Heart attack
- Heart attack (myocardial infarction) is often caused when the surface of a cholesterol plaque in a coronary artery cracks and has a 'rough surface'.
- This can lead to the formation of a blood clot on the plaque, which completely blocks the artery resulting in the death of an area of the heart muscle.
- Unlike angina, the death of the heart muscle from heart attack is permanent and will not be relieved by rest.
- It should be remembered that every heart attack is different.
- Only a few of the signs and symptoms may be present, indeed up to a quarter of heart attacks suffered are 'silent’ without any chest pain
- People above 50years / menopausal women are at greater risk.
- Occurs with / without chest pain.
Symptoms
- Chest pain radiating to left arm and shoulder
- Piercing in nature feels like something is stabbed in to heart.
- Sweating
- Heartburn
- Nausea
- Abdominal pain
- Pain increases on exertion.
First aid
- Try to relax ask pt to take complete rest and donot move
- Loosen tight clothes
- Take medicines Tab sorbitrate 5mg below tongue.
- chew aspirin 300mg
- Pain subsides within 3 min of medicine intake
- If not, see a doctor.
- Give artificial respiration if required
- Give Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) :
If no pulse is detected - 30 chest compressions are followed by 2 artificial respiration
- Continue till ambulance / doctor arrives
- Give Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) :