Between Life and Death and It's Importance to Save Life After a Heart Attack

What is a heart attack?

A heart attack happens as a result of coronary heart diseases. Oxygen is essential for the heart muscles to survive. The reduction of oxygen-rich blood flow to the heart muscle causes a heart attack. The blood flow to the heart through the coronary artery is reduced or blocked by certain substances called plaque. Fats and cholesterol constituting the plaque may break the heart artery and forms clots around the plaque. These blood clots interrupt the normal blood flow and hence the heart muscle will not get sufficient oxygen and leads to the death of heart muscle causing the heart attack. The process of deposition of plaque in the blood vessel over years is termed to be as atherosclerosis. The heart attack can cause either death or some disabilities to the patient.

Symptoms for heart attack

• Chest pain or discomfort
• Upper body discomfort
• Shortness of breath.
• Breaking out in a cold sweat
• Feeling unusually tired for no reason
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Light-headedness or sudden dizziness
• Breathing problems
• Fainting

The symptoms for a heart attack are not clearly understood in women, aged peoples, and in diabetic patients. The most common symptoms for a heart attack include the increase in blood pressure. But there are some cases in which some people will not experience any signs of heart attack.

Treatments for a heart attack

Treatments for a heart attack will be very effective only if they are given in golden hour and any other signs of a heart attack. Only treatment applicable at this time is to re-establish the normal blood flow in the coronary arteries to maintain the normal functioning of the heart.

Even before a diagnosis is confirmed, some treatments are given if a heart attack is suspected. The treatments are

• Oxygen therapy
• Aspirin is given to thin your blood and prevent further blood clotting
• Nitroglycerin is given to reduce the heart's workload and also to improve blood flow through the coronary arteries
• Treatment for chest pain

After diagnosis, Treatments given includes

• Clot-busting medicines – these are used to dissolve the clot
• Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) –this treatment is also called as coronary angioplasty. This is a process used to open blocked coronary artery. This is a non-surgical procedure.
• Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) – this is a surgical procedure.

What is the golden hour?

The golden hour is called for the critical time during which the heart muscle starts to die due to the rupturing of the coronary artery because of the plaque deposition. The duration of golden hour is calculated approximately as 90 minutes once the heart muscle stops receiving oxygen-rich blood. The emergency treatment given during this golden hour can save the patient in most cases. The golden hour starts is the one hour immediately after the traumatic injury has happened.

What can we do in the Golden Hour?

It is very necessary to reach the hospital as soon as possible to remove possible damage to the heart. If the treatment is delayed, it will cause possible damage to the affected part of the heart. Without any hesitation, you should call for medical assistance. It is very necessary for everyone to know the basic first aid treatments to be given for the patients to act immediately. Treatment before diagnosis confirmation can be done during this golden hour. The treatments for heart attack to be given during golden hour are given below

• Oxygen therapy
• Aspirin is given to thin your blood and prevent further blood clotting
• Nitroglycerin is given to reduce the heart's workload and also to improve blood flow through the coronary arteries
• Treatment for chest pain

Acting promptly during this golden hour can increase the chance of saving the patient’s life.