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Attack
Farheen Anjum Pankhuri Changmai
CLASS- X ‘A’
What is Heart Attack?
Case Study
Acknowledgements
End
A heart attack occurs when the blood flow that
brings oxygen to the heart muscle is severely
reduced or cut off completely. This happens
because coronary arteries that supply the heart
muscle with blood flow can slowly become
narrow from a build-up of fat, cholesterol and
other substances that together are called
plaque. This slow process is known as
atherosclerosis. When a plaque in a heart artery
breaks, a blood clot forms around the plaque.
This blood clot can block the blood flow through
the heart muscle. When the heart muscle is
starved for oxygen and nutrients, it is called
ischemia. When damage or death of part of the
heart muscle occurs as a result of ischemia, it is
called a heart attack or myocardial infarction
(MI).
Many people aren't sure what's wrong when they are having symptoms of a
heart attack. Some of the most common warning symptoms of a heart attack
for both men and women are:
Upper body discomfort- The person may feel pain or discomfort in one or
both arms, the back, shoulders, neck, jaw, or upper part of the stomach
(above the belly button).
Shortness of breath- This may be the only symptom or it may occur before
or along with chest pain or discomfort. It can occur when the person is
resting or doing a little bit of physical activity.
A healthcare provider can diagnose a heart attack based on several
assessment findings. These include:
The patient's complete medical history.
A physical examination.
An electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) to discover any
abnormalities caused by damage to the heart. An ECG is a
medical device that makes a graphical record of the heart's
electrical activity.
Blood testing to detect abnormal levels of certain enzymes in
the bloodstream.
Blood tests confirm (or refute) suspicions raised in the early
stages of evaluation that may occur in an emergency room,
intensive care unit or urgent care setting. These tests are
sometimes called heart damage markers or cardiac enzymes.
India will soon bear the largest burden of heart
disease globally: In India, out of the estimated
population of more than 1.27 billion dispersed
across various geographical regions, about 45
million people suffer from coronary artery
disease. ‘According to current estimates, India
will soon have the highest number of cases of
cardiovascular disease in the world,’ says Dr
Nikhil Kumar, Director, Cardiology, Fortis
Memorial Research Institute, Gurgaon. It is
estimated to account for 35.9% deaths by the
year 2030.
Heart disease is more prevalent in the younger
generation: Heart disease has escalated among
the younger generation with a significant risk
in both males and females. ‘More and more
number of young Indians are suffering from
coronary artery disease, owing to their poor
lifestyle, and if this continues the future looks
even more dangerous,’ says Dr Kumar. ‘Five
years ago, we hardly saw young patients with
heart problems. Now, we get many cases where
people in the 25-35 age group are diagnosed
with heart disease’ said Dr Ajay Chaurasia,
head of cardiology department, BYL Nair
Hospital stated in the Saffola Life study.
Patient S is a white woman, 43 years of age, and mother of three small
children. She has a long-standing history of significant obesity with little
success in dieting over the years. At 5'3", she is obese, weighing 220 pounds.
Her fat distribution is "apple-shaped" and consequently, her waist-hip ratio is
more than the 0.8 normal range. In addition, Patient S lives a fairly sedentary
lifestyle and does not have a regular exercise program. Her dietary habits do
not take into account basic recommendations for cardiac nutrition.
Conclusion: Counselling recommendations for Patient S would primarily focus
on cardiac nutrition aspects and developing an exercise program for
cardiovascular fitness. Because she is more than 30% overweight, she is at a
tremendously increased risk of coronary heart disease due to the added stress
on her heart and the changes that occur in lipid metabolism when fat is
distributed in the abdominal versus gluteal region. Therefore, patient
teaching should emphasize good nutrition and reading nutrition labels to
manage caloric intake, as well as limiting intake of fat and cholesterol. In
addition to changes in diet, Patient S should be counselled on incorporating
some form of aerobic exercise, such as walking, three to five times a week to
achieve cardiovascular fitness. The exercise will also have the added benefit
of helping her modify her weight level.
1. Aim for lucky number seven.
The next time you're tempted to stay up later
than you should, just think about how good that
pillow will feel-and how good a full night's sleep
is for your heart. In one study, young and
middle-age adults who slept 7 hours a night had
less calcium in their arteries (an early sign of
heart disease) than those who slept 5 hours or
less or those who slept 9 hours or more.
The type of shut-eye they got was important,
too: Adults who reported good-quality sleep also
had healthier arteries than those who didn't
sleep soundly. If you have trouble falling asleep
or staying asleep at night, or if you don't feel
refreshed after a full night in bed, talk to your
doctor about how healthier sleep habits might
improve your slumber.
2. Keep the pressure off.
That cuff squeezing your arm at every doctor's
visit is important. It measures the amount of
pressure flowing through your arteries with every
heartbeat.