Heart attack definition. Such signs include

Heart attack or myocardial infarction(MI) is permanent damage to the heart muscle. "Mio" means muscular; "cardia" - something related to the heart; and “heart attack” means tissue death due to insufficient blood supply.

What happens during a heart attack?

The heart muscle needs constant nutrition oxygenated blood. Necessary blood The heart is supplied by the coronary arteries. If you suffer from coronary heart disease, these arteries become narrower and blood cannot flow through them as well as it should. Fatty substances, calcium, proteins and inflammatory cells can be deposited along the arteries and form plaques different sizes. They are hard on the outside and soft, mushy on the inside.

If such a thrombus completely blocks the lumen of the artery, then the heart muscle is in a state oxygen starvation. Through short period Over time, myocardial cells die, which causes permanent damage. This is a heart attack.

Sometimes a heart attack can be caused by a spasm coronary artery. During coronary spasm, the arteries narrow from time to time, reducing the blood supply to the heart muscle (ischemia). This can occur at rest and sometimes in people without obvious signs of coronary artery disease.

Each coronary artery supplies blood to a specific area of the heart muscle. The extent of myocardial damage depends on the size of the area to which blood is supplied by the blocked artery and the time interval between the damage and the start of treatment.

Recovery of the heart muscle begins soon after a heart attack and takes about eight weeks. A wound on the heart, just like a wound on the skin, heals, and a scar forms on the damaged area. But scar tissue does not contract as well as healthy heart muscle tissue. Therefore, after a heart attack, the pumping function of the myocardium decreases. Amount lost contractility depends on the size and location of the scar.

What are the symptoms of a heart attack?

Symptoms of a heart attack include:

Discomfort, pressure, heaviness, or pain behind the sternum, in the arm, or below the sternum

Discomfort radiating to the back, jaw, throat or arm

Feelings of fullness, indigestion, or choking (may feel like heartburn)

Sweating, nausea, vomiting, or dizziness

Severe weakness, anxiety and shortness of breath

Fast and irregular heartbeat

During an attack, symptoms last 30 minutes or more and are not relieved by rest or taking medications by mouth.

Some people have asymptomatic heart attacks (“silent” myocardial infarction). Silent MI can occur in anyone, but is most common in diabetics.

What should I do if I have a heart attack?

Quickly starting treatment to open the blocked artery reduces the size of the damage. At the first sign of a heart attack, call emergency assistance(usually 103). Best time for the treatment of myocardial infarction – this is one to two hours from the moment the first signs of the disease appear. More late start therapy increases the extent of damage to your heart and reduces your chances of survival.

Keep in mind that chest discomfort can affect areas other than the heart, such as the arms, back, or jaw. Please note if you have similar symptoms. These are warning signs of heart disease. Seek medical attention immediately.

How is a heart attack diagnosed?

When the emergency team arrives, they will ask about your symptoms and begin an examination. The diagnosis of a heart attack is based on your symptoms and test results. The goal of treatment is to provide relief quickly and limit damage to the heart muscle.

Tests that are done to diagnose a heart attack

ECG. An electrocardiogram can show how damaged your myocardium is and in what area. In addition, it will help control your heart rate and rhythm.

Pathologies of the cardiovascular system are the main cause of death in cardiology patients. To prevent death, it is important to recognize the first symptoms of a heart attack and carry out resuscitation measures. The asymptomatic pathological process can last from several days to months and lead to disturbances in the structure of the myocardium. If the first signs of the disease are amenable to effective therapy, then the advanced stage of a heart attack cannot be treated.

The first symptoms and signs of a heart attack in women and men

It is difficult to determine the signs of the disease; if this is the first attack, they can manifest themselves in different ways. Alarm signal– heart pain varying intensity. When the disease is asymptomatic, they are also present, but cause oppressive feeling sternum, feeling of acute discomfort. Such changes general condition it is difficult not to notice, so the person will need the help of a doctor. The main thing is not to waste precious time.

Other early symptoms of a progressive heart attack include:

shortness of breath due to pulmonary, heart failure;
impaired coordination of movements;
dizziness;
increased fatigue;
sudden sweating with heart pain;
instability emotional sphere;
rapid pulse;
fainting, confusion;
stomach pain.

Where and how does the heart hurt?

It is very important to correctly identify an attack, determine its cause and consequences. If you have angina pectoris, pain syndrome sharp and at the same time burning, unexpectedly appears and disappears. The patient's task is to immediately call ambulance, take horizontal position, do not be nervous, ensure unhindered access of oxygen and take a nitroglycerin tablet under the tongue. Before doctors arrive, it is important to figure out on your own what the cause of the acute attack is.

