Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – There are many good reasons why you should understand how to survive a heart attack. The first thing is that during a lifetime you or your loved one may suffer from a heart attack. You need to understand the common reasons for a heart attack also known as myocardial infarction (MI). Whether a person survives a heart attack will depend on how the doctor treats them. The first few hours are extremely important. When a heart attack occurs there will be a severe blockage in one of the arteries.
The amount of blood flow toward the body will drastically decrease. Unfortunately, it is a very dangerous and life-threatening emergency. The longer you leave the person without treatment the bigger damage it brings to the heart. In severe cases, a heart attack can lead to the death of an individual.
What Is The Survival Rate Of A Heart Attack?
You need to recognize the signs and symptoms of a heart attack at first. The patient will feel heart burning sensation in the body. Many people complain to have shoulder or chest pain. There is radiating pain in the neck, jaw, and even arms. If you suffer from shortness of breath, call for an emergency right away. Studies have revealed that the survival rate of heart attack patients is 90 to 97% only if they are hospitalized on time. The risk factor also varies on the type of heart attack a person suffers from. Moreover, it depends on which arteries are involved. While other additional factors like age and gender will be considered too.
How To Diagnose A Heart Attack?
A heart attack refers to the most severe and life-threatening form of the acute coronary syndrome (ACS). This term is used to talk about an emergency that involves the arteries of your heart. Just like all the forms of ACS, a heart attack occurs due to the rupture of an atherosclerotic plaque. It is located within a coronary artery and leads to heart failure.
Usually, the coronary arteries are responsible for supplying oxygen through the heart muscles. When this plaque ruptures it can cause a blood clot that leads to more blockages inside the arteries. The heart muscles that cannot get enjoy an oxygen supply begin to die. It is easy to diagnose a heart disease when a large portion of the heart muscle is already dead.
Types of Heart Attacks
Most heart attacks occur due to blockage in the coronary artery. However, in rare cases, it can be caused by the tearing of an artery or a sudden spasm. There are two major types of heart attacks are as follows:
1. ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI)
ST-elevation myocardial infraction occurs when there is a complete blockage in the coronary artery. It happens to be one of the most severe types of a heart attack. If you suffer from a heart attack, seek medical attention quickly.
2. Non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI)
When one artery is partially blocked it reduces the blood flow to the entire heart. NSTEMI is more common than STEMI which occurs in most patients. However, the survival rates depend on how quickly the patient is treated.
3. Coronary Artery Spasm
Coronary artery spasms occur when the artery contracts or spams at regular intervals. At one point it becomes even more severe. When the arteries become too narrow it decreases the blood flow to the heart.
4. Coronary Artery Dissection
Coronary artery dissection is a rare type of heart attack. This happens when there is a spontaneous tearing of the coronary artery wall. Usually, the survival rates depend on the amount of damage done to the arteries. If there is a blockage in the left anterior descending (LAD) artery, it has the highest risk of death. The LAD artery is a branch of the left coronary artery.
Consequences and Dangers of a Heart Attack
The amount of a heart attack severity depends on how many heart muscles died. For that, you need to know which coronary artery is blocked or where the blockage occurs. It depends on how much time has passed since the artery could re-open. If the blockage is near the origin of an artery it will affect the heart muscle deeply. It will further lead to more blockage downwards the artery. There is no doubt that a blockage that lasts for five to six hours will do more damage. As compared to heart muscle death that is immediately treated.
If the heart damage is deadly it can make the heart attack occur on a larger scale. Even if the damage is minimal or moderate, heart failure is still likely to occur. It will be difficult for the heart to sustain the injury in the heart muscles. A heart attack can change the heart rhythm and cause many problems that are known as arrhythmias.
It includes (rapid heartbeat) and fibrillation (irregular rapid heartbeat). After a heart attack, severe problems can lead to permanent electrical instability and recurrent arrhythmia. Usually, people are at risk of cardiac arrest or sudden death. The patient will have to go through the risks that happen during an acute heart attack or cardiac arrest. The recovery period will be longer than expected.
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Why the First Hours Are Important For The Patient?
If the patient has had a heart attack it is necessary to get medical attention. It is critical when it comes to saving the life too. Both long-term and short-term consequences depend on how much the heart muscle is damaged. However, rapid and immediate medical attention will help survive a heart attack. The doctor will typically work on the blocked artery and make it open quickly. Therefore it will be easy to preserve most of the parts.
If you deliver the patient with a treatment in three to four hours, the damage to muscles will be avoided. However, when the treatment is delayed for five to six hours the amount of damage to the heart muscles will be endless. After 12 hours it will be difficult to reverse anything. You need to recognize the signs and symptoms of the patient and call for help. It is necessary to seek help from a professional. This can improve your chances of survival.
