Causes and treatments for heart attackWhat causes heart attack?

Heart disease is a condition which makes the coronary arteries clogged with calcified, fatty plaques and this is the main cause for heart attacks. This impedes the flow of blood to the heart gradually and the body might compensate this with growth of a network of various collateral arteries that circumvent blockages. These collateral vessels can reduce amount of muscles of the heart that are damaged as a result of a heart attack. Researchers in early 1980s came to the conclusion that precipitating cause for almost all the heart attacks isn’t actually the obstructive plaque. However, a heart attack usually results when a blood clot is formed suddenly on the plaque and this cuts off the flow of blood in the vessels which are already narrow.

Even though the actual step by step process that lead to a heart attack isn’t understood fully, there are well established major risk factors and it is possible to control some of them. The main risk factors are high cholesterol, high blood pressure, smoking, obesity and leading a sedentary lifestyle. The risk can be raised further by stress and excitement and exertion can also trigger an attack. Men who are aged more than 50 years and have a history of cardiovascular diseases in their family are more vulnerable to getting a heart attack. High estrogen levels are believed to offer premenopausal women a fairly good protection against heart attack which can significantly increase after menopause.

Diagnosis of a heart attack

A heart specialist, a cardiologist majorly relies on a range of tests and scans in diagnosing heart attack and identifying arties with blockage and damaged tissue. Initial assessment is done based on recordings of electrical activity tests within the heart as well as blood tests. Radioisotope and angiograms scans provide heart images that can lead to location areas of blockage and damage. The functioning of the heart is evaluated by ultrasound tests known as echocardiograms and with this data, proper treatment can be pursued by the doctor as well as anticipation of potential complications.

Treatment options for heart attack

Due to the emergency nature of a heart attack, conventional medicine must be used to address it sooner than later. While alternative medicines for heart attack exist, these cannot compete with surgical therapy and standard drug during emergency and also the importance of follow up phases needed in heart attack treatment. Nevertheless, alternative medicine can make very important contributions to preventing and boosting recovery of heart attack patients. A heart attack victim is hospitalized in the special coronary care units for not less than 36 hours. The standard drug therapy issued include painkillers like morphine and vasodilators like nitroglycerine, which enhance expansion of blood vessels, aspirin for minimizing clotting activity and blocker drugs for calming the heart. Immediate medical attention is very crucial when it comes to enhancing survival of heart attack patients.