What medicine can cause a heart attack. Scientists: Strong emotions can cause a heart attack. Myths and facts about heart failure

Article publication date: 03/02/2017

Article last updated: 12/18/2018

From this article you will learn: what is a heart attack, what signs it manifests itself. First aid and treatment. How to prevent a recurrence.

A heart attack is the appearance of pain in the region of the heart, which is accompanied by additional unpleasant symptoms. This phrase serves as a common name for an acute form of coronary disease. The colloquial term "heart attack" roughly corresponds to medical term"spicy coronary syndrome”- a diagnosis that is made to the patient before a detailed diagnosis. After an additional examination, the diagnosis is changed to or myocardial infarction.

That is, a heart attack can be understood as either an intense attack of angina pectoris, or a heart attack.

If it occurs, call an ambulance immediately. Depending on the severity of the condition, the patient may be hospitalized or receive medical care at home, and this will be enough. After a heart attack, you will need regular follow-up with a cardiologist.

Causes of a heart attack

Pain in the heart appears due to insufficient blood supply to the heart muscle - myocardial ischemia. It occurs due to the deposition of fats on the inner walls of the coronary vessels or the formation of blood clots.

Factors that provoke ischemia include:

hyperlipidemia (a metabolic disorder in which the level of fats in the blood is elevated);
smoking, alcohol abuse;
obesity;
physical inactivity or, conversely, excessive physical activity;
hypertension;
diabetes;
thrombophilia (tendency to form blood clots).

A heart attack itself can be triggered by an increase in blood pressure during times of stress or strenuous exercise. It can also occur without visible reasons- when deposits on the coronary artery block its lumen by more than 70%, or when the vessel becomes clogged with a thrombus.

Symptoms

Signs of a heart attack can appear suddenly, and sometimes there are their precursors. It depends on the severity. An attack of angina pectoris usually appears suddenly (and ends just as suddenly). And myocardial infarction is often preceded by initial symptoms ().

Signs of a mild heart attack (with angina pectoris)

This case is characterized by the following symptoms:

pressing or burning pain in the chest;
pain can "give" to the left arm, shoulder, neck, interscapular region or stomach;
if the pain radiates to the abdomen, then nausea is added to the main symptom.

Let's take a closer look at the main symptoms of a heart attack and the previous signs.

Harbingers of a heart attack

If a person has previously suffered from attacks of pain in the heart, then they become more frequent and intense. This indicates the transition of angina pectoris from a stable form to an unstable one. If the symptoms chronic ischemia began to bother you more often than usual, immediately contact your treating cardiologist. Treatment will need to be adjusted to prevent myocardial necrosis.

Often a heart attack is preceded by symptoms that not everyone takes seriously. It:

Periodic discomfort in the chest, sometimes in the entire upper body (arms, neck, head).
Dyspnea, poor tolerance stuffy rooms.
Weakness and fatigue - even in the absence of active physical or mental activity.
Swelling of the legs.
Insomnia, anxiety.
Dizziness.

Some of these signs may even appear 20 to 30 days before a heart attack. Usually people who are attentive to their health complain about them. Those who are used to always delaying going to the doctor to the last may not even notice these harbingers.

If you experience the symptoms listed in the list, even if they do not bother you much, contact the clinic for preventive examination the whole organism.

Heart attack symptoms

The main symptom is severe pressing or burning pain behind the sternum. Can give to the left side (arm, shoulder, neck), less often - to right side chest or stomach.

Pain does not go away within 15 minutes - 3 hours. Sometimes the pain can last for days, but with periods of relaxation.

The appearance of this symptom alone is a reason to call an ambulance.

Additional symptoms

Additional signs of a heart attack:

weakness in the body;
increased sweating;
shortness of breath, feeling short of breath;
fast or irregular heartbeat;
nausea;
pallor or blueness of the skin;
dizziness (rarely - fainting).

It is not necessary for all of these symptoms to appear at the same time. Clinical picture heart attack usually consists of the main sign (chest pain) and two or three additional.

It's difficult to breathe.
The head is spinning.
I have a stomachache.
There is weakness in the whole body.

Sometimes such patients lose consciousness.

How to act during an attack

If you had a heart attack during physical activity, gradually stop all your actions, sit down, calm down, try to move less, do not panic.
If you've had these conditions before, take the pills your doctor has prescribed for you to relieve pain (usually nitroglycerin).
If the medicine does not work within 3-5 minutes, call an ambulance (describe all your symptoms as fully as possible on the phone).
While the medics are on the road, take an Aspirin. This is a very important part of first aid. Aspirin prevents the formation of blood clots and thins the blood, which facilitates blood circulation through a narrowed vessel. Thus, further myocardial death can be prevented. Even if in the end it turns out that you do not have a heart attack, but just an angina attack, Aspirin will not hurt.
If you are very worried about pain, you can drink another Nitroglycerin tablet, but not earlier than 5 minutes after the first. Before this, it is desirable to measure the pressure. If it is lowered, you can no longer drink Nitroglycerin. If you are prone to low blood pressure, it is better not to take Nitroglycerin until the doctors arrive.

If your relative or friend has signs of a heart attack, you need to act in a similar way. Have the patient sit in a comfortable position, open a window if possible. Ask if he had similar conditions before (it is advisable to report whether this is the first or a second attack when calling an ambulance). Call a doctor. Give me an aspirin.

Treatment

For any form of heart attack (and angina pectoris, and heart attack), the patient is shown as first aid:

Nitroglycerin or other nitrates.
Antiplatelet agents (Aspirin or similar drugs).
Beta blockers.

With a heart attack, anticoagulants (Heparin) and thrombolytics (Streptokinase) are also administered, if pain persists - morphine.

Drugs for myocardial infarction

After detailed examination the patient may be prescribed an operation to restore the blood supply to the myocardium: coronary angioplasty or.

Further treatment will be to prevent recurrent attacks of angina pectoris or myocardial infarction. Patients are prescribed such drugs:

Aspirin is mandatory for all patients with angina pectoris or a previous heart attack.
Statins - to control the level of fats in the blood.
Beta-blockers - to reduce pressure and eliminate arrhythmias.
Diuretics - relieve swelling, thereby reducing the load on the myocardium.
Nitroglycerin - for repeated episodes of heart pain.

Later lifestyle

If you do not want to have a heart attack again, follow these rules:

Quit smoking and drinking alcohol completely.
get busy physical therapy if your doctor has recommended it.
Stick to the diet prescribed for you (do not eat salty, fatty, fried, smoked, limit the consumption of sweet and starchy foods).

Forecast

It largely depends on how quickly it will be provided health care. In case of a heart attack, treatment should be started within 40 minutes of the onset of heart pain or other symptoms. Therefore, it is important to call an ambulance in time.

The prognosis for any heart attack is conditionally unfavorable: ischemia cannot be cured completely. However, if you follow all the recommendations of the doctor, you can avoid a second attack and significantly extend your life.

When they talk about cardiac arrest, they mean clinical death. Within 5–6 minutes, a person can still be reanimated and saved, but at the 7th minute, brain cells are already beginning to die. There are many causes of death, which include drugs that cause cardiac arrest. We are talking about glycosides, antibiotics, vitamins, etc.

Cardiac glycosides and potassium

Those who are interested in which pills can cause the main “motor” of the body to stop should pay attention to cardiac glycosides. They cause muscle fibers to contract several times stronger and have an effect on the human body akin to that which provokes the intake of caffeine, camphor or the release of adrenaline.

These preparations are based on the action of complex organic substances plant origin. They are recommended for use by individuals with acute or chronic HF. Adenosine triphosphatase, which is part of them, improves the transport of calcium, potassium and sodium, as a result of which metabolic processes energy and electrolytes in the body, improves the absorption of creatine phosphate.

Digoxin is the most commonly prescribed cardiac glycoside.

In most cases, death occurs as a result of an overdose of these drugs, but the normal concentration of these substances in the blood can be dangerous. At risk are people with kidney failure, hypercalcemia, hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia, hypothyroidism, etc.

A huge role in the regulation of heart contractions is played by potassium, which is a direct participant in intracellular metabolic processes, water and electrolyte balance, etc. Both an excess of this mineral and its deficiency can lead to cardiac arrest. If 14 grams of potassium enters the bloodstream, it will not be possible to save a person.

Therefore, before using cardiac glycosides, it is necessary to without fail consult your doctor, especially if you plan to take other medicines in addition to them. At the first sign of tingling in the limbs, a decrease in pressure, weakness, a change in heart rate, call an ambulance and in no case make attempts to help yourself, because you can only cleanse the body of potassium in a hospital setting.

Muscle relaxants and gastroenterology drugs

The first are designed to reduce muscle tone and are used in medicine for anesthesia. They block H-cholinergic receptors, as a result of which the transmission stops nerve impulses to the skeletal muscles. Their contraction stops, like the heart muscle. As a result of an overdose of muscle relaxants, death occurs in 90% of cases.

Centrally acting muscle relaxant Sirdalud Novartis

In persons allergic to such drugs, it develops even at a normal dosage, which is also fraught with stopping the main “engine” of the body. Persons with pathologies of the respiratory system and diseases of the heart and blood vessels are at risk.

Some drugs for the treatment of diseases of the digestive system can cause clinical death. These include medications to treat heartburn. Using them in a large dose, you can provoke convulsions, nerve pathologies, negative changes in heart contractions and, in the end, stop the main organ. If you take them during lactation, you can harm not only yourself, but also the child.

