals – whether that’s a nurse, physiotherapist, dietician, exercise specialist, a therapist, or otherwise. Collectively, they’ll provide you with the physical and emotional support you need to get back on your feet.
Your cardiac rehabilitation programme
You’ll also be put on a cardiac rehabilitation programme whilst you’re still in hospital, and you’ll receive another session 10 days after being discharged. A member of the cardiac rehabilitation team will be there to support you, answering any questions you may have surrounding the current state of your health, treatment, medications, risk factors that may enhance your risk of having a heart attack, any lifestyle changes that may be required to combat these, and more.
Exercise
Once returning home, your GP will usually urge you to rest, only doing light activities for the time being – such as going on a walk outdoors, or walking up and down the stairs. Physical exercise should be gradually increased, and how quickly you’re able to do this will depend on the state of your health. Your rehabilitation programme will share advice on what types of exercise to do (which will be mostly aerobic), and these should help to strengthen your heart, lower blood pressure, and optimise circulation.
Work
How quickly you’re able to return to work will depend on how strenuous your job is. For example, if you’re only required to do light activity, you may be able to return in two weeks. However, if your heart attack was more serious and has caused significant damage, this could be much longer. Again, your care team will be able to clarify this.
Emergency home treatment for a heart attack
If you or someone else has suffered a heart attack, there are certain things you can do at home whilst waiting for the ambulance to arrive. Although there’s no fast way to stop a heart attack, taking aspirin may help to alleviate heart attack symptoms. 235 mg of aspirin can work to slow blood clotting, and may reduce the size of any blood clots that have already formed.
Heart attack prevention
The following is likely to help reduce your risk of having a heart attack (or having another heart attack):
- Quitting smoking
- Losing weight if you’re overweight
- Exercising regularly, unless advised otherwise by your doctor
- Eating a healthy, balanced diet that focuses on healthy fats while avoiding processed meat, and containing at least five portions of fruit and vegetables each day.
- Managing your alcohol intake
If you have a strong family history of coronary heart disease and heart attacks, let your GP know so that they can walk you through how to maintain or improve your heart’s health.
How Evergreen Life can help
Our health and wellbeing library covers a number of ways you can focus on improving your health, including ways to help reduce your risk of a heart attack – from diet to fitness, we cover all bases. Not to mention, having easy access to your medical records through the Evergreen Life app helps you to stay more in control, providing you with full clarity on the current state of your health prior to any follow up appointments.
Download the Evergreen Life app today to take full control of your health and wellness.
Reviewed by:
Anna Keeble – Head of Content
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