My heart hurts and radiates to my left hand

If the feeling of pressure in the sternum spreads to left hand, then it manifests itself unstable angina stage of relapse. Pain attack gradually increases, giving way to sharp and burning sensations, deprives sleep and rest, and progresses at night. This symptom is accompanied by shortness of breath and requires immediate hospitalization. Relief comes only after taking it medical supplies, resuscitation measures.

Colitis in the heart area when inhaling

When a patient feels a tingling sensation in the heart muscle when inhaling, this symptom does not always relate to cardiology. Fractures of the ribs, exacerbation of neurosis or pneumonia are not excluded. Myocardial disease also cannot be ruled out, especially if the effect of painkillers does not provide even short-term relief. These diagnoses require medical attention; home self-medication provokes serious complications with health.

Sharp pain under the left shoulder blade

If such a symptom occurs, disturbances in the functioning of the cardiovascular system are obvious. This may be an exacerbation of cardiac ischemia, aortic aneurysm, progressive infarction or myocardial microinfarction. Taking nitroglycerin does not help, the patient has difficulty breathing and moving, access to oxygen and the presence of a medical team is required. Delay in resuscitation measures causes extensive foci of necrosis of the heart muscle, and the patient may die suddenly.

Pain in the heart area when coughing

In such clinical picture observed sharp deterioration general well-being. A painful attack in the chest indicates unstable angina, intercostal neuralgia, hepatic colic and chest injuries. The symptom is paroxysmal in nature, progresses in the active stage and in a state of complete rest. One should not exclude an attack of heart failure, which in a matter of minutes leads to the death of a clinical patient.

Clear signs of an angina attack

This heart disease characterized chronic course in the body, and often reminds itself of itself with painful attacks. The symptoms are as follows:

burning pain in the chest, which extends into the jaw, shoulder blade, upper limbs;
nausea;
vomit;
increased sweating;
rapid pulse;
decline in performance;
symptoms of arterial hypertension.

If unstable angina worsens, the patient needs urgent hospitalization, Where detailed diagnostics will allow you to identify areas of damage to the heart muscle. The signs of exertional angina are similar, but are complemented by pallor skin, changes in heart rate and inappropriate behavior clinical patient.

Symptoms of myocardial infarction

This is the most dangerous diagnosis cardiology, which often becomes the main cause of death in heart patients. It is impossible to stop an attack even after taking a nitroglycerin tablet. Bad feeling it is very difficult to stabilize at a satisfactory level; resuscitation measures are required. The sooner, the greater the chance of saving the patient's life.

Symptoms pathological process next:

cold sweat;
a sharp drop in blood pressure;
abnormal heart rate;
fainting;
lack of understanding of reality;
pallor of the skin.
sharp pain behind the sternum, radiating to the neck, back, shoulder blade, arm.

Video: how to detect a heart attack

Cardiovascular diseases are fraught with serious health complications. If you have one of the diagnoses or are predisposed to them, you should familiarize yourself with the proposed video, which describes the first symptoms of an increasing heart attack. This will allow timely recognition of the disease, alleviate the general condition and increase the chances of saving lives.

If a heart attack and its symptoms are recognized promptly, a person’s life can be saved. Therefore, it is so important to know what a heart attack is and what the causes are. You should remember the main points of first aid for manifestations of the disease. For this you do not need to have medical education, it is enough to familiarize yourself with the information and remember it, and, if necessary, apply it in practice. How to recognize a heart attack and not confuse it with pain due to osteochondrosis? There are often cases when a person simply ignores the signs of a heart attack and does not seek medical help, or finds out that he has heart problems after the heart attack has occurred.

It is important to pass in a timely manner necessary examination and begin treatment immediately, since lack of treatment can lead to a heart attack. Remember that death from a heart attack is common, so you should do everything possible to avoid heart problems.

What is myocardial infarction, and what can trigger a heart attack?

A heart attack occurs when the blood flow to the heart muscle is blocked. If blood flow is not restored in the required amount within 40 minutes, myocardial cells begin to die.

If the resulting blood clot is eliminated within an hour and a half, the muscle can recover. Otherwise, changes appear that can ultimately cause heart rupture.

Timely assistance provided heart attack can protect a person from irreversible processes in the body that lead to death. In this case, every second counts.

A heart attack can have different causes. List of main factors that can lead to illness:

high cholesterol;
excessive fullness;
nervous tension;
lack of physical activity;
diabetes;
bad habits consisting of excessive consumption alcohol and smoking;
hereditary heart diseases;
high arterial pressure.

All these reasons contribute to the deterioration of the condition and can cause a heart attack, so for recovery it is necessary to eliminate any factor that painful in heart. You cannot ignore the treatment prescribed by your doctor.