Antibiotics and vitamins

Despite all the benefits of antibiotics in the treatment of broncho-pulmonary, intestinal and other infections, these drugs can cause cardiac arrest, especially in people with allergies, diabetes, etc. This is especially true for drugs from the macrolide group: azithromycin, erythromycin, clarithromycin, etc. .

Studies conducted by Wayne Ray, a professor from the USA, confirmed that in people with comorbidities, a similar antibiotic therapy increased the likelihood of developing heart rhythm disturbances, heart failure and a sudden stop of the main "motor" of the body.

A Scottish study found that the popular antibiotic clarithromycin increased the risk of heart complications in those with lung disease. It should be noted that even after discontinuation of this drug, the risk side effects remains quite high.

As for vitamins, they can act both as a prevention of diseases of the heart and blood vessels, and provoke their development. For example, vitamin K is necessary for the synthesis of prothrombin in the liver. Vikasol, a water-soluble drug based on it, is used to prevent bleeding before operations and childbirth, and an increase in its dosage can lead to thrombosis. Too much calcium can damage heartbeat and conduction of the heart, etc.

We are talking about tranquilizers, sedatives, antidepressants. They are used to treat many diseases. nervous system and brain, as well as analgesic, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory drugs. All of them are capable of provoking cardiac arrest with increasing dosage.

Strong tranquilizers not only disrupt thinking and change consciousness, but also cause uncontrolled sudden contraction of muscle tissue. In this case, the face becomes like a terrible, terrible mask. And such a condition as akathisia causes agitation and psychosis with increased pressure and arrhythmia, which is also fraught with clinical death.

An overdose of antidepressants is fraught with seizures, fever, paralysis, heart failure, which, in the end, is fatal. Some drugs from this group increase serotonergic activity in the central nervous system, which leads to the development of akathisia and, as a result, cardiac arrest.

About 10% of patients who take these antidepressants attempt suicide. Therefore, before taking any drugs without a doctor's prescription, you should think carefully and carefully study the instructions. For persons at risk, such experiments with their health are doubly contraindicated, as they are fraught with the most terrible consequences.

Heart attack is one of the most common causes of sudden death. Nobody is safe from it. Especially those people who have crossed a certain age limit. But, unfortunately, more and more often heart attacks are observed and in enough young age. At the same time, the symptoms of a heart attack in women are somewhat different from the signs of pathology in men. They are more blurred and not expressed. And this leads to the fact that death rates in women from heart attacks are steadily increasing.

How to correctly recognize the first signs, symptoms of a heart attack? And what to do in this situation? How can you help yourself or a loved one?

What is a heart attack

Pathology often leads to death. But doctors say that if first aid is provided in a timely manner, and a team of doctors is called, then the patient can be saved. Most often, a fatal outcome is likely if urgent therapeutic measures could not be taken. In this case, death occurs as a result of extensive damage to the heart and complications that have arisen.

What happens in the body with this pathology? Symptoms of a heart attack in women appear if one of the arteries that feed the myocardium ceases to function fully. It does not deliver blood to the full main body. This leads to damage to part of the heart muscle. The tissues begin to die. The patient is in dire need of qualified assistance. Otherwise, death.

What can cause a heart attack? Symptoms in women occur against the background of a violation of the blood flow of blood vessels. Pathology can manifest itself as a result of a sudden spasm. Often an attack is provoked by an unexpected blockage of a vessel by cholesterol or a blood clot. Regardless of the factor that caused the pathology, there is only one reason for the death of heart tissue - a lack of oxygen.

Factors leading to a heart attack

There are many reasons that can trigger a heart attack. Symptoms in women in most cases are similar regardless of the source of the pathology.

The main provoking factors include:

age (after 55 years, a woman enters the risk zone);
hereditary factor;
undergone surgery to remove the ovaries;
period after menopause.

Additional sources of pathology

However, there are other causes that provoke a heart attack, which can be eliminated or nullified. negative impact on the body.

These factors are:

Smoking, addiction to alcohol, drug addiction. These factors are number one. Smokers are almost always diagnosed with heart disease. Alcohol intoxication worsens the situation several times. Often an acute attack occurs in a state of deep hangover.
Reception birth control pills. Sometimes such a factor leads to the appearance of pathology in women who have not even reached the age of 40.
High cholesterol. Vessels clogged with plaques experience serious overload. Of course, the heart does not receive enough blood. He has to work hard.
Obesity. Organs swollen with fat do not allow the myocardium to work at full strength. This is a fairly common cause leading to cardiac disorders.
Inactivity. As a rule, this factor is combined with obesity or overweight.
Hypertension. High pressure overloads the heart muscle and blood vessels.
Diabetes. This is a pathology that provokes many different disorders in the body. Suffering from the disease and the cardiovascular system.
Inflammatory processes in the vessels. They provoke a rupture of the coronary artery. Inflammation causes an increase in reactive protein in the body. This picture is observed most often in women. And what caused the increase in protein, doctors are not yet ready to say.
Hypothyroidism. The disease often becomes a source of heart disease. It can provoke an attack.
chronic stress. This state- the cause of the development of most diseases in the body. First of all, stress negatively affects the work of the heart.

Classic signs

Let's look at what are the most common symptoms of a heart attack?

Pathology is characterized by the following main features:

There is pain in the area chest. This is the most characteristic symptom of an impending heart attack. But pain doesn't always happen. Some people feel discomfort, tightness, a certain pressure in the chest. In this case, pain is completely absent. Patients claim that it becomes difficult for them to breathe, there is a feeling, "as if someone stepped on their chest." Very often, people believe that a heart attack causes pain only in the sternum and unpleasant discomfort in the left arm. You should know that negative feelings can appear in any other parts of the body: in the shoulders, in the throat, in the upper part of the peritoneum, in the jaws, teeth, back.
Strong sweating, perspiration. Notice when this symptom appears. Of particular concern is increased sweating in a person who is in a cool room, and not in the heat. Perspiration that appeared in the absence of physical activity may indicate problems. Severe sweating causes blockage of the arteries. The heart needs to work harder to pump enough blood. To save normal temperature under additional load, the body releases a large number of sweat. If you encounter such a problem, be sure to consult your doctor.
Dyspnea. If such attacks occur after a small load (climbing a couple of floors, walking), you should consult a doctor. Very often shortness of breath is a symptom of heart disease. Especially if it is accompanied by severe fatigue and chest pain. Women are more likely to experience these symptoms. It is shortness of breath and fatigue that usually warn of an impending heart attack.

Additional symptoms

With a classic attack, often there are:

Problems with the gastrointestinal tract. Very often, disorders in the digestive tract appear before an attack. Indigestion, heartburn, nausea may occur. These symptoms are often combined with dizziness. However, do not forget that such symptoms can be inherent in a number of pathologies.
Numbness of the fingers. Can only cover brushes. But sometimes the numbness extends to the shoulders and forearms.
Disrupted speech. A completely sober person begins to weave his tongue. Speech becomes slurred and incomprehensible.
Violation of motor coordination. The person loses control over the body. Most often this applies to the neck, shoulders, arms. This state is very similar to alcohol intoxication. Especially if it is combined with slurred speech. That is why others do not always rush to help a person who is in such a state. This is very dangerous, because precious minutes are lost.

If you pay attention to the main symptoms of a heart attack listed above in a timely manner, you can manage to save a person's life. Therefore, do not pass by a person who needs your help.

Features of seizures in women

Most often, people present a heart attack as a sudden, pronounced attack. If the pathology concerns the representatives of the beautiful half of humanity, then the situation is somewhat different. Symptoms of a heart attack in women are rarely pronounced. Most of the patients endure them without attaching any importance to them at all.

This is dictated by the fact that the signs of the disease in most cases are blurred. Therefore, women do not notice them and do not take them seriously. In addition, the symptoms are somewhat different from those that characterize an attack in men.

Alarms

Pay attention to what are the first symptoms of a heart attack in women:

Severe fatigue, almost unsettling.
Disturbed sleep, insomnia. This condition can be observed even after severe fatigue. These symptoms appear about a month before the attack.
Increased anxiety, agitation, feeling of stress.
Indigestion, the appearance of nausea with normal nutrition.
Weak, clammy, sweaty skin.
Difficulty breathing with normal exertion or climbing stairs.
The appearance of pain in the neck, face, jaw, ears. Discomfort can spread to the arms, shoulders. It resembles a state of stretching of muscle tissue.

How to help yourself?

If you observe the signs of a heart attack in women described above, do not expect the condition to worsen. The most correct decision is to consult a doctor and get qualified help.

Remember that the doctor must be informed about all the symptoms that appear. In addition, it is important to name the factors that can aggravate the condition ( genetic predisposition, smoking, hypertension).

If you have an attack

What to do if you are caught off guard by a heart attack? Symptoms, first aid - these are the points that every person should know well. After all, minutes count.

First aid consists of the following activities:

Call the ambulance right away. Even if you do not know how to help yourself, the dispatcher will explain to you what to do before the arrival of the doctors.
Contact relatives who are able to come to you immediately if the attack began at the moment when you are alone.
Take an aspirin tablet (325 mg). The pill should be chewed for it to take effect quickly.
Take a nitroglycerin tablet. If a positive effect not observed, you can use the medicine again. The third pill is allowed to drink only if the pain does not subside within 10 minutes after taking the second pill.
Try to remain calm. Panic and fear, characteristic of an attack, complicate the condition. Remember that help is on its way to you. You can focus on counting your heartbeat. It's calming.
Stay in a supine position, on your back. In this case, it is desirable to raise the legs higher, placing a pillow or other object under them. This will allow the diaphragm to open, and oxygen will be better supplied to the blood.
Take deep breaths and even exhales.
If possible, it is recommended to open a window to allow access fresh air.

