Heart attack
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What are the symptoms?
The following symptoms may indicate a heart attack:
- Pain or pressure in the chest, sometimes radiating to the arm, shoulder, jaw or back
- Shortness of breath
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Dizziness or a faint feeling
- Cold sweats
- Unusual tiredness
In women, older people and people with diabetes, symptoms are often less typical, such as a general feeling of being unwell or extreme fatigue.
Preventing a heart attack
By adopting healthy habits, you can reduce the risk of a heart attack. Pay attention to the following factors:
- Healthy eating with plenty of vegetables, fruit and whole-grain products
- Regular physical activity
- Stopping smoking
- Limiting alcohol intake
- Stress management
- Regular checks of blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels
You also have a higher risk if you are overweight, have a sedentary lifestyle or a family history of heart disease.
Examinations
To diagnose a heart attack or assess risk factors, several examinations may be carried out:
- Electrocardiogram (ECG)
- Blood tests
- Echocardiography
- CT scan or NMR (MRI) scan
- Cardiac catheterisation
How is it treated?
Treatment depends on the severity of the narrowing and the damage to the heart.
Medication may be prescribed to reduce the risk of another heart attack. Blood thinners help prevent the blood from clotting, cholesterol-lowering medication reduces plaque build-up and blood pressure-lowering medication reduces the strain on the heart.
A stent may be placed to open a blockage in a coronary artery. A small balloon is inflated at the site of the narrowing, after which a stent is inserted to prevent the artery from closing again. A stent is a small, hollow mesh tube.
In cases of severe narrowing, bypass surgery may be necessary. This involves creating a bypass using a vein or artery from another part of the body, allowing blood to flow past the narrowed or blocked coronary artery again.
Rehabilitation
After a heart attack, cardiac rehabilitation may be recommended. This focuses on improving heart health through supervised physical exercise and dietary advice. You will receive guidance on lifestyle changes to reduce the risk of another heart attack.