Characteristic features of myocardial infarction in men and women

Heart attacks are much more common in men than in women. This is due to the fact that representatives of the fairer sex perform reproductive function, and in order to bear and give birth to a child, you must have a healthy, strong heart. But with the onset of menopause, women often experience palpitations and become just as susceptible to heart attacks as men. Therefore, they need to undergo heart diagnostics more often. The signs of a heart attack are the same in women and men:

shortness of breath is the first harbinger of the disease;
heartburn;
chest pain that may radiate to left side body: arm, shoulder, neck or jaw;
constant fatigue without much physical activity;
increased sweating;
cardiopalmus;
snoring during sleep;
insomnia;
attacks of nausea and even vomiting;
hard breath.

The presence of one or more signs indicates a heart attack.

Not every woman feels pain, as it can be subtle. All passing symptoms of a heart attack are the same in women.

How to provide first aid?

Blocking an attack requires freeing the blocked artery to reduce the extent of the damage.. This can only be done in the intensive care unit. If the first signs of a heart attack appear, you should immediately call an ambulance and wait for the medical staff to arrive. At this time, you can alleviate your condition yourself or help someone else by doing the following:

it is necessary to take a sitting or lying position (the head should be vertical);
a person should be calm, therefore, if he is experiencing anxiety, try by all means to balance his state of mind;
create conditions for admission fresh air indoors, unfasten the collar on your neck;
measure blood pressure and pulse;
take an Aspirin tablet (swallow or chew) or Nitroglycerin (sublingual lozenge).

After these actions, it is necessary to monitor the patient’s well-being. If improvement does not occur in the first 10 minutes after taking the drug, you must re-take Nitroglycerin to relieve the pain.

Before giving any medicine to a patient, you must carefully read the contraindications.

In the event of a heart attack in both men and women, walking, eating, drinking alcohol, smoking or driving a car is strictly prohibited. You need to be in a state of calm and complete relaxation until the ambulance arrives medical care.

Diagnostic testing for heart attack

Before treatment is prescribed, the patient undergoes the necessary examination, which includes an electrocardiogram, urine and blood tests.

An ECG helps to identify the intensity of blood flow, the condition of the heart muscles, and heartbeat.

Laboratory blood tests can measure blood enzymes that indicate heart health.

How is a heart attack treated?

When a patient with a heart attack is transported in an ambulance, the called medical staff begins treatment on the way to the hospital and relieves pain. If there is a risk of a new attack, the patient is admitted to the intensive care unit, where timely assistance can be provided.

Typically therapy includes taking the following medications:

Analgin, if the patient has not taken it before;
thrombolytics, which eliminate blood clots (they should be taken in the first hours after an attack);
beta blockers, they reduce the frequency heart rate.

If medications do not give the desired effect, then coronary artery bypass surgery or balloon angioplasty.

The patient is shown bed rest, the patient should be at rest, and only after a while he is allowed to sit, and even later - to stand up.

Recovery after a heart attack

Rehabilitation of a recovering patient is carried out in stages, since excessive load may have a negative effect on the heart. The patient gradually begins to walk, then he begins classes physical therapy, and the exercises are performed under the supervision of the attending physician. Your doctor may recommend exercising at home. We must remember that overstraining the body physical exercise under no circumstances is it possible. Exercise helps quickly restore the heart after a heart attack.

It is very important to comply proper diet, which should include a large number of vegetables, grains and fruits. It is necessary to exclude from the diet foods that increase cholesterol levels in the blood, namely: fatty meats, smoked foods, sausages, sausages. Meat and fish should be low-fat varieties, turkey and chicken must be cooked by removing the skin. Fatty dairy products, especially butter, sour cream, and cottage cheese are also prohibited. Fried foods should be completely eliminated and replaced with boiled or steamed foods. Salt should be added to dishes with extreme caution, as it leads to hypertension. It should either be completely eliminated or consumed in small quantities.

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What is a heart attack

Pathology often leads to fatal outcome. But doctors say that if first aid is provided in a timely manner and a team of doctors is called, then the patient can be saved. Most often, death is likely if urgent curative measures failed to take action. In this case, death occurs as a result of extensive damage to the heart and complications that arise.

What happens in the body with this pathology? Symptoms of a heart attack in women appear when one of the arteries supplying the myocardium ceases to function fully. It does not deliver the full amount of blood to main body. This leads to damage to part of the heart muscle. Tissues begin to die. The patient is in dire need of qualified assistance. Otherwise, it will be fatal.

What can cause a heart attack? Symptoms in women occur due to impaired vascular blood flow. Pathology can manifest itself as a result of a sudden spasm. Often an attack is triggered by an unexpected blockage of a vessel with cholesterol or a blood clot. Regardless of the factor that caused the pathology, the reason for the death of cardiac tissue is the same - lack of oxygen.

Factors leading to heart attack

There are many reasons that can trigger a heart attack. Symptoms in women are in most cases similar, regardless of the source of the pathology.

The main provoking factors include:

age (after 55 years a woman enters the risk zone);
hereditary factor;
undergone surgery to remove the ovaries;
period after menopause.