What Not to Do

If symptoms of a heart attack are observed in women, it is not enough to know how to act in such a situation. It should be remembered that it is strictly contraindicated:

get up or move around;
smoke;
get behind the wheel;
use aspirin if there is intolerance to the drug or an exacerbation of gastritis, ulcers is diagnosed;
take nitroglycerin if low pressure, headache, sharp pain, with impaired speech, coordination, vision;
consume drinks or food.

Help for a loved one

What to do if something is wrong with a person in front of your eyes, and you suspect that he is having a heart attack?

Symptoms in women, treatment is often perceived by such persons as not serious. Therefore, be prepared for the fact that they will begin to refuse to call a doctor and protest against the need to take a horizontal position.

Your actions should be as quick and clear as possible:

Call an ambulance.
Lay the patient on a horizontal surface with any object under their feet. Make sure the patient does not get up.
Unbutton the collar, belt.
Provide fresh air by opening a window. Turn on the fan.
Try to calm and reassure the victim.

Be sure to follow all the steps above. And remember that the further life of this person depends on your actions.

fb.ru

What is a heart attack?

Heart attack — serious condition arising as a result of a problem with the blood supply after the obstruction of one of the cardiac arteries.

The consequences of this pathology are usually irreversible, which is why it is important to be able to distinguish this most dangerous condition in the first stages of its manifestation.

What can cause a heart attack?

As a rule, people who have any abnormalities in the cardiovascular system, congenital pathologies, or who have had complications after surgical interventions in this area are susceptible to heart attacks.

A particular risk group is the elderly.

By virtue of natural age-related changes towards aging, they are most often subject to heart attacks (men, according to statistics, suffer from heart attacks more often than women).

Other causes that can provoke the onset of a pathological condition: atherosclerosis, angina, abuse anabolic steroids(a very common cause in bodybuilding athletes) muscle mass), diabetes.

sedentary, sedentary image life, especially with poor nutrition - also contributes to an increased risk of getting a heart attack. The territorial location of a person's place of residence significantly affects the possibility of heart failure.

Hot, dry climate, dry periods adversely affect the pressure and cardiovascular system of people.

This is especially true for people of retirement age. They are encouraged, if possible, to move to more favorable areas for living.

Separately, it is worth highlighting the “voluntary” ways to earn a heart attack. These include extremely common bad habits in our time: drug addiction, alcohol addiction, smoking.

In smokers, cardiac abnormalities and seizures occur almost constantly. Alcohol abusers risk worsening existing heart problems, harmful effects alcoholic poisons on the body.

Attacks after heavy drinking, especially in the heat, are found everywhere. Narcotic substances after taking, they have a depressing effect on the center responsible for the work of the heart and blood vessels.

The pulse slows down and blood pressure drops. As a result, there is a strong oxygen starvation, the heart muscle stops working properly.

Another group of drugs, on the contrary, raises the pressure.

What are the symptoms of a heart attack and how to recognize it?

In order to immediately take measures to save the life and health of the victim, it is important to be able to distinguish the signs of a heart attack from other abnormalities with similar symptoms.

It is noteworthy that men and women have different heart symptoms.

The main reason to identify an attack and urgently call an ambulance team is acute pain in chest area. Drugs (nitroglycerin) do not relieve it.

A person is unable to carry out the respiratory process normally due to severe pain. The victim begins to experience oxygen starvation with signs of suffocation.

The danger is not pronounced symptoms, such as shortness of breath. It can occur in a person as being in calm state and after any physical activity. They may not pay attention to her, citing fatigue, overwork, "age".

Knock down taking drugs and forget about it. You can't do that. Any breathing problems, soreness in the chest area, burning sensations and other unusual phenomena should be the basis for a visit to the doctor and examination of your body.

In addition to the bright, alarming symptoms indicated above, there are others that are difficult to associate at first glance with the “heart”.

Vomiting and nausea begin. After vomiting, the patient does not experience the usual this case relief. On the contrary, the situation is only getting worse. Violations brain activity(dizziness, panic attacks, fainting) are frequent companions of an impending heart attack.

It is worth paying attention to such, it would seem, harmless states like suddenly appearing night snoring and excessive sweating of the extremities.

Heart attack symptoms in women

Certain symptoms of heart failure in women are often less pronounced than in men. This leads to the fact that the mortality from this disease in women is higher than in men.

What do the first symptoms of impending trouble look like in women? What will be the differences from male manifestations? How to protect yourself, mom, grandmother?

For women, the main risk factors are:

age over 55 years;
poor heredity in humans;
the consequences of a difficult menopause;
surgical interventions to remove the internal reproductive organs;
severe hypertension.

Long-term use of hormonal contraceptives can cause failure and harm the heart. Women under 40 are at risk.

Other reasons for the development of pathology: poor, monotonous nutrition, lack of heart-healthy products.

A large amount of fatty, cholesterol-containing food leads to blockage of blood vessels and the heart cannot be fully supplied with blood. excess fat on internal organs does not allow the heart to function normally and causes wear and tear, overload.

Cardiac pathologies can also begin with prolonged depression and stress, which are common in the modern world.

What should be your first concern?

To alarms, which gives female body relate: great weakness, fatigue, literally knocking down. Then insomnia or nocturnal panic attacks portend a heart attack about a month before its onset.

Another sure sign: when moving up or lifting something even with a small weight, shortness of breath and breathing failures begin. A reason to seek help and if pain begins in the front and neck, left shoulder and arm.

Symptoms of a heart attack in men

Diseases associated with cardiovascular system take the lives of men most often.

Who needs to be extremely careful?

Firstly, people over 50 years old, and secondly, those with bad habits (smoking, alcoholism, drug addiction).

Subject to a heart attack and men employed in work with large quantity stressful situations, in positions with a high mental level. Teachers, professors, theater actors, doctors are always under threat.

Men should always have routine medical check-ups (especially those suffering from high blood pressure or diabetes) and keep their nerves.

What are the symptoms of a heart attack in men?

When an unexpected acute pain in the chest, problems with inhalation of air, you need to urgently call an ambulance. Nausea, sudden icy sweat and pain in the left hand should also alert.

Long-term symptoms include prolonged weakness, fatigue, and insomnia.

First aid will consist of calling doctors, and the dispatcher on the phone will tell you what you can take.

cardiodok.ru

Heart attacks often occur without warning symptoms, and although it has long been documented that atherosclerosis (deposition of cholesterol in the arteries) is the most common cause of this phenomenon, there are a number of factors that contribute to this in people at risk.

Not so long ago, scientists from Belgium in the journal The Lancet published the results of studies that revealed a number of risk factors. These factors are especially dangerous for people with cardiovascular diseases:

1. Traffic

City dwellers beware: traffic is a risk factor for 8 percent of heart attacks in those who are particularly vulnerable, researchers say. This is especially true for drivers, passengers and even those who move around the city on a bicycle. Other studies that have found a link between traffic and heart attacks have been inconclusive because it wasn't entirely clear what was actually causing the problem: air pollution, the stress of moving in heavy traffic, or a combination of both. .

In any case, getting stuck in traffic jams is unfavorable for any person. If you have the opportunity to work from home, take advantage of it. Those who work from home are healthier, past research has shown, even if they work longer hours.. Homes can be better organized workplace rest more often, take breaks and experience less stress.

2. Physical activity

Physical activity causes heart attacks in 6 percent of cases. However, this is not about those healthy physical activity that a person can get by playing sports. Researchers have found that people who lead a sedentary lifestyle almost constantly, and then abruptly begin to load themselves and perform very complex physical exercises, are in a dangerous position.

most the best protection is to exercise for 150 minutes throughout the week - that is, no more than 30 minutes daily. But if you move very little and then suddenly decide to clear meter-long snowdrifts near the house, you need to warm up properly before this and not start physically working early in the morning. Serious physical activity in the morning is stressful for your body, and your heart may not be able to withstand it.

3. Alcohol and coffee

The drinks you drink to cheer up or calm your nerves can be the cause of heart attacks in 5 percent of cases. Drinking too much alcohol can contribute to problems, but doctors aren't sure exactly how alcohol causes heart attacks. Several theories suggest that alcohol can increase inflammation and prevent the body from dissolving blood clots in the vessels.

It should be remembered that 1 glass of wine or an equivalent portion of other mild alcohol per day may, on the contrary, prevent heart problems due to the beneficial polyphenols found in wine and beer.

Coffee, on the other hand, works just the opposite. Most of the studies that have looked at coffee's association with heart attacks have found that people who drink less coffee are more likely to have heart attacks than those who drink a lot of coffee.

4. Dirty air

Smog, exhaust fumes, and the many dust particles emitted by vehicles are all serious but subtle health hazards. Dirty air causes about 4.75 percent of heart attacks among vulnerable people. The authors of the studies say that although this is the lowest percentage in this case, nevertheless, this risk factor is one of the most serious, because no one can be protected from dirty air by living in a city.

It is for this reason that environmental experts in cardiology say that since it is almost impossible to protect yourself from dirty air, special attention should be paid to other risk factors that can be managed. For example, reduce stress, treat migraines if they occur, eat less red meat and salt, and follow the Mediterranean diet.

