Sally T asked:


Just wondering if there is anyone out there who suffered a heart attack and survived it? What was the experience like? Did you panic? Did you feel like you were going to die? What were you basically feeling during the attack?

Jesus

Tyler asked:


I thought I might be having heart attack symptoms about two days ago, and now today I have some chest discomfort. Do heart attack occur the day symptoms start? its been nearly 3 days now.
I just think I might only be sick…since I have a runny nose and I’m only 15. I am overweight though…

Vicki

imawatchman asked:


if i have had a heart attack, how long can i wait for a blood check or an eeg? i need to know if this is what happened.

Pedro

Knut Holt asked:


Coronary heart disease and heart attack like heart infarction can in great extend be prevented by lifestyle measures.

 

THE DIRECT CAUSES OF HEART DISEASE

The direct causes of coronary heart disease and heart attack are factors like these:

Narrowing of blood vessels in the heart and the rest of the body by arteriosclerosis. High blood cholesterol level. High blood pressure. Over-weight. Diabetes. High level of the amino acid homocystein in the blood. High content of low density lipoprotein (LDL) and low content of high density lipoprotein (HDL) in the blood. Lipoprotein is a combination of protein and fatty substances bound together. Inflammation in the circulatory system. High age. Inherited tendencies for high cholesterol levels and heart disease. Men have somewhat greater chance of getting heart disease than women.

These factors are interrelated in complicated ways, and are causing or amplifying each other. For example, arteriosclerosis will cause higher blood pressure, and high blood pressure will cause even more arteriosclerosis. Many of these factors are ultimately caused or aggravated by these lifestyle factors:

-A too high consume of fat, cholesterol and sugar.

-Consuming the wrong fat types.

-Lack of fibre, vitamins, minerals and other diet deficiencies.

-Stress at work and in the daily life.

-Smoking.

-Lack of exercise.

Lifestyle adjustments will therefore be the main methods of preventing heart failure.

GENERAL DIET ADVICES

A diet with the aim of preventing heart disease is generally the same as a diet to prevent cancer and other diseases. Here are the general diet advices



Avoid or reduce the amount of food that are industrially processed, artificially made or heavily fried.



Eat fish at least every second day. Also eat seafood and fouls.



Do not eat very much red meat.



Eat 5 fruits or vegetables each day. Each piece should be of the size of an apple or carrot. They should be raw or carefully boiled so that the nutrients are not washed out.



Eat full corn bread, full corn cereals, peas, beans and potatoes.



Eat just a moderate amount of fat.



Consume cholesterol rich foods like egg, spawn or liver in just moderate amounts.



Ideally most fat you eat, should be of the type mono-unsaturated. You also need some poly-unsaturated fat of the types omega-3, and omega 6, but not too much of omega-6. The consumption of saturated fat should be moderate.



In order to achieve right fat balance, much of the fat supply should come from a blending of sources like olive, olive oil, canola oil, nuts, nut oil, sunflower, sunflower oil, linseed oil (flax oil), fish and fish oil.



Use only a moderate amount of soy oil and corn oil in the diet. Only using such oil types will give you too much poly-unsaturated fat of the omega-6-type.



Use just a very moderate amount of fat sources like butter, coconut oil and palm oil. A high consumption of these fat sources gives you too much saturated fat.



Avoid altogether fat that has been chemically altered, giving so-called trans-fat. This type of fat is often found in margarine, cookies, snacks, fast food and other pre-made food.



Consume just a very moderate amount of sugar, refined flour or refined cereals.



Consume just a moderate amount of tranquilizers and stimulants like alcohol and caffeine.



Use just a moderate amount of salt in the food. However, in warm weather and by hard physical work, you will need more salt.



