Medical News

When brain cells die during a stroke, the capacity of the region of the brain are lost. These abilities include speech, movement and memory. How a stroke patient is affected depends on where the stroke occurs in the brain and to what extent the brain is damaged.

What causes a stroke?

The artery blockage in the brain by a blood clot (is called thrombus) is the main cause of stroke. The part of the brain that is full by the clotted blood vessel is then deprived of oxygen and blood. As a result of the deprived oxygen and blood, the cells of that part of the brain die. In general, a clot in small blood vessels of the brain has been reduced by several factors, including:

1. High blood pressure (hypertension),

2. High cholesterol,

3. Diabetes

4. Smoking

What Are the Types of Stroke?

Embolic stroke

Embolic stroke may be occur when a blood clot or a piece of plaque (deposits of cholesterol and calcium in the inner wall of the arteries of the heart or unleashed), travels through open arteries, and present in an artery in the brain. If this happens, the flow of oxygen through blood to the brain is blocked and stroke occurs. This type of attack is called embolism. For example, a blood clot might originally in the abdomen after irregular heart rhythm, form, as in cases of atrial fibrillation. Generally, these clots remain attached to the inner wall of our heart, but sometimes it can break off, travel through the bloodstream, forming a plug (embolism) in an artery in the brain and cause stroke. An embolism can also come from one of the great arteries (eg carotid artery, a major artery of the neck providing blood to the brain), then downstream to clog a small artery in our brain.

Cerebral hemorrhage

A cerebral hemorrhage is another type of stroke, which occurs when a blood vessel in the brain rupture and bleeds into the surrounding tissue of our brain. A cerebral hemorrhage (bleeding inside the brain) can cause stroke by the extraction of blood and oxygen to parts of the brain.

Vasculitis

Another rare cause of stroke is vasculitis, a disease in which inflammation of blood vessels.

Migraine headache:

It seems a very small increase in the incidence of stroke in patients with migraine. The mechanism for the treatment of migraine or vascular headaches includes constriction of blood vessels in the brain. Some episodes of migraine can mimic the same stroke with loss of function on one side or edge of vision or speech problems. In general, the symptoms such as headache disappear.

Let’s face it in this day of easy access to information if you haven’t heard of cholesterol you probably has been stranded on a desert island eating all the high saturated fat/high cholesterol coconuts you can find. For the rest of us, it is not whether we have heard about cholesterol, it is more of a matter of finding dependable and easy to understand information about healthy cholesterol levels.

The idea that healthy cholesterol levels mean very low reading is a misnomer. After all a certain amount of this wax like substance is needed for cell development, cell health, brain health, nervous system health, hormonal health, and digestive health. It is an essential component for overall health. So the idea that thinking crashing your cholesterol levels down to near zero is a good idea makes just about as much sense as believing that someday amoebas will rule the world because they are smaller than everyone else. On the other hand, when cholesterol burgeons out of control, on the high side, it can endanger your heart, clog your brain, and cause gallstones the size of Texas.

So the key is achieving healthy cholesterol levels. Healthy total cholesterol levels are considered to be around 190 mg/dl with anything over 240 considered high.

There are also a couple of other important components in this fatty mix. They are HDL and LDL. Now if either one of these abbreviations are identical to your initials don’t think I am talking about you. HDL stands for high density lipoproteins and is considered to be good cholesterol. LDL stands for low density lipoproteins and is considered bad cholesterol.

Why? LDL is much like the hapless bellman that can’t keep from dropping bags on his way to your hotel room. HDL is the manager that comes along and picks up the bags then apologizes for LDLs incompetent behavior, but goes on to say that he tries hard and is a good kid. So in the world of cholesterol HDL reading of 60 or above are considered to be healthy cholesterol levels. For hapless LDL healthy cholesterol levels reading of 100 or less fit the bill. Think of it this way, if there are too few managers to pick up the bags some will certainly be lost or deposited on the sides of the halls.

So healthy cholesterol levels are all about balance. A combination of diet and moderate exercise are the best way to achieve this. A few helpful foods that have been shown to raise HDL levels are apples, pears, and avocados.