5. Good and bad mood

Strong emotions seem to contribute to heart disease, even if they are positive. Anger and negative emotions are, of course, more risky - about 7 percent of heart attacks are associated with them. Positive emotions are responsible for heart problems in 2.5 percent of cases. “Any strong emotion can cause stress,” says Dr. Jeffrey Rossman.

All strong emotions increase the adrenaline rush, the heartbeat and the viscosity of the reds. blood cells which together can lead to a heart attack. For this reason, you should avoid negative emotions and experience more positive ones.” Positive emotions generally result in a more balanced heart rate compared to negative ones. Irregular heart rhythm leads to heart attacks,” says Rossman.

Moreover, he added that because we are trying to resist negative emotions, it gives more muscle tension than with positive emotions, including tension in the muscles around blood vessels. Due to the fact that blood vessels are constricted by muscles, negative emotions are more likely to cause a stroke than positive emotions.

6. Sex

Among the cases of heart attacks, 2.2 percent are cases that were related to sex. Any activity in a horizontal position can increase blood pressure and palpitations, which in turn can lead to problems with the heart and blood vessels. Various studies that have examined the association of sex with heart attacks have shown that the risk is relatively low for healthy people, about 1 chance in a million. But if a person already has a risk of a heart attack, he should be careful.The good news is that regular exercise significantly reduces the risk of heart problems during and after sex, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

source

lichnorastu.ru

How do doctors call this pathology?

Myocardial infarction.

What it is?

During a heart attack, one of the arteries that feed the heart stops supplying enough blood to the part of the heart muscle it serves. This leads to damage to a local area of tissue of the heart muscle.

If treatment is not started immediately, the person may die; almost half of sudden deaths from a heart attack occur before the patient is taken to the hospital. Usually death occurs from extensive tissue damage or complications. The prognosis improves if action is taken immediately.

What causes an attack?

Most often, the cause lies in arteriosclerosis (hardening of the coronary arteries), when blood flow to the heart muscle decreases.

Risk factors:

hereditary predisposition;

High blood pressure;

Smoking;

Obesity or a diet high in saturated fat, carbohydrates, and salt;

Passive lifestyle;

Aging;

Drug use, especially cocaine;

A constitution.

SELF-HELP

Resuming sex life after a heart attack

After returning from the hospital, you should gradually return to physical activity. Most heart attack survivors can be restarted sex life after 3-4 weeks.

Sex is a moderate physical activity, comparable in energy consumption to brisk walking, but in a state of emotional distress it can give additional load on the heart.

What should be the environment during sex?

The environment should be familiar and calm, otherwise stress is possible. Pay attention to the temperature in the room - too high or too low create additional stress on the heart.

When to have sex?

Have sex when you are rested and relaxed. Best time for this, morning, after a good night's sleep.

When should you abstain from sex?

If you are tired or anxious, and after a large dose of alcohol, refrain from sex. Alcohol dilates blood vessels, and the heart has to work harder. You should not have sex after a heavy meal.

Choose a comfortable position

Try to take a position in which you would breathe freely and be comfortable.

Don't be afraid to experiment. Let your partner take the dominant role.

A few caveats

Talk to your doctor about whether you should take nitroglycerin before sex to prevent angina during or after sex.

Do not forget that an increase in heart rate and breathing is a completely normal thing during sex. But they should return to normal after 15 minutes. Call your doctor if you notice any of the following symptoms after having sex:

Profuse sweating or palpitations lasting more than 15 minutes;

Shortness of breath or rapid pulse, observed for more than 15 minutes;

Chest pain that does not improve after taking two to three nitroglycerin tablets (taken 5 minutes apart) or at rest;

Sleepiness after sex or extreme tiredness the next day.

Men have more heart attacks than women, but there is a trend towards an increase in the number of women suffering from heart attacks; among them, smokers and users of oral contraceptives are especially numerous (see RETURNING SEX LIFE AFTER A HEART ATTACK and THE ROAD TO RECOVERY).

SELF-HELP

Road to recovery

Simply walking in a pattern can help you strengthen your heart and speed up your recovery from a heart attack. Be sure to warm up (warm up) before walking and gradually relieve (cool down) after walking.

Stretch your muscles, do stretching exercises, for example, for the calves and muscles of the shoulder girdle. To stretch your calf muscles, place both palms against the wall at about shoulder height. Take one foot step towards the wall and lean towards it, keeping your palms flat on the wall and keeping your feet on the floor. Push up against the wall until you feel tension in your legs.

To stretch the shoulder girdle, close your arms above your head and pull your shoulders back.

Week Warm-up Exercise Gradual transition to rest Total, min

1 Warm-up 2 min Walking at a slow pace 3 min Vigorous walking 5 min Walking at a slow pace 3 min Stretching muscles 2 min 15

2 Warm-up 2 minutes Slow walking 3 minutes Vigorous walking 7 minutes Slow walking 3 minutes Muscle stretching 2 minutes 17

3 Warm up 2 mins Slow walking 3 mins Vigorous walking 9 mins Slow walking 3 min Muscle stretching 2 mins 19

4 Warm-up 2 minutes Slow walking 3 minutes Vigorous walking 11 minutes Slow walking 3 minutes Muscle stretching 2 minutes 21

5 Warm up 2 mins Slow walking 3 mins Vigorous walking 13 mins Slow walking 3 min Muscle stretching 2 mins 23

6 Warm up 2 mins Slow walking 3 mins Vigorous walking 15 mins Slow walking 3 min Muscle stretching 2 mins 25

7 Warm-up 2 minutes Slow walking 3 minutes Vigorous walking 18 minutes Slow walking 3 minutes Muscle stretching 2 minutes 28

8 Warm up 2 mins Slow walking 5 mins Vigorous walking 20 mins Slow walking 5 min Muscle stretching 2 min 34

9 Warm-up 2 min Walking at a slow pace 5 min Vigorous walking 23 min Walking at a slow pace 5 min Stretching muscles 2 min 37

10 Warm-up 2 min Walking at a slow pace 5 min Vigorous walking 26 min Walking at a slow pace 5 min Stretching muscles 2 min 40

11 Warm-up 2 min Walking at a slow pace 5 min Vigorous walking 28 min Walking at a slow pace 5 min Stretching muscles 2 min 42

12 Warm up 2 mins Slow walking 5 mins Vigorous walking 30 mins Slow walking 5 min Muscle stretching 2 mins 44

What are the signs that a heart attack is approaching?

The main symptom is persistent long-term (12 hours or more) pressing pain in the chest, which can radiate to the left arm, jaw, neck or shoulder blades. Usually the patient describes the pain as intense, squeezing or pressing. But for some, particularly older people and those with diabetes, pain may not be present. In some cases, the pain may be weak; patients or their doctors mistake them for gastric. In people with hardening of the arteries, the signal of an approaching heart attack is the increase and intensification of chest pain, an increase in their duration, especially if the pain appears after exertion, rich food, stay in the cold or in the wind.

Some people experience fear of death, fatigue, vomiting, shortness of breath, cold hands and feet, perspiration, anxiety, and restlessness before a heart attack. Finally, there are cases where there are no symptoms at all.

Complications

The most common complications after a heart attack are recurrent or persistent chest pain; insufficiency of the main chamber of the heart (left ventricle), leading to heart failure and the accumulation of a large amount of fluid in the lungs, deterioration of the pumping function of the heart, cardiogenic shock.

Shortly after a heart attack, some patients develop serious complications such as a blood clot in a vein, dysfunction of the heart valve, a ruptured interventricular septum, and a ruptured heart muscle, which can lead to death.

Even a few months after a heart attack, Dressler's syndrome (inflammation of the pericardial sac) may develop, in which the patient suffers from chest pain, fever, and in some cases the condition is complicated by pneumonia.

How is the diagnosis established?

A doctor diagnoses a heart attack by persistent chest pain, abnormal heart sounds, electrocardiogram data, and blood tests showing elevated heart enzymes for more than 72 hours.

MORE ABOUT THE DISEASE

What you need to know about heart rhythm disorders

Heart rhythm disturbances (cardiac arrhythmias) can manifest themselves in different ways: too frequent and too rare, uneven (at irregular intervals) heartbeats, or both. The reasons for the disruption of the normal production of excitatory impulses of the heart are also different.

In the heart muscle there are conductive fibers that ensure the rapid movement of impulses through muscle cells. When the impulse conduction system is working properly, heartbeats are synchronous and occur at regular intervals. Violations in this system immediately affect the change in heart rhythms and their regularity.

Symptoms: Mild to threatening

Cardiac arrhythmias alter the pumping function of the heart, which can lead to a range of symptoms and complications, from palpitations, dizziness, fainting, to development threatening blood clots in a vein and even cardiac arrest.

Treatment

With arrhythmias, medications are prescribed that allow you to control the situation, as well as special procedures. Widely used are medicines like lanoxin, inderal, isoptin, cardioquin and pronestyl. However, you should be aware that these drugs do not cure disorders, but only maintain the heart rhythm.

To normalize the heart rhythm, carotid sinus massage, the Valsalva method, an artificial pacemaker, electrical defibrillation of the heart, and surgical intervention are used.

Carotid sinus massage

The procedure consists in massaging for several seconds the carotid sinus (the place where the common carotid artery branches), located on the side of the neck, which helps to restore the heart rhythm. Patients are taught to massage themselves when an arrhythmia appears.

Valsalva method

This method increases the pressure in the chest, as a result of which the heart rhythm is restored. In this case: the patient does deep breath and holds his breath at least for 10 seconds before exhaling air.