Additional sources of pathology

However, there are other causes of a heart attack that can be eliminated or nullified. negative impact on the body.

These factors are:

Smoking, alcohol addiction, drug addiction. These factors come first. Smokers are almost always diagnosed with heart disease. Alcohol intoxication worsens the situation several times. Often acute attack occurs in a state of deep hangover.
Reception birth control pills. Sometimes this factor leads to the appearance of pathology in women who have not even reached 40 years of age.

High cholesterol content. Vessels clogged with plaques experience serious overload. Of course the heart doesn't receive sufficient quantity blood. He has to function in an enhanced mode.
Obesity. Organs swollen with fat do not allow the myocardium to work at full capacity. This is a fairly common cause leading to cardiac disorders.
Inactivity. As a rule, this factor is combined with obesity or overweight.
Hypertension. High pressure overloads the heart muscle and blood vessels.
Diabetes. This is a pathology that provokes many various violations in organism. The cardiovascular system also suffers from the disease.
Inflammatory processes in blood vessels. They provoke rupture of the coronary artery. Inflammation causes an increase in reactive protein in the body. This picture is most often observed in women. Doctors are not yet ready to say what causes the increase in protein.
Hypothyroidism. The disease often becomes a source of heart disease. It can trigger an attack.
Chronic stress. This condition- the cause of the development of most diseases in the body. And first of all, stress negatively affects the functioning of the heart.

Classic signs

Let's look at what are the most common symptoms of a heart attack?

The pathology is characterized by the following main features:

Pain appears in the chest area. This is the most characteristic symptom impending heart attack. But pain doesn't always happen. Some people feel discomfort, tightness, and a certain pressure in the chest. In this case, pain is completely absent. Patients claim that it becomes difficult for them to breathe, and there is a feeling “as if someone had stepped on their chest.” Very often people believe that a heart attack only causes pain in the chest and unpleasant discomfort in the left hand. You should know that negative sensations can appear in any other parts of the body: in the shoulders, throat, upper abdomen, jaws, teeth, back.
Heavy sweating, perspiration. Pay attention when this symptom appears. Particularly alarming is increased sweating in a person who is in cool room, and not in the heat. Perspiration that appears in the absence of physical activity may indicate problems. Heavy sweating is caused by clogged arteries. The heart needs to work harder to pump enough blood. To save normal temperature at additional load the body produces a large amount of sweat. If you encounter such a problem, be sure to consult your doctor.
Dyspnea. If such attacks occur after a slight exercise (climbing a couple of floors, walking), you should consult a doctor. Very often, shortness of breath is a symptom of heart disease. Especially if it is accompanied by severe fatigue and chest pain. Women are more likely to experience similar symptoms. It is shortness of breath and fatigue that usually warns of an upcoming heart attack.

Additional symptoms

In a classic attack, the following often occur:

Problems with the gastrointestinal tract. Very often, before an attack, disorders appear in digestive tract. Indigestion, heartburn, and nausea may occur. These symptoms are often combined with dizziness. However, do not forget that such symptoms can be inherent in a number of pathologies.
Numbness in fingers. Can only cover brushes. But sometimes the numbness spreads to the shoulders and forearms.
Impaired speech. A completely sober person begins to get tongue-tied. Speech becomes slurred and incomprehensible.
Impaired motor coordination. The person loses control over the body. Most often this affects the neck, shoulders, and arms. This state is very reminiscent alcohol intoxication. Especially if it is combined with slurred speech. That is why others do not always rush to help a person in such a state. This is very dangerous, because precious minutes are lost.

If you promptly pay attention to the main symptoms of a heart attack listed above, you can save a person’s life. Therefore, do not pass by a person who needs your help.

Features of attacks in women

Most often, people imagine a heart attack as a sudden, pronounced attack. If pathology concerns representatives of the fair half of humanity, then the situation is somewhat different. Symptoms of a heart attack in women are rarely pronounced. Most patients tolerate them without attaching any importance to them.

This is dictated by the fact that the signs of the disease are blurred in most cases. Therefore, women do not notice them and do not take them seriously. In addition, the symptoms are somewhat different from the signs that characterize an attack in men.

Alarm Signals

Please note what are the first symptoms of a heart attack in women:

Severe fatigue, almost unsettling.
Disturbed sleep, insomnia. This condition can occur even after severe fatigue. These symptoms appear about a month before the attack.
Increased anxiety, nervousness, feeling of stress.
Indigestion, nausea with normal diet.
Weakness, clammy, sweaty skin.
Difficulty breathing during normal exercise or climbing stairs.
The appearance of pain in the neck, face, jaw, ears. Discomfort may spread to the arms and shoulders. It resembles a condition when muscle tissue is stretched.

How to help yourself?