In summary, it is all about balance and moderation for finding that magic formula to achieve healthy cholesterol levels. Nevertheless, some people may feel they need a little extra help. For some this help will come in the form of prescription medications such as a statin drug. For others natural cholesterol reducing remedies will be the answer. You doctor will happy to work with you to find the best solution for your particular, and perhaps unique situation.

Here’s the science bit in a nutshell. Homocysteine is made from the amino acid motioning, which you find in dietary protein. HMST in itself is not a problem, as the body converts it into one of two substances, which are both beneficial to the body. These two substances are called glutathione and SAMe (s-adenosyl methionine).

Glutathione

Glutathione is a tripeptide amino acid derivative that protects red blood cells from oxidative damage and, in the from of the enzyme glutathione peroxide, plays an important role in detoxifying hydrogen peroxide and organ peroxides produced in the body. A deficiency of glutathione speeds up ageing and onset of Alzheimer’s and damages the liver. Glutathione is the bodies most potent anti ageing antioxidant and detoxifier.

SAMe

SAMe is a natural anti depressant, anti arthritic, liver protecting agent in your body.

Cholesterol, blood pressure: these are just some of the things that we are always being told are the important conditions we need to keep tabs on.

But in all honesty the level of these things are not as important as you may have been led to believe, your HMST level however is a very different story. This is the thing that you need to keep an eye on, because it is the main indicator of if you are going to live a long healthy life or if you are going to die at a young age.

Your homocysteine level is 40% more accurate at predicting heart attacks than your cholesterol levels. There have been people who have had heart attacks and had low cholesterol, but the ones that have been tested have all had high HMST levels. It is also the main indicator for up to 100 different diseases and conditions, including the big 5 killers (heart attacks, strokes, cancers, diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease.

One in two people have high levels, and it makes no difference if you are fat, thin, big, small, male or female, although the over weight have a higher chance, you may think you are super fit and can easily run a marathon, but trust me it makes no difference, you could have just as much chance of high levels as someone who is obese!

I am not trying to scare people, but you must realise how important this is.

The good news however is, although having high levels almost guarantees to knock years off of your life expectancy, it can be reduced to safe healthy levels within a matter of months by following a homocysteine lowering and supplement diet.

There are over 100 diseases and conditions related to high homocysteine, here are just some of them:

• abortion

• accelerated aging
• alzheimers disease
• anemia’s
• angina pectoris
• ankylosing spondylitis (inflamation of the synovial joint)
• apoptosis of brain cells (cell death due to a lack of dna repair)
• arteriosclerosis
• arthritis
• atherosclerosis
• atrial fibrillation (chaotic electrical activity in the heart chamber)
• atrophic gastritis (atrophy of the stomach lining)
• auto immune diseases (spondylitis, hypothyroidism/hashimoto’s thyroiditis)
• behcet’s disease (ulcers in the mouth and genitalia)
• birth defects
• bonemarrow myelody splasia (myelodysplastic syndromes)
• brain atrophy
• breast cancer
• cancers
• cervical dysplasia
• elevated cholesterol
• cirrosis
• cleft palate
• cobalt deficiency
• coeliac disease
• colon cancer
• copper deficiency
• coronary artery atherosclerosis
• coronary vasospasm
• crohn’s disease
• deep vein thrombosis
• dementia
• depression (especially women)
• diabetes
• down’s syndrome (high homocysteine levels are found in mothers of down’s syndrome children, although down’s children themselves have low levels)
• epilepsy
• fibromalagia
• folate deficiency (which can lead to spina bifida and other pregnancy problems, anaemia, cervical dysplasia and poor memory)
• glutathione deficiency (in the liver and brain, speeds up ageing and the onset of alzheimers and damages the liver onlong with many other problems)
• heart abnormalities
• heart attacks
• hiv/aids (speeds up the rate at which the virus developes)
• hypothyroidism (especially hashimoto’s thyroiditis)
• leukemias
• memory decline
• mental retardation
• miscarriage
• oestrogen deficiency and post menopausal symptoms
• osteoporosis
• parkinson’s
• penile dysfunction
• polycystic ovary disease
• premature death
• psoriasis
• pulmonary embolism
• rheumatoid arthritis
• schizophrenia
• strokes
• throid cancer
• ulcerative colitis
• vasospasm (cerebral arteries, causing strokes, associated with magnesium deficiency)
• plus many more

Homocysteine has been studied now for a few years now by a handful of people, but has been widely disregarded by the medical and scientific community. In fact one of the main pioneers in the discovery of this life threatening component in the body was shunned by the scientific community for decades and only recently have they begun to come round and accept his research. It is only a mater of time before this will be regarded as the major factor in health.