Setting the pacemaker - pacemaker

A pacemaker may be placed in the heart. This device generates electrical impulses that cause the heart to beat and sets the heart rate. Usually, a temporary pacemaker is first installed for several days, and then a permanent one or by performing a surgical operation.

Electrical defibrillation of the heart

This is a method of correcting the heart rhythm with the help of an electric current. The patient is first given sedative to make him fall asleep; then an electric current impulse is applied to the heart through special plates placed on the chest. The procedure normalizes the heart rate and relieves symptoms.

Surgical intervention

If cardiac arrhythmias cannot be corrected with drugs or other conservative methods your doctor may recommend the following surgeries: open heart(to correct structural defects), implantation of a permanent pacemaker, or insertion of an cardioverter-defibrillator. In the latter case, the surgeon sews two small overlays onto the surface of the heart, and then brings the thin wires attached to them under the skin into a pocket on the abdomen, where the device itself is placed. The cardioverter works automatically when the heart stops or its irregular work. The device delivers a pulse that restores a normal heart rhythm.

SELF-HELP

You had a heart attack. What should you do?

Follow all doctor's orders

Make sure you understand your doctor's instructions correctly and take your medications as directed.

Watch for side effects of medications and let your doctor know if they occur. So, when taking lanoxin, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting and xanthopsia (seeing objects in yellow light) are sometimes observed.

If you have chest pain, call your doctor.

Eat what is good for the heart

Make changes to your diet as recommended by your doctor. It is usually advised to reduce the intake of salt, fats and foods containing a lot of cholesterol.

Other useful changes

If you smoke, stop smoking.

Raise sexual activity gradually.

Join a rehabilitation program recommended by your doctor.

If the symptoms and examination results do not give a clear picture, the doctor should protect the patient by assuming that he is dealing with a heart attack. To confirm the diagnosis are used:

12-lead electrocardiogram, which may show characteristic pathology in the first few hours after a heart attack;

Echocardiography to detect abnormalities in the movement of the ventricular wall;

Scans can show significant damage to the heart muscle, which looks like a "hot spot" on film.

Treatment

Treatment is aimed at relieving chest pain, stabilizing the heart rate, reducing the workload on the heart, restoring blood supply to the coronary arteries, and preserving heart muscle tissue. In the first 48 hours after a heart attack, irregular heart rhythms require special attention; medications or a pacemaker may be required. Sometimes an electrical impulse is given to the heart to restore a normal rhythm (see WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HEART RHYTHMS).

To maintain heart muscle within 6 hours after the onset of symptoms of a heart attack, a doctor may prescribe thrombolytic agents that dissolve blood clots in the arteries (eg, streptokinase, alteplase, urokinase).

If narrowing of the coronary artery is causing heart attacks, subcutaneous coronary angioplasty is performed. In this case, the doctor inserts a thin balloon catheter with a contrast dye into the narrowed coronary artery. After finding the narrowing site, the doctor inflates the catheter balloon, which, expanding, opens the artery.

Other treatments

After a heart attack, some patients are prescribed:

Lidocaine - to normalize some types of cardiac arrhythmias;

Pronestyl, cardioquin, bretylin, or norpace;

Atropine or a temporary pacemaker if the intervals between heartbeats are too long;

Nitroglycerin, calcium channel blockers, or other drugs that relieve pain, redistribute blood flow so that more blood flows to areas of the heart muscle suffering from malnutrition, help the heart pump more blood and reduce the workload on it; heparin - to prevent the formation of blood clots;

Morphine - to relieve pain and provide a sedative effect;

Medicines to improve contractility heart or boost blood pressure;

Beta-blockers (eg, inderal nblocadren) are used after an acute heart attack to prevent another attack;

Aspirin - to prevent blood clots (no later than 24 hours after the onset of symptoms);

Bed rest (it is forbidden to get up even to the toilet) to give complete rest to the heart;

Oxygen (within 24-48 hours);

Pulmonary artery catheterization - to detect insufficiency of the left or right ventricles. The doctor passes a thin, hollow tube through the heart into pulmonary artery for measuring different pressures(See YOU HAD A HEART ATTACK. WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?)

Back to section

1. Traffic

In any case, getting stuck in traffic jams is unfavorable for any person. If you have the opportunity to work from home, take advantage of it. Those who work from home are healthier, past research has shown, even if they work longer hours.. At home, you can better organize your workplace, relax more often, take breaks and experience less stress.

2. Physical activity

Physical activity causes heart attacks in 6 percent of cases. However, this is not about those healthy physical activities that a person can get by playing sports. Researchers have found that people who lead a sedentary lifestyle almost constantly, and then abruptly begin to load themselves and perform very complex physical exercises, are in a dangerous position.

The best protection is to exercise for 150 minutes throughout the week - that is, no more than 30 minutes daily. But if you move very little and then suddenly decide to clear meter-long snowdrifts near the house, you need to warm up properly before this and not start physically working early in the morning. Serious physical activity in the morning is stressful for your body, and your heart may not be able to withstand it.

3. Alcohol and coffee

4. Dirty air

5. Good and bad mood

All strong emotions increase the release of adrenaline, the heartbeat and the viscosity of the red blood cells, which together can lead to a heart attack. It is for this reason that negative emotions should be avoided and more positive emotions should be experienced.” Positive emotions generally result in a more balanced heart rate compared to negative ones. Irregular heart rhythm leads to heart attacks,” says Rossman.

What's more, he added that because we're trying to resist negative emotions, it produces more muscle tension than positive emotions, including tension in the muscles around blood vessels. Due to the fact that blood vessels are constricted by muscles, negative emotions are more likely to cause a stroke than positive emotions.

6. Sex

Among the cases of heart attacks, 2.2 percent are cases that were related to sex. Any activity in a horizontal position can increase blood pressure and heart rate, which in turn can lead to problems with the heart and blood vessels. Various studies that have examined the association of sex with heart attacks have shown that the risk is relatively low for healthy people, about 1 chance in a million. But if a person already has a risk of a heart attack, he should be careful.The good news is that regular exercise significantly reduces the risk of heart problems during and after sex, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

source

lichnorastu.ru

Why does an attack occur

The causes of a heart attack are malnutrition of the heart muscle (myocardium) due to spasm or narrowing of the coronary vessels. The worst cause is complete thrombosis of the vessel with the cessation of blood flow to the area of \u200b\u200bmuscle tissue. This causes acute necrosis (necrosis), myocardial infarction.

Pathological changes occur when:

atherosclerosis with the deposition of plaques of cholesterol, narrowing and thrombosis of the arteries;
increased blood pressure;
sudden nervous shock (both from negative emotions and joy), fright.

Significantly increased risk of heart attack in patients with cardiac arrhythmias, especially those suffering from paroxysms of atrial fibrillation or tachycardia, in patients with defects. In such cases, the required amount of blood does not enter the coronary vessels.

Heat, stuffiness, exercise, overeating, drinking alcohol, smoking can provoke a heart attack.

Who gets seizures

The risk of a heart attack increases during an unstable course of diseases, in the off-season, with high atmospheric pressure. Statistics show that seizures are most susceptible to:

middle-aged men (40-60 years old);
having excess weight;
people who do not want to give up smoking and alcohol;
hypertension "with experience";
persons suffering ischemic disease hearts;
patients with initial manifestations of heart failure;
sensitive natures who do not tolerate stressful situations;
persons who arbitrarily stop taking medications.

Characteristics of typical heart pain

In another way, such pains are called "angina pectoris", angina pectoris.

There is a feeling of pressure behind the sternum or on the left, due to pressing pain, the patient cannot take a deep breath.
Irradiates to left shoulder, shoulder blade, less often in the throat, lower jaw.
Associated with exercise, the condition improves at rest.
There is a feeling of lack of air, the patient cannot lie down, tries to sit up, gasps for air.
Quite often interruptions of a rhythm disturb.
Facial pallor appears cold sweat.
Accompanied by a feeling of fear of death.
Lasts from 5 minutes to half an hour.

Other manifestations of an attack

Symptoms of a heart attack differ depending on the underlying disease that caused it. The main symptom is always pain in the region of the heart.

Atypical symptoms are:

The maximum localization of pain to the right of the sternum, in epigastric region, in the throat. It is not uncommon for patients to soar in the bathroom, believing that they have a cold or cause vomiting, being sure of their poisoning.
Pain may be completely absent. The main manifestation is sudden suffocation. Unlike seizure bronchial asthma, a person cannot inhale (bronchospasm causes a violation of exhalation, a whistle is heard at a distance).
Against the background of stabbing, rather than pressing pains, a sharp weakness appears.

Attack with hypertension

With a cardiac hypertension pain in the heart occurs during each hypertensive crisis. This condition is characterized by:

simultaneous headaches in the back of the head or crown;
dizziness;
noise in ears;
muscle tremors;
visual impairment;
nausea and vomiting;
paresthesia ("goosebumps") on the skin of the hands and feet;
excitation or, conversely, lethargy of consciousness.

Without assistance, the crisis clinic lasts from several hours to a day.

Symptoms suggestive of non-cardiac causes

You should not try to take heart remedies if you have the following symptoms:

the pain is short-term, stabbing, goes away on its own;
increases with deep breathing, movement of the torso, arms;
there is pain on pressure along the lower edge of the costal arch;
at the same time there is heartburn, belching, a tendency to loose stools;
permanent aching pain not dependent on physical activity.

