One and a half million heart attacks occur every year in the United States, according to the Women's Heart Foundation. About a third of those people die. Though most heart attacks are caused by a blood clot, some can be caused by a muscle spasm in the heart, according to the American Heart Association. Most people call it a heart attack; doctors use the phrases myocardial infarction or coronary thrombosis.
Anatomy
Blood clots are formed naturally as the body's way of patching a hole in a blood vessel. Normally, these clots completely dissolve while still attached to the vessel and are reabsorbed into the body. Sometimes the clots break away and float through the blood stream as they dissolve. They may become lodged anywhere in the body, including the calf, upper arm, lung or heart.
Cause
Plaque can build up on the inside of a person's arteries. If some of this plaque breaks away, the body may mistake the event for an injury to the artery wall and produce a blood clot. Because there is no hole in the blood vessel for the clot to attach to and patch, it may float through the bloodstream and into the heart. The heart, like all muscles in the body, needs oxygen to function properly and will cramp if it doesn't get enough oxygen. Heart cells begin to die, causing damage to the heart. This is known as ischemia, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Symptoms
Not everyone experiences all of the symptoms associated with heart attacks. In fact, some people never have any symptoms at all, according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. Chest pain or discomfort is the most common symptom of a heart attack. Often the pain radiates to the left shoulder, arm and back. Other symptoms may include sweating, difficulty breathing or shortness of breath and nausea. Some victims feel light-headed or dizzy.
Diagnosis
A trip to the emergency room is essential. Vital signs, including pulse and blood pressure, are taken by a nurse, and a physician examines the patient by listening to his chest with a stethoscope. A team of medical professionals take blood for laboratory tests, and get a chest X-ray and other radiological tests. A machine that monitors the heart's electrical activity, called an electrocardiogram, ECG or EKG, may be attached to the patient.
Treatment
Treatment is always required for a blood clot in the heart. If the victim is unresponsive and a pulse cannot be felt, immediately call for an ambulance and begin cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR. If the victim is conscious, call for an ambulance or take him to the hospital yourself.
Prognosis
Recovery is possible. It depends on the severity of ischemia caused by the blood clot and the speed of treatment delivered to the victim. Other considerations, such as obesity, age and other medical conditions, can play a part in how well the victim recovers.
Prevention
Stop or never start smoking cigarettes. A healthy diet--including proper portions of fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains--can prevent heart disease. Conversely, an overabundance of fatty, processed or fried foods can increase the risk of developing atherosclerosis, or plaque buildup in the heart. Exercise can reduce plaque and help keep blood pressure under control.
References
- Women's Heart Foundation: Heart Attack Facts
- American Heart Association: Heart Attack
- Cleveland Clinic: Coronary Artery Disease - Overview
- National Heart Lung and Blood Institute: What Are the Signs and Symptoms of a Heart Attack?
- National Heart Lung and Blood Institute: What Is an Electrocardiogram?