Basically how it works is HMST is measured in units and falls into various categories:

1. Very healthy Below 6 units
2. Low risk 6 – 9 units
3. Medium risk 9 – 12 units
4. High risk 12 – 15 units
5. Very high risk 15 – 20 units
6. Dangerously high above 20 units
7. In simple terms, the higher the score, the higher the risk

Lowering homocysteine levels should become top priority in peoples lives, as once it is significantly lower your chances of living much longer and much healthier are dramatically increased, for example:

Lowering your score sufficiently can:

- half your risk of heart disease.

- a high level increases your risk of strokes by 80%.

- cuts the risk of cancers by a third.

High cholesterol foods can have a detrimental affect on your health! Cholesterol can destroy your life if you are not careful! You are at an increased risk of heart attacks, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and strokes if you do not get help!

You can make changes to your life if you are committed to seeing a difference. You do not have to continue eating all of the same unhealthy foods all of the time! Here are my top 3 foods that lower cholesterol.

1. Fish

Fish includes omega-3 fatty acids which can make a significant difference in your cholesterol. Omega-3 fatty acids help lower your risk of high blood pressure and developing blood clots. You can make a big change in your diet by eating fish at least twice a week. I recommend that you eat fish instead of hamburgers, fried chicken, and steak. You can still eat red meat from time to time, but you should eat it sparingly.

2. Whole Wheat Foods

Whole wheat foods are probably the most important foods to lowering cholesterol in your body. This is going to be absolutely essential to your diet. The easiest way to incorporate whole wheat into your diet is to switch to whole wheat bread and eat oatmeal for breakfast. These two simple steps can help bring down high cholesterol levels.

3. Walnuts

Walnuts help protect your heart by lowering LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) in your body. It has even been suggested that you should eat walnuts after eating a big fatty meal. This can help protect your heart and your blood pressure.

Bonus Tip: Lower Your Cholesterol With Natural Supplements

These are my top 3 foods that lower cholesterol. In addition to these healthy foods, I recommend taking a daily natural cholesterol control supplement and exercising at least 30 minutes a day to give you the maximum benefits of a low cholesterol diet.

A natural supplement for cholesterol should contain theaflavins, beta sitosterol and d-limonene oil, just to name a few proven effective ingredients.

The heart attack symptoms are the heart of the matter. Are you overly concerned about the possibility of a heart attack? We all know that it is a very serious lifestyle disease that could end a life in a matter of minutes.

When the attack actually takes place, one might feel feverish, nauseous, short of breath, sweat a lot, chest pain, and excessive tingling in the arms. Many victims-to-be act like they are in denial about their condition. They brush aside the signs that are telling them a full-blown heart attack is happening. Necrosis of a region of the heart muscle caused by an interruption in the supply of blood to the heart, usually as a result of occlusion of a coronary artery resulting from coronary artery disease. Heart disease remains the number one reason for death in both men and women. Because many women don’t even know that they have heart disease, it’s important to know the early warning signs and when it’s time to see your doctor.

For men the feeling of heaviness in the chest is often described. This can be felt by women, but only 30% of women who have heart attacks state they experienced any chest pain at all through this process. You can feel pain in the same area as you do when you have eaten something you shouldn’t have eaten. Don’t dismiss heartburn pain. Silent heart attack symptoms do not resemble the classic heart attack symptoms. A known cause of this condition is Silent Ischemia (Decreased blood supply to the heart muscle). Eat low sodium foods, reduce salt intake, avoid top salt. Check your blood pressure regularly. Take proper medication to control blood pressure.

Discomfort in other areas of the upper body. Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach. Those mostly at risk for a silent heart attack are people who have had a previous heart attack. Also at risk are diabetics and those over the age of sixty-five and people prone to strokes. Stress and heart attacks are correlated. Interpersonal relationships and financial worries may cause stress leading to heart attacks. If someone’s skin suddenly goes an ashen color and their lips go blue, they will probably need your help anyway, but this can also be the symptoms of a heart attack, generally not on their own, but if they also feel faint and dizzy watch out.

