Cardiology Practice
A heart attack occurs when blood flow to a section of heart muscle becomes blocked. If the flow of blood isn’t restored quickly, the section of heart muscle becomes damaged from lack of oxygen and begins to die. If not treated on time it could be a killer.
But fortunately, today there are excellent treatments for heart attack that can save lives and prevent disabilities. Treatment is most effective when started within 1 hour of the beginning of symptoms.
Heart attacks occur most often as a result of a condition called coronary artery disease (CAD). In CAD, a fatty material called plaque builds up over many years on the inside walls of the coronary arteries (the arteries that supply blood and oxygen to your heart). Eventually, an area of plaque can rupture, causing a blood clot to form on the surface of the plaque. If the clot becomes large enough, it can mostly or completely block the flow of oxygen-rich blood to the part of the heart muscle fed by the artery.
During a heart attack, if the blockage in the coronary artery isn’t treated quickly, the heart muscle will begin to die and be replaced by scar tissue. This heart damage may not be obvious, or it may cause severe or long-lasting problems.
We start treatment right away if a heart attack is suspected, even before the diagnosis is confirmed. These include:
1. Oxygen
2. Aspirin to prevent further blood clotting
3. Nitroglycerin, to reduce the pressure on the heart and improve blood flow through the coronary arteries
4. Treatment for chest pain
Once the diagnosis of heart attack is confirmed or strongly suspected, we start with treatments which include medicines and medical procedures.