If you observe the signs of a heart attack in women described above, do not wait for the condition to worsen. The most the right decision- consult a doctor and get qualified help.

Remember that you need to report all symptoms that appear to your doctor. In addition, it is important to name factors that can aggravate the condition (genetic predisposition, smoking, hypertension).

If you have a seizure

What to do if you are caught by surprise by a heart attack? Symptoms and first aid are points that every person should know well. After all, minutes count.

First aid consists of the following measures:

Call an ambulance immediately. Even if you don’t know how to help yourself, the dispatcher will explain to you what to do before the doctors arrive.
Contact your family who can come to you immediately if the attack begins while you are alone.
Take an aspirin tablet (325 mg). The pill should be chewed so that it has an effect faster.
Take a nitroglycerin tablet. If positive effect is not observed, you can use the medicine again. The third pill is allowed to be taken only if the pain does not subside within 10 minutes after taking the second pill.
Try to remain calm. Panic and fear, characteristic of an attack, complicate the condition. Remember that help is on the way to you. You can focus on counting your heartbeat. It's calming.
Remain in a supine position, on your back. In this case, it is advisable to raise your legs higher by placing a pillow or other object under them. This will allow the diaphragm to open, and oxygen will flow better into the blood.
Do deep breaths and even exhalations.
If possible, it is recommended to open a window to provide fresh air.

What not to do

If symptoms of a heart attack are observed in women, it is not enough to know how to act in such a situation. It should be remembered that it is strictly contraindicated:

stand up or move around;
smoke;
drive;
use aspirin if there is intolerance to the drug or an exacerbation of gastritis or ulcers is diagnosed;
take nitroglycerin if low pressure, severe headaches, with speech, coordination, and vision disorders;
consume drinks or food.

Help a loved one

What should you do if you see something wrong with a person and you suspect he is having a heart attack?

Symptoms in women and treatment are often taken lightly by such individuals. Therefore, be prepared for the fact that they will begin to refuse to call the doctor and protest against the need to take a horizontal position.

Your actions should be as quick and clear as possible:

Call an ambulance.
Lay the patient on a horizontal surface, placing any object under his feet. Make sure that the patient does not get up.
Unfasten your collar and belt.
Provide fresh air by opening a window. Turn on the fan.
Try to calm and encourage the victim.

Be sure to complete all the activities described above. And remember that your actions determine future life this man.

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Causes of pathology

Often a heart attack develops against the background cardiac pathologies available to humans. In particular, a predisposing factor leading to the occurrence this violation in the work of the heart, is atherosclerosis.

In addition, disturbances in the functioning of the heart occur in older people, which is associated with functional disorders in the functioning of the cardiovascular system. Moreover, pathology is determined more often in men than in women.

Angina pectoris often becomes a “provoker” of a heart attack, and is characterized by a violation respiratory function(suffocation), as well as changes in heart rate and severe pain. Smoking and excessive physical activity are predisposing factors to the development of angina.

Also, a disorder such as a heart attack often results from:

decompensated diabetes;
long-term use of nonsteroidal drugs;
lack of adequate physical activity;
dysmetabolic syndrome.

Symptoms and signs

If we talk about the signs of a heart attack, they are initially characterized by the occurrence of severe pain in the chest, which is not relieved by taking medications based on nitroglycerin. When an attack occurs, a person feels heaviness in the chest area and cannot breathe fully, as the pain interferes with respiratory process. Patients describe this condition as a burning sensation.

Due to the inability to fully enter and exit, a person experiences a feeling of lack of oxygen, with the development of symptoms of suffocation.

In cases where the heart attack is less intense, instead of respiratory failure there is shortness of breath, which occurs as after physical exercise. load and at rest. If a person is interested in the question of how to recognize a heart attack, then he should pay attention to the above signs of a heart attack, that is, shortness of breath, pain and respiratory failure - they are the ones who indicate the progression of such a pathology.

In fact, the symptoms of a heart attack are quite varied. Besides characteristic manifestations, described above, other symptoms may be observed that are immediately difficult to associate with this pathology. For example, a person may experience nausea and vomiting without relief.

Many people who have already had a heart attack can anticipate the occurrence of this condition. Therefore, when the first symptoms appear, they should take actions aimed at stopping the development of the pathological condition.

Other signs of a heart attack include:

the occurrence of panic attacks;
increased sweating (especially among the stronger sex);
the occurrence of dizziness, and, as a result, loss of balance;
swelling of the legs;
snoring during sleep (in cases where the person has never snored before).

It should be noted that a heart attack is pathological condition, which differs depending on gender. Yes, in men this pathology comes in more early age than in women - this is due to the fact that the cardiac system of the fair sex is stronger than that of the representatives of the stronger half of humanity. However, with the onset of menopause, women's cardiovascular system weakens, so among people over the age of 45, the number of heart attacks among men and women is equal.

