| Clogged Arteries
A buildup
of sticky plaque (fat and cholesterol)
can narrow your heart's arteries, making
it harder for blood to pass through.
Many people don't even know there's a
problem until an artery is clogged and
they have a heart attack. But there are
warning signs of coronary artery
disease, like frequent chest pain called
angina. |
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Inside a Heart Attack
Plaque is hard on the outside
and mushy on the inside.
Sometimes that hard outer shell
cracks. When this happens, a
blood clot forms. If it
completely blocks your artery,
it cuts off the blood supply to
part of your heart.
Blood carries oxygen, and a
shortage of that can quickly
damage the organ and possibly
kill you. The attack is sudden,
and it's important to get
medical help right away. |
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What Does a Heart Attack
Feel Like?
You might have:
- Pain or pressure in the chest
- Discomfort spreading to the
back, jaw, throat, or arm
- Nausea, indigestion, or
heartburn
- Weakness, anxiety, or
shortness of breath
- Fast or irregular heartbeats
It's an emergency even when your
symptoms are mild. |
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Symptoms in Women
Women don't always feel chest
pain. Compared to men, they're
more likely to have heartburn or
heart flutters, lose their
appetite, cough, or feel tired
or weak. Don't ignore these
symptoms. The longer you wait to
get treatment, the more damage
can be done. |
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Act Fast
If you think you're having a
heart attack, call 911 right
away, even if you're not sure.
Don't wait to see if you feel
better. And don't drive yourself
to the hospital. The EMS team
will come to you and start work
right away. A fast response can
save your life. |
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Irregular Heart Beat:
Arrhythmia
Your heart beats because of
electrical impulses, and they
can get off rhythm. Arrhythmias
can make your heart race, slow
down, or quiver. They're often
harmless and pass quickly, but
some types can affect your blood
flow and take a serious toll on
your body. Tell your doctor if
you notice anything unusual. |
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Heart Muscle Disease:
Cardiomyopathy
Abnormal heart muscle, or
cardiomyopathy, makes it hard to
pump and carry blood to the rest
of your body. Over time, health
problems such as high blood
pressure, obesity, and diabetes
cause this serious condition,
which can lead to heart failure. |
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Heart Failure
This doesn't mean your heart
stops working. It means the
organ can't pump enough blood to
meet your body's needs. So over
time, it gets bigger and pumps
faster. This weakens the muscle
and lowers the amount of blood
flowing out even more, which
adds to the problem.
Most
cases of heart failure are the
result of coronary artery
disease and heart attacks. |
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Sudden Cardiac Death
This isn't the same as a heart
attack. Sudden cardiac death
happens when the heart's
electrical system goes haywire,
making it beat irregularly and
dangerously fast. Instead of
pumping out blood to your body,
your chambers quiver. CPR can
help bring back your regular
heart beat, but without it, you
can die within minutes. So don't
wait to see if your symptoms go
away. Call 911 as soon as
possible. |
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Chest X-rays
These pictures of your heart,
lungs, and chest bones are made
with a small amount of
radiation. Doctors use them to
spot signs of trouble.
In this
image, the bulge on the right is
an enlarged left ventricle, the
main pumping chamber. |
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Living With Heart Disease
Most types are long lasting. At
first, symptoms can be hard to
spot and may not disturb your
daily life. But left alone and
ignored, they get worse. If your
heart starts to fail, you might
be short of breath or feel
tired. Keep an eye out for
swelling in your belly, ankles,
feet, or legs.
In many cases, long-term
treatment can help keep things
under control. You can fight
heart failure with medication,
lifestyle changes, surgery, or a
transplant. |
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Medicines
A number of prescription drugs
can help you. Some lower blood
pressure, heart rate and
cholesterol levels. Others
control irregular rhythms or
prevent clots. If you already
have some damage, others
medications can help your heart
pump blood. |
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Angioplasty
This procedure opens a blocked
artery and improves blood flow.
Your doctor guides a thin
catheter with a balloon on the
end into your artery. When the
balloon reaches the blockage,
the doctor fills it with air.
This inflates your artery and
allows blood to move freely. He
may also put in a small mesh
tube called a stent to keep it
open. |
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Bypass Surgery
Your doctor might suggest this
operation if you have one or
more arteries that are too
narrow or blocked. He first
removes a blood vessel from an
area of your body, such as your
chest, belly, legs, or arms, and
then attaches it to a healthy
artery in your heart. Your blood
is guided around the problem
area, "bypassing" it. |
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Who Gets Heart
Disease?
Men are more likely to have a heart
attack than women, and at an earlier
age. But heart disease is still the No.
1 killer of both sexes. People with a
family history of it also have a higher
risk. |
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Things You Can Control
These daily habits can lower
your chances of heart disease:
- Exercise regularly (30 minutes
most days).
- Stay at a healthy weight.
- Eat a balanced diet.
- Limit how much alcohol you
drink (one drink a day for
women, two a day for men).
- Don't smoke.
If you have diabetes, it's
important to manage your blood
sugar levels. And if you have
high cholesterol and high blood
pressure, do everything you can
to get them in check. |
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