 

DIET SUPPLEMENTS THAT HELP PREVENT HEART DISEASE

Evidence suggests that it will be helpful to take some supplements of natural substances to prevent heart disease and help to ameliorate already manifest heart problems. These supplements are:



Omega-3-fatty acids derived from fish and other marine sources, especially the fatty acids EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and alfa-linolaeic acid. 1 gram a day of each of these substances may be taken as a supplement. Higher amounts should only be taken under medical supervision, since higher amount of these substances may cause bleeding tendencies, and may suppress the immune system.



Supplement of vitamin C has been thought to help prevent heart disease, but newer findings cast doubt upon this.



Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine), folic acid / folate, vitamin b12 and riboflavin seem to prevent the building up of the substance homocystein in the blood and thereby help prevent heart disease, according to results from research projects.



GET RID OF OVER-WEIGHT

The lifestyle measures listed in this article will also help you loose weight. If these measures are not enough, you should consider engaging in a more specific weight reduction program. You should choose a program that has a moderate fat content philosophy. Some weight reduction programs have a higher fat and low carbohydrate consume philosophy, and those are probably not the best ones to reduce the chance of getting heart disease.

EXERCISE

You should do some exercise of at least half an hour at least every second day. Condition training as vigorous walking, jogging, cycling or swimming is best for reducing the heart attack probability. Muscular building exercises are also of value, especially exercises building leg muscles

STOP SMOKING

If you smoke, stopping or reducing this habit radically will decrease the chance of getting heart problems.

CONTROL DIABETES

If you suffer from diabetes type 1, a good control of the disease by insulin medication and by diet adjustments will help to prevent heart disease.

Many people over the age of 50, and an increasing number of young people suffer from diabetes type 2 because of bad lifestyle. This disease does not necessarily give dramatic symptoms, but the disease increases the chance of getting serious heart problems, and many have the disease without knowing it. This disease can be prevented by the same lifestyle measures depicted above. If you already have got the disease, a more rigorous control of carbohydrate intake is necessary. And sometimes also medication must be used. People over the age of 50 and younger people that do not feel well should find out if they suffer from this condition.

TAKING ASPIRIN

Low doses of acetyl salicylic acid or aspirin prevent heart disease by persons bearing a high risk for heart disease. However, this medication increases the risk of bleeding and should not be used without constant medical supervision. For persons with a low risk of heart disease, the dangers of aspirin will be greater than the benefits.



Mario

Dev Saras asked:


Heart Attack is a condition in which a portion of the heart muscle is damaged due to inadequate supply of Oxygen to that area. If immediate first aid and medical attention is not given, there may be a Cardiac arrest. That is, the heart stops to pump enough blood to the vital organs.

Help to take Medication

The person must be made to sit down and be calm. Loosen any tight cloth. Ask if the person takes any chest pain medication for a know heart condition. Help the person take the medication (usually nitro glycerine which is paced under he tongue.).

Under unconscious Condition

If there is no breathing or pulse the patient has a cardiac arrest and do the following. Raise the legs up to 12 to 18 inches to allow more blood to flow towards the heart. Immediately place the palm of your hand flat on the patient’s chest just over the lower part of the sternum (breast bone) and press your hand in a pumping motion once or twice by using the other hand. This may make the heart beat again. If the action do not restored the pulse or if the subject doesn’t begin to breathe again provide artificial respiration immediately and begin to give CPR.

How to give artificial respiration

Tilt the head back and lift up the chin. Pinch the nostrils shut with two fingers to prevent leakage of air. Take a deep breath and seal your own mouth to the persons mouth. Breath slowly into the person’s mouth-it should take about two seconds to adequately inflate the chest. Do this twice. Check to see if the chest rises as you breath into the patient. If there is resistance try to hold the head back further and lift the chin again. Repeat this procedure until help arrives or person start breath again.

How to perform CPR

Artificial respiration and CPR should be performed both at the same time.