First aid

If signs of a heart attack are present, the person must receive immediate first aid. First, you should reassure the patient, as he panics when he feels chest pain and lack of oxygen. To ensure access to fresh air, you need to clear chest patient (sick) from tight clothing and open the windows in the room.

First aid for a heart attack also involves patients using medications such as nitroglycerin, which reduces pain, and analgin, which prevents the formation of blood clots. Nitroglycerin can be given to a person in the amount of 3 pieces - until the pain disappears.

It is necessary to monitor the heart rate - if the rhythm slows down or stops, it is recommended to indirect massage hearts. The person's mobility should also be limited.

Timely first aid measures can save a person’s life during the development of a pathology such as a heart attack, so it is important to be attentive to the health status of your loved ones and not ignore initial stage such a serious violation.

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The first symptoms and signs of a heart attack in women and men

It is difficult to determine the signs of the disease; if this is the first attack, they can manifest themselves in different ways. An alarming signal is heart pain of varying intensity. When the disease is asymptomatic, they are also present, but cause a pressing feeling in the sternum, a feeling of acute discomfort. Such changes in general condition are difficult to miss, so a person will need the help of a doctor. The main thing is not to waste precious time.

Other early symptoms of a progressive heart attack include:

shortness of breath due to pulmonary, heart failure;
impaired coordination of movements;
dizziness;
increased fatigue;
sudden sweating with heart pain;
instability of the emotional sphere;
rapid pulse;
fainting, confusion;
stomach pain.

Where and how does the heart hurt?

It is very important to correctly identify an attack, determine its cause and consequences. If there is angina of the heart, the pain syndrome is sharp and at the same time burning, suddenly appears and disappears. The patient’s task is to immediately call an ambulance, take a horizontal position, not be nervous, ensure unhindered access of oxygen and take a nitroglycerin tablet under the tongue. Before doctors arrive, it is important to figure out on your own what the cause of the acute attack is.

My heart hurts and radiates to my left hand

If the pressing feeling in the sternum spreads to the left arm, then this manifests itself as unstable angina at the relapse stage. The painful attack gradually increases, giving way to sharp and burning sensations, deprives sleep and rest, and progresses at night. This symptom is accompanied by shortness of breath and requires immediate hospitalization. Relief occurs only after taking medications and resuscitation measures.

Colitis in the heart area when inhaling

Sharp pain under the left shoulder blade

Pain in the heart area when coughing

In this clinical picture, there is a sharp deterioration in general well-being. A painful attack in the chest indicates unstable angina, intercostal neuralgia, hepatic colic and chest injuries. The symptom is paroxysmal in nature, progresses in the active stage and in a state of complete rest. One should not exclude an attack of heart failure, which in a matter of minutes leads to the death of a clinical patient.

Clear signs of an angina attack

This heart disease is characterized by a chronic course in the body, and often reminds itself of painful attacks. The symptoms are as follows:

burning pain in the chest that spreads to the jaw, shoulder blade, upper limbs;
nausea;
vomit;
increased sweating;
rapid pulse;
decline in performance;
symptoms of arterial hypertension.

If unstable angina pectoris worsens, the patient needs urgent hospitalization, where detailed diagnostics will determine the areas of damage to the heart muscle. The signs of exertional angina are similar, but are supplemented by pallor of the skin, changes in heart rate and inappropriate behavior of the clinical patient.

Symptoms of myocardial infarction

This is the most dangerous diagnosis in cardiology, which often becomes the main cause of death in heart patients. It is impossible to stop an attack even after taking a nitroglycerin tablet. Poor health is very difficult to stabilize at a satisfactory level; resuscitation measures are required. The sooner, the greater the chance of saving the patient's life.

The symptoms of the pathological process are as follows:

cold sweat;
a sharp drop in blood pressure;
abnormal heart rate;
fainting;
lack of understanding of reality;
pallor of the skin.
acute pain behind the sternum, radiating to the neck, back, shoulder blade, arm.

Find out what the signs of heart failure in men may be. Cardiac ischemia treatment Extra chord in the heart

30 days before a heart attack:

main symptoms

Typically, women are heavier than men to suffer heart attacks: the likelihood is extremely high fatal outcome, onset of disability or a second attack within a year. The mortality rate from heart disease is significantly higher than from all forms of cancer combined.

Heart - organ human body constantly working hard. Throughout our lives, it continuously pumps blood enriched with oxygen and vital nutrients, delivering it through a network of arteries to all organs and tissues of the body. In order to cope with this difficult task, the heart muscle itself requires an abundant supply of oxygen-rich blood, which is delivered through a network of coronary arteries.

Ischemic disease Heart disease (CHD) is the most common cause of heart attacks, occurring when blood flow to the heart's muscle wall (myocardium) is interrupted. Experts in the field of cardiology suggest that heart attacks originate in the heart, and not in the arteries.