With such symptoms, there is more evidence to suggest osteochondrosis thoracic spine, intercostal neuralgia, chest trauma, stomach problems, cardioneurosis.

When to think about a heart attack

It's good when adults know that the threat of death from myocardial infarction, unfortunately, is not decreasing. The possibility of a heart attack is indicated by an increase in angina attacks. But a sudden development of the disease is also possible if the thrombus blocked large vessel and a large mass of the heart muscle is immediately excluded from the working mode.

Main signs:

pain is localized behind the sternum;
the intensity is much greater than with a normal attack, patients describe them as "dagger, burning";
give to the left shoulder blade, shoulder joint (as in angina pectoris);
pallor, blueness on the lips appears;
clammy cold sweat on forehead;
last more than half an hour;
their intensity does not depend on physical activity;
pain cannot be relieved with a nitroglycerin tablet.

Atypical manifestations are possible: fainting, nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain.

How to help with a heart attack

First aid for a heart attack can be decisive in the fight for a person's life.

An ambulance must be called as soon as possible.
Lay the person down with the head section raised.
Unbutton a tight belt, collar, tie.
Indoors, provide air access, fanning in the heat.
If it is possible to measure arterial pressure and an increase is recorded, then ask the patient if he is carrying necessary medicines. Doctors orient hypertensive patients to the constant presence of drugs with a vasodilating effect. This tablet should be kept in the mouth until dissolved.
If others or in the home medicine cabinet have nitroglycerin, it is necessary to give it to the patient.
You can offer to chew and swallow, washed down with water, 2 aspirin tablets. Be sure to tell the emergency doctor about this.
The setting of the mustard plaster on the region of the heart is shown.

Treatment

Further treatment of a heart attack is carried out on an outpatient basis (in the absence of suspicion of acute myocardial infarction) or in a hospital (if there is a lot of data on the clinical course and examination results that allow diagnosing a pre-infarction condition or a heart attack is clearly confirmed).

It is imperative that for a short time it will be necessary to reduce physical activity to a minimum, observe bed rest. This is the only way to give your heart a rest. This does not mean a ban on exercises for the hands and feet. Do everything at a slow pace.

A little unloading and salt restriction will not interfere with nutrition. Foods that cause fermentation are not recommended in the coming days (meat, legumes, whole milk) so that the diaphragm does not rise.

For "abusive" there is reason to seriously think about their health. Often it is a heart attack with an experienced fear of death that changes a person for the better.

Mandatory conduct general analysis blood, biochemical tests for transaminases, lactate dehydrogenase, ECG with control after a few days.

Nitro-containing drugs are used in the treatment long-acting, drugs that reduce myocardial oxygen consumption, anticoagulants.

Hypertensive patients need to adjust the dosage of the drugs taken medicines, primary appointment and selection of optimal treatment, if previously high blood pressure was not determined.

People who have had a heart attack should not despair. It should be treated as a requirement of the body to pay more attention to itself.

serdec.ru

Etiological factors

It is known that the development of a heart attack is associated with destabilization of the atherosclerotic process. That's why everything etiological factors atherosclerosis can also be considered as capable of provoking a heart attack.

Most often, the disease occurs as a result of thrombosis of the coronary vessels. This occurs in the area of altered atherosclerotic plaque. Thrombosis is promoted by all factors that cause an increase in blood viscosity. These include: pathological change pavement vascular wall, absence of the endothelium of the coronary vessel, spasm of the lumen of the vessel, violation of the physiological functions of platelets towards the activation of thrombus formation, the release of biologically active substances that increase coagulation, cause vasospasm and increase blood viscosity. Less often, a heart attack occurs against the background of a long-term spasm of the coronary arteries.

Enough a rare cause the development of a heart attack can be a sharp increase in the need of the heart muscle for oxygen in the absence of its sufficient supply by coronary vessels due to a pronounced atherosclerotic process.

Usually cause a heart attack various factors risk:

age of men over 45 years old, women over 55 years old;
premature menopause in women;
hereditary predisposition;
prolonged nicotine intoxication;
hypertonic disease;
lipid metabolism disorder;
diabetes;
overweight;
insufficient physical activity;
decreased thyroid function.

The more risk factors a person has, the higher the risk of heart attack at a young age.

The disease can also be iatrogenic. There are medicines and poisons that cause a heart attack.

Clinical manifestations

In the development of a heart attack, there are several periods: acute, acute and subacute.

The most acute period lasts about 3 hours. A characteristic symptom of a heart attack is the patient's pain. Intensity pain syndrome variable, but most often severe pain in the region of the heart, which are widespread. If a pathological process covers the back wall of the heart, then the pain can be localized in the epigastric region. Taking nitroglycerin does not give any effect, and the pain itself lasts more than 30 minutes.

In a small percentage of cases, a heart attack is painless. Other symptoms include: a sudden onset of weakness, syncope (fainting), a violation of the rhythm of cardiac activity (ventricular fibrillation is even possible). If the lesion affects a large area, then cardiogenic shock or pulmonary edema may develop.

The acute period lasts up to 10 days. At this time, a scar begins to form on the heart muscle. Pain syndrome, as a rule, is absent. From characteristic symptoms the following can be noted: fever (due to resorption of necrotic masses), various kinds of arrhythmias, pericarditis or endocarditis may form. The most common cause of death during this period is heart failure.

The subacute period lasts up to 4-8 weeks. At this time, the patient feels well. The risk of developing complications is reduced.

Symptoms of a heart attack in women and signs of a heart attack in men do not have significant differences.

Principles of diagnosis and treatment

A heart attack is characterized by a change in laboratory parameters due to the presence of inflammatory process and getting into the blood of various proteins from the focus of necrosis.

An electrocardiogram is important. This allows not only to confirm the very fact of the presence of the disease, but also to determine its localization and the prevalence of the pathological process.

characteristic of a heart attack high risk development of complications, some of which are incompatible with life. If the pathological process is non-penetrating, then the course of the disease is most often favorable.

The prognosis to date remains serious. A second heart attack is especially dangerous. Patients die from the development of such complications as arrhythmia, cardiogenic shock, myocardial rupture, chronic heart failure.

The therapy is aimed at preserving the maximum amount of viable cardiac muscle, prevention and treatment of complications. If a disease is suspected, hospitalization is indicated intensive care where you can get help for a heart attack.

Principles of treatment:

pain relief (narcotic analgesics are administered);
carrying out thrombolytic and anticoagulant therapy (if the patient was hospitalized in the first 8 hours after the onset of an attack);
the presence of nitrates in therapy is mandatory;
the use of beta-blockers;
antiplatelet therapy;
when complications are attached, therapy is carried out aimed at normalizing the patient's condition (defibillation, atropine and pacing in case of conduction disturbance, arrhythmia therapy).

Dosed physical activity is prescribed already on the second day of hospitalization, provided there is no pain syndrome and complications. In hospitals, a 3-4 week rehabilitation of such patients is practiced.

A little about first aid for a heart attack:

in the event of a heart attack, an ambulance should be called immediately;
a person must be seated or laid with a raised headboard;
remove all tight clothing to ensure free breathing;
take one aspirin tablet and place a nitroglycerin tablet under the tongue.

The sooner it arrives Ambulance and the sooner first aid is provided for the symptoms of a heart attack, the more favorable the prognosis for the patient.

Video on how to provide first aid for a heart attack:

our-heartce.ru

Heart Failure - Overview

What is heart failure?

The term "heart failure" means that your heart muscle is not pumping as much blood as your body needs. Failure does not mean that your heart has stopped. This means that your heart is not pumping enough blood.

Since your heart cannot pump blood well enough, your body tries to compensate. For this:

Your body retains salt and fluid. This increases the amount of blood in your bloodstream.

Your heart is beating faster.

Your heart is increasing in size.

Your body has an amazing ability to compensate for heart failure. He can do this task so well that you won't even be aware of your illness. But at some point, your body will no longer be able to compensate for the deficiency. Your heart is wearing out. After this, fluid begins to accumulate in your body, and you will experience symptoms such as weakness and shortness of breath.

This accumulation of fluid is called congestion. Therefore, some doctors call the disease congestive heart failure.

Over time, heart failure worsens. But treatment can slow it down and help you feel better and live longer.

What causes heart failure?

Anything that damages your heart or affects its pumping ability can lead to heart failure. Its most common causes are:

Ischemic heart disease (CHD).

High blood pressure.

#image.jpg

What is heart failure?

A LITTLE THEORY: The heart is a hollow muscular organ that acts as a pump.

Heart failure is a serious condition in which the heart does not pump blood well enough throughout the body. This means that blood does not deliver to required quantities oxygen and nutrients to various organs so that they function properly.

First, the body will try to learn how to compensate for the poor performance of a weakened heart. The heart begins to beat faster (tachycardia) to pump more blood throughout the body, expands (dilatation) - by stretching its walls to hold and expel more blood, the heart muscle becomes stronger and thicker (hypertrophy) - to help the heart pump more blood. The body will also try to increase the volume of circulating blood and redirect blood flow from the muscles to the brain and other vital organs. However, such changes can compensate for poor heart function only for a very limited period, and in the future, as a rule, this weakens the heart even more.

A patient with heart failure experiences shortness of breath during physical exertion or even at rest, shortness of breath or cough at night in a horizontal position, swelling of the legs appears, appetite decreases, weight decreases or, conversely, increases, urination becomes more frequent at night. Heart failure is often accompanied by depression, fatigue, increased fatigue, dizziness, palpitations.