Women do have different heart attack symptoms than men do, but heart disease is just as disabling and just as fatal to women as it is to men. Silent heart attacks can be identified by studying one’s medical history, testing the blood regularly for cardiac enzymes, and measuring one’s heart activity via electrocardiograms. Heart attacks may have the symptoms that you see in movies, but there are some that have no clear manifestations or very mild ones, but don’t let them cheat on you and don’t mistake them for indigestion or anxiety. A heart attack is nothing to mess around with. If you have any of these symptoms, even if you are not sure, especially if you are not sure, please have yourself checked out. With a heart attack, time is critical.

Common Characteristics of Cardiac Arrhythmias

Under normal, healthy conditions the human heart beats 60 to 100 times a minute. In the course of a day, the heart pumps an equivalent of 2,000 gallons of blood, carrying essential oxygen and other nutrients to all of the body’s cells. Ultimately, the brain coordinates this complex process, but the heart also has its own semi-independent power station. Most of this electrical activity is carried out by pacemaker cells located in the upper right-hand portion of the heart muscle known as the sinus node. From the sinus node, beat impulses are relayed to other areas of the heart via special groups of interlocking relay cells.

To have a properly functioning heart, all four of the heart’s chambers must receive the beat signal in the proper sequence. The chambers are divided into the right atrium and ventricle and the left atrium and ventricle. The pair on the right side of the heart pumps oxygen-depleted blood coming back from the rest of the body into the lungs for fresh oxygen. The pair on the left side moves freshly oxygenated blood returning from the lungs to the many organs of the body.

Many factors affect the heart rate, or the number of heartbeats per minute. The rate goes up when we exercise or are emotionally aroused, and goes down when we rest or sleep. Irregularities, however, also can originate within the heart itself. This type of disturbance is known as an arrhythmia, and it can not only affect the rate at which the heart beats but also its pattern of beating.

Most people experience skipped beats or minor palpitations from time to time; these generally are of no medical significance. Other types of arrhythmias, however, are potentially quite serious.

Sinus Rhythm Disturbances

Some rhythm disturbances are due to a malfunction of the heart’s pacemaker cells. These commonly occur in one of two forms: bradycardia, in which the heart beats at an abnormally slow rate, and tachycardia, in which it pulsates at 100 or more beats per minute. In itself, neither condition is particularly worrisome. In fact, a slow heart rate is often found in highly trained athletes whose hearts have been conditioned to beat more slowly, pumping a greater volume of blood per beat. In some older people, however, an abnormally slow beat may be a sign of an underlying disease. In such cases, there is usually a telltale rhythm of fast beats followed by slow ones. And while this pattern is not necessarily a cause for concern, in some individuals it can lead to loss of consciousness or dizziness due to poor output of blood from the heart. In these cases, an artificial pacemaker may stabilize the heartbeat.

Tachycardia arising in the pacemaker cells also may be harmless. The exceptions include an accelerated rapid heartbeat, which may indicate congestive heart failure, or conditions in which there is both a rapid beat and some other problem involving the heart and blood vessels.

Atrial Rhythm Disturbances

Though the relay cells in the atrium chamber are designed to pass on beat impulses sent out by the pacemaker cells, sometimes they acquire the ability to produce a beat on their own. Since such beats occur just before the “true” heartbeat, they are known as atrial premature beats. Commonly associated with the heavy use of tobacco, alcohol and coffee, these beats disappear once the stimulants are removed. However, when they are accompanied by palpitation, fluttering in the chest, rapid heartbeat, dizziness or shortness of breath, they may indicate underlying heart disease. In such cases, treatment with drugs may be indicated.

Potentially far more serious is atrial fibrillation, a condition in which the muscles of he atrium contract in an erratic, uncoordinated fashion. In most instances, it can be corrected by drugs; at times, it may be necessary to employ a technique called cardioversion, a type of electrical shock designed to restore normal rhythm. One major complication of atrial fibrillation is blood clotting. Usually, these clots from in the left atrium and then move out into the general circulatory system, where they can produce a potentially serious blockage. Anti-clotting drugs are therefore often prescribed for people with this condition.

