The treatment for a mild heart attack follows similar regimens provided to patients whose heart attack causes significant heart muscle damage. Individualized treatment plans incorporate a combination of medication, diagnostic evaluation, surgical intervention and lifestyle modification to treat patients following a mild heart attack.
Diagnostic Evaluation
After a heart attack, patients frequently undergo a heart catheterization. This procedure involves insertion of a catheter through the femoral artery which is then maneuvered up the artery to the heart. Injection of radio-opaque dye and x-ray imaging allow physicians to identify blocked coronary arteries. The American Heart Association reports that 70 percent of heart catheterization procedures involve placement of a stent to improve blood flow through a blocked artery. Identifying which arteries are blocked and to what degree aids physicians in creating a treatment plan appropriate for the mid heart attack patient.
Another exam patients may undergo is a cardiac stress test. This diagnostic exam uses either medication or exercise to elevate the heart rate combined with nuclear medicine and positron emission tomography, or PET scan, to view the arteries in the heart. This test informs physicians to what degree the heart has been damaged.
Medication
Physicians may direct patients who experience mild heart attack to begin taking aspirin daily unless a contraindication to aspirin therapy exists. Patients with aspirin allergy or a history of gastrointestinal ulcers and bleeding should not take aspirin. Aspirin helps prevent re-occlusion or blockage of coronary arteries. In addition to aspirin, physicians may prescribe other blood thinners and drugs that prevent clotting which may be taken temporarily or on a long-term basis.
Patients who experience heart attack frequently have other health conditions. Some problems are known and others are identified at the time of the heart attack. For example, high blood pressure is often a silent contributor to heart attack. Patients diagnosed with hypertension may begin a prescription of blood pressure lowering medications. Other health problems that increase the risk of heart attack include high cholesterol and diabetes. Patients may begin new medications to control these diseases or, if already taking cholesterol lowering drugs or anti-diabetic medications, have current drugs and/or dosages adjusted.
Cardiac Rehabilitation
Health care providers often refer patients to cardiac rehabilitation following a heart attack. The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute reports that cardiac rehabilitation decreases the risk of death following heart attack and helps prevent the occurrence of future heart problems. Patients who engage in planned and monitored physical activity through a cardiac rehabilitation program have a higher success rate in achieving recovery goals.
Prevention/Solution
The American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation explains that cardiac rehabilitation includes lifestyle and behavior modification not only to treat the effects of a mild heart attack, but also to prevent further complications. Nutrition, stress reduction, smoking cessation and weight management are components of treatment for a mild heart attack. Patients and family members often require education and ongoing support to be successful with lifestyle modification.
Misconceptions
Patients who experience a mild heart attack may mistakenly believe nothing needs to be done since it was, after all, a mild heart problem. The American Heart Association warns people not to disregard the warning signs of a heart attack, however mild, and to follow prescribed treatment plans. A mild heart attack may be an ominous sign of serious cardiovascular system problems.