How does a healthy heart work?

The heart is a muscular pump that pumps blood through the vessels. Blood delivers oxygen and nutrients to all parts of the body, and also transports metabolic products to be "utilized" to some organs (primarily the lungs and kidneys).

The heart consists of two pumps working together. Blood coming from organs and tissues enters the right side of the heart, which then pumps it to the lungs. In the lungs, the blood is cleared of carbon dioxide and saturated with oxygen.

Oxygenated blood from the lungs enters the left side heart, which pumps it to all parts of the body, including the tissue of the heart muscle itself.

Thanks to this process, the body always has enough oxygen and nutrients for efficient work.

What happens in heart failure?

In heart failure, the heart has difficulty pumping blood around the body. This can happen for various reasons. Most often, heart failure is caused by damage to the myocardium (caused, for example, by coronary disease or a heart attack) or an excessive load on the heart, which is caused by high blood pressure.

Injury and overuse can adversely affect the contraction (contraction) of the heart, filling (relaxation) or both.

If the heart does not contract properly, it cannot pump enough blood out of the ventricles. If the heart cannot completely empty itself of blood volume and relax, less blood is delivered to it the next time. Accordingly, an insufficient volume is also pushed out.

Here are the two main consequences of heart failure: first, the body does not receive enough blood, which can lead to general fatigue; secondly, the blood flow is delayed at the entrance to the heart. This causes fluid to "leak" from the blood vessels into the surrounding tissues, resulting in fluid accumulation (usually in the legs and abdomen) and fluid retention in the lungs.

At first, the body adapts and tries to compensate for the weakened heart function. However, compensatory mechanisms operate for a limited time. Actually in long term this adaptation further weakens the heart.

Click here. to learn how the heart and other organs adapt as they try to cope with your body's needs.

Classification of heart failure

Each patient with heart failure has its own characteristics. In this state, the most various symptoms and affects different parts of the heart. For this reason, your doctor may use different terms when describing your heart failure.

The two main types of heart failure are chronic and acute .

Chronic heart failure is more common, its symptoms appear slowly, their severity increases gradually.

Acute heart failure develops rapidly and is immediately manifested by severe symptoms. Acute heart failure occurs as a result of a heart attack that has caused damage to some area of the heart, or in response to an acute inability of the body to compensate chronic insufficiency(this happens more often).

Acute heart failure in the initial stages can be severe, but it is short-lived, and improvement soon occurs. Usually in this situation, urgent treatment and injection (intravenous) administration of medications are necessary.

Heart failure symptoms

Symptoms of heart failure vary from patient to patient, primarily depending on the type of heart failure. You may have all of the symptoms described here, or only some of them.

On the early stages symptoms are unlikely. As heart failure progresses, symptoms are likely to come on and become more severe.

The main symptoms of heart failure are caused by fluid accumulation and stasis, as well as inadequate blood supply organs and tissues. This section is about the symptoms of heart failure and how you can help relieve them.

For more information use the links below.

Symptoms caused by accumulation and stagnation of fluid:

Symptoms associated with a decrease in blood flow in organs and tissues:

Other symptoms:

In addition to physical symptoms, some patients, experiencing the severity of the situation, suffer from emotional disorders(anxiety, depression).

If you have any of these symptoms, remember to keep a close eye on them every day. If you feel new symptom or strengthening of the old, you must immediately inform your doctor or nurse. To find out exactly what to watch out for, click here.

Causes of heart failure

Cardiac disease can develop as a result of previous or current diseases that damage the myocardium or increase the workload on the heart. If you have had (or are currently suffering from) more than one of these conditions, your risk of heart failure increases significantly. Your doctor should tell you what could have caused the heart failure.

This section describes conditions that can lead to heart failure. For more information, simply click on the disease name.

Most common causes heart failure:

AT rare cases, at sharp rise activity, the heart may not be able to keep up with the needs of the body, and symptoms of heart failure may develop in compensated patients.

Diseases that can lead to decompensation of heart failure:

With proper treatment of these conditions, the symptoms of heart failure may become less pronounced.

Other diseases such as diabetes. may exacerbate symptoms of heart failure.

Often the symptoms of heart failure worsen if patients break the treatment regimen or stop taking medications. Click here. for tips on following your treatment plan and handling your medications.

In some patients who do not suffer from the diseases listed above, it is not possible to identify the cause of heart failure. If you don't know the cause of heart failure, ask your doctor about it.

Standard Tests for Heart Failure

If you suspect symptoms of heart failure, you should talk to your doctor (especially your primary care physician).

The doctor will conduct a thorough examination, ask about the symptoms of the disease, medical history and lifestyle. It is extremely important to answer all questions as honestly and in detail as possible. Only in this case, the doctor will be able to deliver accurate diagnosis and develop a treatment plan.

If your doctor suspects that you have heart failure, you may need to undergo some tests. These tests will show if your heart is working well. If a problem is found, research will show what is causing it.

This section describes the tests that your doctor may prescribe for you (also includes examples of test results). For more information, click the title of the study.

Main researches:

Additional Research help detect heart failure and determine its cause.

Let's list them:

The symptoms of each patient are individual, depending on them, you may be assigned several of the studies listed above (but not all at once). All questions regarding research should be discussed with the attending physician.

How does the disease change over time?

Heart failure - chronic condition which tends to deteriorate over time. Sometimes it can shorten life expectancy.

The progression of heart failure is unpredictable and varies from person to person. In many cases, symptoms remain at a stable level for some time (months or years) before worsening. In some cases, the severity and symptoms of the disease worsen gradually. Or they may progress rapidly, which may be, for example, the result of a new heart attack, heart rhythm disturbance or lung disease. Such acute conditions usually treatable. Click here. to see how your doctor can assess the severity of heart failure to control the progression of your disease.

The main thing you need to understand is that careful management of your disease can both relieve symptoms and improve prognosis and prolong life. Your doctor and other members of your medical team will work with you to provide effective treatment for your condition, combining medical treatments with changes in your lifestyle. Click here for information about how your doctor can treat heart failure. Otherwise click here. to find out how you can help improve your condition.

Myths and facts about heart failure

MYTH. "Heart failure" means that your heart has stopped beating.

FACT."Heart failure" does not mean that your heart has stopped beating. Heart failure happens when your heart muscle or valves are damaged and therefore your heart is unable to pump blood around your body the way it should.

MYTH. You can die from heart failure.

FACT. Heart failure is a very serious condition and can shorten your life. However, by working with your doctor and nurse, you can get effective treatment and make lifestyle changes that will ease your symptoms and prolong your life.

MYTH. Heart failure is widespread.

MYTH. Heart failure is a normal consequence of aging.

FACT. Although many people with heart failure are older, heart failure is not an integral part of the aging process. This is a serious cardiovascular disease that can be prevented and significantly alleviated with the help of available methods treatment.

Diagnosed. What's next?

Heart failure - chronic illness and therefore requires long-term treatment. Patients need to change their habitual lifestyle, monitor their diet, stop smoking and limit the use of alcoholic beverages to ensure maximum effectiveness of treatment.

Food

Limit your intake of salt, fat and alcohol.

When you consume insufficient calories or do not exercise enough and a decrease in muscle mass occurs a sharp decline weight - in this situation, a high-calorie and high-protein diet is necessary.

Sudden weight gain can occur due to fluid retention. For most patients with heart failure, the amount of fluid that can be drunk in one day is 1.5 to 2 liters (water, juices, ice cubes, coffee, milk, soup, tea, or fizzy drinks). To limit your fluid intake, drink from small cups instead of large mugs, spread your fluid intake evenly throughout the day, and try to drink very cold or very hot drinks - this takes longer. If you feel intense thirst, suck on an ice cube, limit your intake of caffeine and alcoholic beverages, use chewing gum or eat frozen fruit.

To reduce salt intake, first remove the salt shaker from the table, eat more fruits and vegetables, low-fat dairy products, cereals and fish, and eliminate canned foods and fast food from the diet. Add herbs, spices or fruit juices (lemon/lime) for more flavor.

Alcohol can relax the heart muscle, slow down the heartbeat, and lower blood pressure. While a small amount of alcohol can help prevent atherosclerotic heart disease, alcohol abuse in the presence of heart disease can increase heart rate and blood pressure, and long-term abuse can cause cardiomyopathy. In general, it is recommended to drink no more than 1-2 servings of an alcoholic beverage per day (a serving is one glass of beer or wine or one cocktail with one type of alcohol). At severe symptoms It is recommended to completely abstain from alcohol.

To replace potassium lost when taking diuretics, it is recommended to include foods rich in potassium in the diet, such as bananas, oranges, prunes, soybeans, melons, fish (for example, halibut or flounder) and potatoes.

A large number of fatty foods can lead to high levels of fat and cholesterol in the blood, and thereby contribute to the development of atherosclerotic heart disease, lead to myocardial infarction and heart failure, contribute to weight gain. That's why healthy diet The diet should include fruits and vegetables, fish, poultry, lean meats, meat substitutes (eg soy). good habit, which is desirable to purchase is the reading of product labels, which allows you to find out what and in what quantity is contained in the products.

Foods high in saturated fat (such as those found in whole dairy products and red meat) should be avoided. Reducing your intake of egg yolks and animal products in general will help lower your cholesterol levels.