In persons with narrowed coronary arteries, the onset of atrial fibrillation may produce chest pain, particularly if the heart rate speeds up dramatically. This combination of symptoms is frequently a warning sign of pending heart failure or a heart attack. The rapid beat must therefore be slowed immediately with either drugs or a medical procedure.

Another significant rhythm disturbance is atrial tachycardia, in which the muscles of the atrium beat much faster than those of the ventricle, producing an erratic heart rate. Symptoms such as a sense of fullness in the chest, light-headedness and chest flutters are also common. Problems often associated with this disturbance include rheumatic heart defects, hyperthyroidism, pneumonia and blood clots in the lungs. Drug therapy is often the most effective treatment.

Ventricular Rhythm Disturbances

The relay cells in the ventricles, like those in the atria, also may acquire the ability to produce a heartbeat on their own. Called a ventricular premature beat, this condition may be traceable to excessive use of caffeine, cigarettes or alcohol. But since it can also be the sign of a serious cardiac disorder, it should be investigated. Prompt medical attention is crucial in cases of ventricular tachycardia. As its name implies, this problem involves rapid beating of the ventricles (usually over 100 to 120 beats per minute), and the danger is that the rate may increase even further, leading to ventricular fibrillation and possibly death.

Summing Up

Disturbances in heartbeat and heart rhythm are among the most common forms of cardiac disorders. While not all such disturbances have medical significance, some can be extremely serious unless they receive proper medical attention. Drug therapy is often used to treat various forms of arrhythmias, strict adherence o the dosage instructions given by your doctor is most important.

There is so much information today about cholesterol levels that it can get very confusing. Here are the simple facts you should know and what to include in your diet to raise your good cholesterol levels naturally.

There are basically two types of cholesterol, as you may know. There is the bad LDL type and an excess of this can constrict your arteries and lead to premature death via a heart attack or stroke.

Over 65% of heart attacks are linked to high LDL cholesterol!

The other type is the good one called HDL and this acts like a cleaner going along and taking excess LDL back to the liver for elimination. So the more you have of this type, the better.

It is the ratio between these two that is more important than your total cholesterol figure. This is because your totals may be high but if you have enough HDL then you may be fine. Check with your doctor and make sure you get both levels after a test for an accurate diagnosis.

The best way to lower bad levels and increase good cholesterol levels naturally is to cut out saturated and trans fats like fast food, dairy, eggs, pastries and similar snacks.

Then increase your intake of fruit and vegetables, oatmeal, nuts, fatty fish like tuna, salmon and hoki and wholegrains.

As 80% of your cholesterol comes from the liver, it is good to combat this and the right blend of nutrients in a natural supplement are proven to be as effective as the harmful statin drugs but without the side effects.

Statins can actually increase your risk of a heart attack which is why a natural option is always best as it works with your body and not against it.

The right nutrients will raise your good cholesterol levels significantly while lowering the bad ones and help to remove plaque from the artery walls as well.

The best ones come in a liquid capsule form and contain ingredients like Policosanol from sugar cane, Phytosterols from plants and D-Limonene from orange peel among others.

An ideal ratio of LDL to HDL is 3:1 and 4:1 is acceptable too and through a combination of improved diet and a natural cholesterol supplement you can achieve this.

Controlling your cholesterol levels is one of the most important things you can do to live a longer and healthier life and a natural solution should always be your first option.

I just love this time of the year! The food, the drink and the long days partying with friends and family are so much fun! But for some of us, the end of the day brings about an event that feels like a heart attack.

Just ask any emergency room doctor at this time of the year. The number of admissions for “heart issues” increases dramatically. Most of the time, however, the patient is sent home after a series of tests. The doctor will tell you that you are fine. He’ll tell you to stay away from caffeine and alcohol. He’ll advise you to get some exercise and see your regular doctor. Most of the time, this advice is strictly “textbook” and also pretty much useless.

You felt like you were dying. You had a heart rate nearing 180 beats per minute. You felt as though you were going to pass out. You had some really heavy beats, followed by a series of shallow beats. Your heart was behaving like a sputtering car engine. You will have experienced what it is like to fill your bladder every fifteen minutes! You have no idea what caused the problem, but you do sense that your life is in jeopardy. More than anything, you want it to never happen again!

