Typical signs of a heart attack

In addition to the common signs of angina, myocardial infarction patients also experience symptoms of shortness of breath, dizziness, sweating, and vomiting.

A heart attack is a sudden blockage of blood flow to the heart muscle, causing damage to the heart muscle tissue. This is usually the result of a blockage in one or more of the coronary arteries. The blockage occurs when a blood clot forms on a ruptured or cracked plaque in the coronary artery.

Master, Doctor, Specialist II Huynh Thanh Kieu, Head of Department of Cardiology 1, Cardiovascular Center, Tam Anh General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, said the most common symptoms in patients with myocardial infarction include:

Severe chest pain: The patient feels a feeling of pain, pressure, or twisting in the chest, behind the sternum or left chest, severe, occurring when sitting or resting, lasting more than 15 minutes, pain spreading to the back, neck, chin, shoulders, or arms. The pain does not decrease when taking nitrates or spraying them.

Nausea, indigestion, abdominal pain: Pain in the epigastric region (above the navel) accompanied by intermittent vomiting, possibly feeling indigestion or heartburn.

Shortness of breath, sweating, fatigue, dizziness, altered mental status, fainting, or low blood pressure below 90/60 mmHg.

In addition to the above signs, patients with acute myocardial infarction also have symptoms of weakness and paralysis of the limbs; cold sweats; rapid heartbeat, and an uncomfortable feeling of skipped or extra beats.

Myocardial infarction can happen suddenly, but there are cases that are warned hours, days, weeks in advance by typical signs such as recurrent angina, chest pain during physical activity, and pain that decreases when resting.

Most myocardial infarctions leave complications ranging from mild (if treated promptly) to severe (in cases of slow treatment). These complications are often arrhythmia, heart failure, possibly cardiac arrest due to arrhythmia, heart rupture, blood clots in the heart area, aneurysms...

A coronary artery stent placement intervention to save a patient with myocardial infarction on April 13. Photo: Tam Anh General Hospital

Depending on the severity of the heart attack, the doctor will prescribe appropriate treatment.

Medications: Some commonly prescribed medications are aspirin, antiplatelet drugs, morphine analgesics, nitroglycerin, beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, receptor blockers, statins.

Coronary artery stenting: The doctor uses a small, long, flexible catheter inserted from the radial or femoral artery into the coronary artery. The doctor sees the blockage and places the stent there. The stent expands, the blood vessel is widened, allowing blood to flow normally.

Coronary artery bypass surgery: The doctor takes a piece of blood vessel from another part of the body and creates a bridge in front of and behind the blockage, allowing blood to pass through the new bridge.

Dr. Kieu recommends that you can prevent a heart attack by eating a heart-healthy diet, such as increasing your intake of whole grains, vegetables, fruits, and lean protein; limiting sugar, saturated fat, trans fat, and bad cholesterol. Build a healthy lifestyle, such as exercising regularly, reducing stress, and staying away from tobacco. Maintain a stable weight, and avoid being overweight or obese.

Stabilize blood pressure and blood sugar; control and treat diseases that are risk factors for myocardial infarction such as diabetes and high cholesterol. Check your heart health regularly to detect and promptly treat heart abnormalities.

Ha Vu

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