Physical activity and exercise

Any moderate physical activity is good for most people with heart failure. Exercise can improve the functioning of the heart, reduce the workload, allowing it to work more efficiently. Before you start or change your exercise program, check with your doctor or nurse to make sure you don't push your heart too hard or too fast. Choose exercises that you enjoy, then you are more likely to do them regularly. Work out with friends to encourage each other. Always warm up before your workout. If it is cold and windy outside, warm up before leaving the house. Walking is a great exercise to start with. Try to walk every day, for example, get off one stop early. If you already walk regularly, try cycling or swimming. Start slowly and gradually increase the distance or intensity of exercise as your condition improves. Adopt a good rule of thumb: you must be able to talk during your workout. Stop exercising immediately if you experience shortness of breath, dizziness, chest pain, nausea, or cold sweats. Do not exercise after dense reception food or on an empty stomach. Schedule workouts 1-2 hours after a light meal. Exercises that require holding your breath, strong resistance, or sudden acceleration are best avoided.

Cigarette smoke renders pernicious influence the ability of the blood to carry oxygen. Therefore, your heart must work harder to properly oxygenate your body. Smoking also contributes to the accumulation of fats in the blood vessels, causing them to constrict and increase blood pressure. Smoking leads to narrowing of the lumen of blood vessels, including those of the heart. This aggravates the symptoms of heart failure. It's never too late to quit smoking, at any age it's good for the heart. There are many different ways to quit smoking:

USE NICOTINE PATCHES, chewing gum, and inhalers.
Quit smoking gradually by reducing the number of cigarettes you smoke per day.
Brush your teeth after eating instead of lighting a cigarette.
Avoid places where smoking is not prohibited.
Keep your hands and mouth busy (for example, play with a paperclip or use chewing gum).
Become more active, exercise increases tone and helps to relax.
Don't empty the ashtray, you'll see how much you're smoking and smell the bad smoke.
Quit smoking with someone - this can be the key to success.

In order for you to visually see the benefits that you will receive by giving up cigarettes, we provide data American Society to combat cancer. Of course, the data may vary for different people - it all depends on health, "experience" of smoking and many other factors. But the fact remains that you begin to recover very quickly after putting out your last cigarette.

Within 20 minutes after smoking the last cigarette, the pressure and pulse stabilize and return to normal. Blood circulation improves, the temperature of the limbs (hands and feet) returns to normal.
Quitting smoking within 24 hours reduces your average chance of having a heart attack and increases your chances of surviving one if it does occur.
The level of carbon monoxide in the blood finally returns to normal. Mucus and toxic foreign substances accumulated during the bad habit will begin to be removed from the lungs - it will become much easier to breathe. Nerve endings damaged by smoking will begin to recover.
After 72 hours, the bronchioles will become less tense and the breathing process will be freer. The risk of thrombosis will decrease, blood clotting will return to normal.
From 2 weeks to 3 months vital capacity lungs will increase by 30%.
With the restoration of lung function, the risk of developing colds and infectious diseases will decrease.
After a year without nicotine, the risk of heart disease is halved compared to smokers.
After 2 years without cigarettes, the risk of myocardial infarction decreases to normal levels.
5 years after quitting a bad habit former smoker, whose share accounted for an average pack of cigarettes per day, halves the risk of dying from lung cancer. Cancer Risk oral cavity, throat or esophagus is also reduced by half compared to the average smoker.
In about 10 years, you will have the same chance of dying from lung cancer as a non-smoker.
After 15 years of smoking the last cigarette, the risk of heart disease is the same as that of a non-smoker.

Remember, the more other risk factors you have, such as obesity, diabetes, or a family history of heart disease, the more important it is for you to stop smoking. Remember that, unlike bad heredity, smoking is a factor that you can (and should) influence.

If heart failure is well controlled, you will have no trouble going on small trips. If you have a pacemaker, resynchronization device, or cardiac defibrillator implanted, it can be detected by security systems. You must notify the security personnel in advance of this. Security controls and airplane travel will not affect the operation of the device. Being in a sitting position, immobility for a long time in a cramped position in an airplane often leads to swelling of the ankles, and sometimes causes muscle spasms. Stretch regularly, exercise, walk around the cabin and while waiting at the airport. In some cases, your healthcare provider may recommend wearing knee-length therapeutic stockings during the flight to prevent blood clots (deep vein thrombosis). It is very important that you take all your prescribed medications with you when you are on vacation. enough for the entire stay plus 2 days in the event of a flight delay/cancellation. On vacation, the daily routine can change a lot, so there is a possibility that you will miss the next dose of the medicine. You don't have to worry too much about this - try to accept it as soon as possible.

DO NOT DOUBLE THE DRUG OF ANY DRUG TO COVER A MISSED DOSE, AS THIS MAY BE MORE HARM THAN THE MISSED DOSE.

If you are traveling across multiple time zones, it is recommended that you take your medication upon arrival local time.

Relationships

Sex and heart failure

Many people with heart failure are not sure if they can have sex because of their condition and feel embarrassed to ask a doctor or nurse. The good news is that most people with heart failure can continue to enjoy sexual relationships if their symptoms are controlled. You should not have sex if you feel unwell, short of breath, or have chest pain. If at any time you feel discomfort, shortness of breath or fatigue during intercourse, stop and rest for a short time. Stress, anxiety and depression are natural for people with heart failure and can cause a loss of interest in sex. Also remember that people with heart failure often have physical problems related to sex, such as erectile dysfunction (impotence), problems with ejaculation, or an inability to reach orgasm. You should seek advice from a doctor or nurse if you have any problems. There are many effective ways treatments available to most people with heart failure.

Medicines to treat heart failure

There are many medicines that can be prescribed for you. All of these can help control your symptoms and improve your quality of life. Some of them may provide side effects- but the benefits usually far outweigh possible complications. If you find it difficult to take one of your medications because of side effects, it is important to talk to your doctor instead of abruptly stopping the medication. Your doctor will be able to work with you to find the best option for you.

A person with heart failure does not need to take all the medicines recommended to treat the condition. Which medicines are right for you depends on your symptoms, general health, and lifestyle. Your doctor will take into account any other medical problems which may affect your treatment. It is very important that you take your medicines exactly as your doctor tells you to, as this ensures that the medicine will work most effectively. You will most likely need to take more than one medicine at a time. Taking notes or making a schedule will help you keep track of your medications.

Click on any of the links below to learn about the different classes of heart failure medications.

Drugs that cause cardiac arrest

The second group includes any hypnotic, vascular and stimulant drugs that can have such a side effect on a diseased heart.

Why do drugs lead to cardiac arrest?

Medicines can have not only a positive effect on the human body, but also harm it, up to the onset of death. Especially often there is such a consequence as cardiac arrest, as a result of self-administration of medications, without taking into account their characteristics and side effects of drugs. So, drugs can lead to such a sad outcome in the event of an overdose, as well as a violation of the process of removing decay products from the body.

Very often, cardiac arrest provokes the use of several drugs, in combination with each other or alcohol. Heart problems occur in men of mature age who abuse drugs that increase potency.

What drugs cause cardiac arrest?

All drugs that cause cardiac arrest are divided into potentially dangerous and probable. The first group includes the so-called glycosides, because of their strong influence on the electrolyte balance.

It is not recommended to take medicines that require careful dosage in the presence of any disorders in the functioning of the kidneys and liver, since, accumulating in the body, they active substances cause cardiac depression.

The saddest thing is that drug-induced cardiac arrest is asystolic, making care and resuscitation almost useless. Even an innocent heartburn remedy, reminiscent of a mint, purchased without consulting a doctor, can provoke heart failure and lead to death.

Heartbeat 85 beats per minute is normal

Blood vessels supply blood to the heart muscle, but if blood clots, plaques or spasms form in them, then the blood supply to this vital organ is disrupted. A serious condition develops, which is accompanied by the death of part of the heart - necrosis. Doctors call this condition a myocardial infarction. In this state, the count goes on for minutes, the probability of death, which is called coronary, or cardiac, is very high.

The most common heart attack is atherosclerosis: plaques form in the walls of blood vessels from certain fats (mainly cholesterol), which gradually clog the arteries and prevent blood from circulating normally through the body. The likelihood of myocardial infarction is highest in people over fifty, with elevated blood cholesterol and high blood pressure, in smokers and overweight.

Heart attack symptoms

The main symptom of a heart attack is pain from the body: they can be localized in the chest, in the left, under the left shoulder blade, in the left side of the neck. Sometimes pain appear in the jaw, in the ear. They are accompanied by numbness, a feeling of pressure. Pain can be different in nature: aching, sharp, burning.

Very often, with myocardial infarction, shortness of breath is observed, and regardless of physical activity: the patient becomes even in a calm state. This is often accompanied by weakness and rapid heartbeat, and some people experience increased sweating.

Myocardial infarction often causes nausea and pain in the upper abdomen, but other digestive symptoms are not associated with a heart attack. Dizziness is a fairly common symptom. A person who has survived a myocardial infarction suffers from anxiety and fears, which causes insomnia. Some patients have a feeling that they are "not at ease." Their anxiety increases even with mild symptoms.

Doctors say that a heart attack is not characterized by rapidly disappearing pain - if after five minutes the pain is gone, then this is not a myocardial infarction. He is characterized by pain that does not increase, a sharp turn of the body, deep breathing - these are signs of neuralgic conditions.

In rare cases, it is impossible to determine a heart attack: the patients themselves do not notice it, since it is not accompanied by pain or other symptoms. Such a heart attack is called "silent", but it is more than usual: disturbances in the work of the heart develop further due to lack of treatment.