National Minority Male Health Project - Health Education: Heart Attack

- Medical Conditions and Diseases

Heart Attack

Heart attack is the No. 1 killer of Americans. According to Body1.com, men suffer heart attacks over 10 years earlier than women. A heart attack or myocardial infarction (MI) is permanent damage to the heart muscle. During a heart attack, your heart does not receive enough blood and oxygen.

Risk factors and causes

Risk factors for heart attack are similar to coronary artery disease. In fact, many heart attacks are caused by coronary artery disease. The risk factors are male gender, obesity, high blood pressure, age (men over age 45), and high cholesterol levels.

Prevention & Planning Ahead

If you have any of the risk factors for heart attack, try to control them. Start eating a balanced diet and control your blood pressure. See your doctor for regular check-ups and notify him/her of any problems. If you are experiencing or have experienced any symptoms of heart attack, see your doctor immediately.

Warning Signs & Symptoms

Warning signs for heart attack are: chest pain, arm pain, jaw pain, upper abdominal pain, nausea, or feeling like there is too much acid in your stomach, shortness of breath, cold and clammy skin, and light-headedness.

Most people expect a heart attack to be a sudden intense pain, but often heart attacks start slowly as mild pain. The discomfort may feel like pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain. Some people have "silent" or painless heart attacks as warning signs (especially diabetic persons).

Diagnosis

Time is muscle! If you think you're having a heart attack, get help at once. Delay can be deadly. Once you get help, you will take test to see if you actually had a heart attack. Some key tests are: electrocardiogram, blood tests, and a coronary angiography.

Intervention/Treatment

Fast action is your best defense against a heart attack. Clot busting drugs and other artery-opening treatments can stop a heart attack in its tracks. The sooner treatment is received the more effective it will be. Typical treatments include: lifestyle changes, medication and surgery.