However, regardless of the cause, most heart attack patients say that a number of symptoms can be felt about 30 days before the attack itself and should not be ignored.

Please note that two or even three of these symptoms occur infrequently and cannot be regarded as a sure sign of an impending heart attack, but still, they should not be discounted. Heart attack symptoms vary from person to person. Somebodymay not notice most of them, and then realize with surprise that the attack has occurred after all. The manifestation of five or more of these symptoms per day is a reason to consult a doctor.

Heart attacks can begin smoothly and slowly, causing only slight pain or discomfort. Symptoms may be mild or more intense and sudden, and may come and go over several hours. In people with high content blood sugar levels (diabetic patients), this process may be asymptomatic or accompanied by mild symptoms. The most common symptom in both men and women is chest pain or discomfort. Women often also experience difficulty breathing, nausea and vomiting, unusual fatigue (sometimes for several days), and pain in the back, shoulders, and jaw.

So, here are the main symptoms you should be aware of:

1. Shortness of breath

Impaired blood flow causes a reduction in blood flow in the lungs, which leads to shortened breathing. Sometimes people having a heart attack don't feel chest pressure or pain, but suffer from severe shortness of breath, as if they just ran a marathon without even moving yet. Shortness of breath often accompanies a heart attack discomfort in the chest, although it may occur before or without such sensations. You feel like you can’t breathe in enough air, you get tired with minor physical activity, but as soon as the load stops, you feel better.

2. Dizziness and sweating

When less and less blood reaches the brain, all body functions are affected. The brain requires ample blood flow to function properly. Heart attacks can cause dizziness and loss of consciousness. So abnormal heart rhythms, known as arrhythmias, can be potentially dangerous. Cold sweat is a fairly common symptom of a heart attack. “You might just be sitting in a chair when suddenly you start sweating as if you just came from a workout,” cardiologists explain.”

3. Fatigue

Feeling tired and exhausted every day, every week can also occur due to a lack of blood supply to the heart, brain and lungs. It becomes difficult to carry out normal daily activities, and the condition gets worse over time and often leads to extreme exhaustion - you feel too tired to do anything. This symptom is especially common in women and can last for weeks. A persistent feeling of fatigue may be a sign of heart failure.

4. Pain in the chest, back, shoulders, arms and neck

The most common and clear symptom of an impending heart attack is chest pain. At first, when pain first appears, people get scared, but as soon as it disappears on its own, they immediately forget about it. People often ignore chest pain, but over time they realize the seriousness of the situation when it spreads to the shoulders, arms and back.

5. Swelling

Heart failure can cause excess fluid to accumulate in the body and cause swelling (usually in the feet, ankles, legs or abdomen), as well as sudden weight gain and even loss of appetite.

6. Unexplained weakness

In the days leading up to a heart attack, some people experience severe, unexplained weakness. “I felt like I couldn’t even hold a piece of paper in my hands.” A person feels that he is left with practically no strength, as if he had the flu. This is extremely important signal your body that you are susceptible increased risk occurrence of myocardial infarction in the near future

7. Rapid or irregular pulse

Doctors say the occasional spike in heart rate is usually nothing to worry about. But a rapid or irregular pulse, especially when accompanied by weakness, dizziness, or shortness of breath, may indicate an approaching heart attack, heart failure, or arrhythmia. Some arrhythmias, if left untreated, can lead to stroke, heart failure, or sudden death.

8. Digestion

People often experience discomfort, pain, and bloating associated with heart failure, which can negatively affect appetite and digestion. Frequent disorders stomach - serious signal anxiety along with severe pain in heart.

9. Mood swings

A heart attack can cause severe anxiety or even fear of death. Survivors often report experiencing a feeling of “doom.” Ominous feeling causeless anxiety is a fairly common symptom.

10. Cough

Constant cough or wheezing may be a sign of heart failure leading to fluid buildup in the lungs. In some cases, people with heart failure may cough and produce bloody sputum.

Seven “harmless” habits that hurt your heart

We are not talking about drinking, cigarettes, stress, which, of course, are not good for the heart. It turns out that even our everyday habits, which we don’t even pay attention to, undermine the health of the myocardium for years, reports Pannochka.net, an online publication for girls and women aged 14 to 35 years. But it’s so easy to fix it! So, what is harmful to our heart:

1. Sitting in front of the TV for a long time

Several hours in front of the TV significantly increases the risk of heart attack, as well as stroke. After all sedentary image life and lack of movement negatively affects metabolic processes, and blood sugar levels. Also from sitting for a long time in one position, the outflow of blood in the extremities is disrupted, which can lead to blood thickening and the formation of blood clots.