Look at the person’s chest and find the ‘upside-down V’ shaped notch that is made by the lower edge of the ribcage. Place your middle finger in this notch and then place your index finger beside it, resting on the breastbone. Take the heel of your other hand and slide it down the breastbone until it is touching this index finger. The heel of your hand should now be positioned on the middle of the lower half of the breastbone.  Now place the heel of your other hand on top of the first. Keep your fingers off the chest, by locking them together. Your pressure should be applied through the heels of the hands only. Keep your elbows straight, and bring your body weight over your hands to make it easier to press down.

Press down firmly and quickly to achieve a downwards movement of 4 to 5cm, then relax and repeat the compression. Do this 15 times, then give artificial respiration twice, and continue this 15:2 procedure until help arrives.   Aim for a rate of compression of about 100 per minute. You can help your timing and counting by saying out loud ‘one and two and three and four …’ etc.

Make sure the patient continues breathing and has a pulse until the Ambulance arrives.



Carolyn

cathy d asked:


What is the best medicine for Heart Attack?

Michele

Alien asked:


A heart attack (also known as a myocardial infarction) is the death of heart muscle from the sudden blockage of a coronary artery by a blood clot.. The term myocardial infarction is derived from myocardium (the heart muscle) and infarction (tissue death due to oxygen starvation). The phrase “heart attack” is sometimes used incorrectly to describe sudden cardiac death, which may or may not be the result of acute myocardial infarction. A heart attack is different from, but can be the cause of cardiac arrest, which is the stopping of the heartbeat, and cardiac arrhythmia, an abnormal heartbeat.The blood supply to the heart is provided by blood vessels called the coronary arteries. Myocardial infarction more commonly known as a heart attack. It is a medical condition. It can lead to a chronic disabling condition because it can cause heart failure. A heart attack is the death of heart muscle from the sudden blockage of a coronary artery by a blood clot. A heart attack is usually caused by a complete blockage of a coronary artery by a blood clot forming. The most common cause of MI is narrowing of the epicardial blood vessels due to atheromatous plaques.

Various other uncommon conditions can block a coronary artery and cause an MI. For example: inflammation of the coronary arteries (rare); a stab wound to the heart; a blood clot forming elsewhere in the body (for example, in a heart chamber) and travelling to a coronary artery where it gets stuck; cocaine abuse which can cause a coronary artery to go into spasm; complications from heart surgery; and some other rare heart problems. There are not dealt with further.

With then plaque rupture exposure of the basement membrane results in platelet aggregation, thrombus formation, accumulation of fibrin, bleeding in the plate, and various degrees of spasms. Nonatherosclerotic causes of MI include coronary vasospasm as seen in variant (Prinzmetal) angina. Myocardial Infarction is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States. Approximately 1.3 million cases of nonfatal MI are reported each year. Approximately 500,000-700,000 deaths are caused by ischemic heart disease annually in the United States. MI most frequently occurs in persons older than 45 years.

Chest pain is one of the main symptoms of heart attack. The pain may be felt in a body part. The pain can be similar to angina, but it is generally more severe and lasts longer. The pain usually lasts more than 20 minutes. A heart attack is a medical emergency. Treatment of heart attacks include anti–platelet medications to prevent formation of blood clots in the arteries , anti–coagulant medications to prevent growth of blood clots in the arteries, clot–dissolving medications to open blocked arteries. To prevent a heart attack keep your blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol under control.

# intravenous therapy - nitroglycerin, morphine

# continuous monitoring of the heart and vital signs

# oxygen therapy - to improve oxygenation to the damaged heart muscle

# pain medication - by decreasing pain, the workload of the heart decreases, thus, the oxygen demand of the heart decreases

# cardiac medication - such as beta-blockers or calcium channel blockers to promote blood flow to the heart, improve the blood supply, prevent arrhythmias, and decrease heart rate and blood pressure



Dorothy

legalfem asked:


My Father, aged 63 years, has had a heart attack in the past, about 19 years ago. Then he almost had another about 5 years ago, but I got him to the hospital in time. They then put a “stent” in one of his arteries. Now, he isnt feeling well, and i am just wondering when I should force him to go to the hospital?

Brad