2. Ignore snoring

Many do not consider rolling roulades to be any particular disadvantage. Just think, it’s not enuresis, after all... Anyone who doesn’t like it can sleep in the living room! But in fact, very often snoring is a symptom of cardiac problems. Very often snoring is a sign of obstructive sleep apnea. This condition is dangerous because it provokes increased blood pressure and impaired cardiac activity.

3. Not brushing your teeth regularly

It would seem, what is the connection between the heart and teeth? However, it exists. British scientists from the University of Bristol conducted a large study on the influence of daily hygiene on life expectancy and tendency to various chronic diseases. It turns out that “banal” thorough brushing of your teeth twice a day and regular visits to the dentist can actually extend your life by 10 years or more!

The mechanism of this dependence is explained by the head of the research group, Professor Howard Jenkinson: “There are a lot of bacteria in the oral cavity - more than 350 species. Not particularly careful dental care leads to bleeding gums. And microbes can enter the bloodstream through damaged capillaries and even cause the formation of blood clots (it has already been proven that bacteria of the gingivalis genus act on blood clotting factors). And a broken blood clot can clog a blood vessel and even lead to myocardial infarction or pulmonary embolism.”

Scientists believe that insufficient attention to daily dental hygiene increases the risk of cardiovascular disease by 70%.

4. Exercising too much

Walking and swimming are optimal exercises for the heart. But excessive zeal in the gym, on the contrary, weakens the heart. It is especially dangerous to suddenly change the pace of loads. Many people, including those aged between 40 and 50, suddenly decide to radically change their figure. They enroll in Gym, and begin to actively engage. However, such drastic changes for the body as a whole, and for the cardiovascular system in particular - severe stress. You can train until you have a heart attack...

5. Overeat

Even if you are naturally a slim body and obesity does not threaten you, overeating is very dangerous for the heart. A large amount of food eaten increases the load on blood vessels abdominal cavity. Which in turn forces the heart to work twice as hard.

6. Eat red meat often

Red meat contains a lot of saturated fat, which, according to some studies, increases the risk of heart disease and atherosclerosis. Scientists advise that red meat should make up no more than 10% of the total share of animal products in your diet, says health.com.

7. Rarely eat vegetables and fruits

Clinically proven: daily use 30 grams fresh vegetables and fruit reduces the risk of heart disease by 20%. The fact is that, in addition to vitamins C and K, which are important for the heart, fruits and vegetables are rich in fiber and pectins, which “clean” blood vessels.

Thank you for your visit and comments!

Alas, weather sensitivity is not a myth. Particularly acute due to weather changes, such as a snow storm, such as today, is the increase in the number of visits to doctors. People with cardiovascular or other conditions are vulnerable chronic diseases. as well as with problems of the musculoskeletal system, bronchopulmonary system. Unfortunately, during periods of temperature or pressure changes, the number of strokes and heart attacks increases. And such snowy weather in spring itself is stressful.

In medical terms, a heart attack is the death of part of the heart muscle due to insufficient blood flow to it. It is called a heart attack or coronary thrombosis. An attack occurs when one of the blood vessels, feeding the heart muscle, becomes clogged with a blood clot. Or a spasm of the artery occurs, feeding the myocardium - the heart muscle. Most often this happens under the influence of stress.

Heart Attack Symptoms

- Unpleasant sensations in the chest, stabbing pain.

- Cough.

- Dizziness.

- Shortness of breath.

- Pale with a grayish tint.

- Feeling of fear, panic.

- Nausea.

- Anxiety.

- Cold sweat on the face.

- Vomit.

A person having a heart attack first feels pain in the chest. Then the discomfort spreads to the neck, face and arms, and sometimes even to the back and stomach. The pain may last from a few minutes to several hours. Usually a person feels a little better if he changes his body position or lies down.

What is a “silent heart attack”?

In people over 75 years of age and with diabetes, a “silent heart attack” may occur, which is not accompanied by painful sensations at all. About one fifth of these heart attacks are not diagnosed. Damage to the heart muscle in survivors of a “silent heart attack” progresses because it is not detected and treated.

Risk factors

Age is considered the main risk factor for heart attack. Most often, a heart attack occurs in men over 45 years of age and women over 55 years of age.

Attacks of angina (lack of nutrition of the heart muscle). Heart attack and angina are often confused because their symptoms are very similar: chest pain and shortness of breath are observed in both cases. But the symptoms of angina are relieved by taking special drugs within 15–30 minutes, but no heart attack.

Increased blood cholesterol or atherosclerosis. With these diseases, the risk of blood clots forming and blocking blood flow in the vessels of the heart is increased.

In addition, risk factors for developing a heart attack include:

Hypertension.

Fatty food.

Obesity. The maximum permissible waist circumference for women is 94 centimeters, for men – 102 centimeters. Exceeding these values increases the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Smoking.

Lack of physical activity.

Stress.

Genetic predisposition. Those whose relatives have suffered from heart attacks are at increased risk of developing this disease.