I am here to tell you that I did find a way to master this beast! I’ve read so many reports on blogs and newsgroups around the world about people who suffer from this affliction. It is important to note here that there are a couple of things that can trigger these attacks. One is related to physical defects – such as a prolapsed mitral valve or scarred purkinje fibers. If this is your reason for suffering heart palpitations, then sadly this report is not for you.

If you are one of the large number who suffer heart palpitations as result of digestive inflammation, then you have come to the right place. It took me seven years to finally determine what was causing my palpitations. As far as I was concerned, it was a heat attack! I knew one thing for sure. Either this beast had to go – or I had to go!

As a professional researcher, I worked day and night to find the risk factors and similarities in diet and lifestyle among as many palpitation sufferers as I could find. I joined dozens of blogs and discussion groups dedicated to nothing more than talking about heart palpitations. I was fortunate enough to get a lot of cooperation from people looking for answers. After seven years, I was able to test my hypothesis. What you are going to learn next, dozens of people all over the world have successfully put into practice in their own lives.

Among those I’ve shared this protocol with are a student in Egypt, an airline engineer in France, an Ultimate Fighter in the USA, a computer programmer in South Africa, a National Hockey League player and many ordinary citizens like you and me. One of the things that happens when you suffer from heart palpitations is that you begin to become afraid to go outside of the house. You are afraid of having an attack in public.

The good news is that you don’t have to give up caffeine, chocolate, alcohol or many of the other little treats we like so much! I call my formula the “Jeffries Protocol”, and while it is available on my site, I want to share the essentials with you here: If you suffer palpitations, then we are brothers.

Concisely, here is my formula:
Inflammation is not something that just happens in our joints. Internal inflammation affects our soft tissues that bind and hold our organs and nerves in place. Inflammation is ubiquitous in those who suffer from palpitations. Certain foods contribute to increasing inflammation and other foods cause inflammation to wane.

I purchase a gallon of Aloe Gel. I was careful not to confuse this with aloe juice as so many people do. They are completely different. I mixed one ounce of gel with my favorite juice twice per day. I made sure to consume one of those ounces right after dinner at night.

I cut out all fish oil supplements. I stopped eating fish all together. I get my omega oils from flax oil. I stopped consuming refined sugar. I use Turmeric spice and put it on everything that I can – like salads and soups and any meat dishes. I take a magnesium supplement. I take a potassium supplement. I eat three bananas per week. If you can, have your mercury fillings taken out and replaced with white ones.
When I go to bed at night, I start out on my back. I do not turn onto either side, especially my left side, until after about 2 hours have passed.

I never miss breakfast! I try to have Quaker oatmeal with blueberries or bananas and Agave syrup for sweetener. I use Agave syrup as sweetener to replace all sugar that I would normally use. If you want to know the science behind this protocol, or if you want to know more about palpitations or related anxiety attacks, there is plenty of research on the subject.

To be in compliance with new Federal Trade rules I must remind you that while this protocol is my personal protocol and worked for me, you should not expect to gain the same benefit if you try to copy it. At the same time, my friends with the FDA will be pleased to know that this protocol has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any illness or medical condition.

Having said that, I wish you all a health and happy 2010! My sincerest wish is that you all experience a full and healthy life.

General Characteristics

Each year, more than a million Americans suffer a heart attack. Although heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States, great strides have been made in the last decade, both in treating heart attacks and in helping people who have suffered one resume a full, active life.

The most common type of heart attack is caused by a coronary thrombosis, which occurs when a clot (thrombus) blocks one or more of the blood vessels that nourish the heart muscle. As a result of the lack of blood, part of the muscle may be damaged, and its ability to contract may be lost. This is known as a myocardial infarction. If the infarct is small and the electrical impulses that control the heart’s contractions (beats) are not disturbed, chances for recovery are excellent.

Coronary Artery Disease

Coronary thrombosis is one of the manifestations of coronary artery disease. As we grow older, our blood vessels tend to lose their elasticity, a process known as arteriosclerosis. The arteries may also become narrowed or clogged with deposits of fatty material called atheromas, a condition called atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is progressive and usually does not produce symptoms until there is significant blockage in the blood flow. Sometimes, in fact, the first symptom of this heart disease is a heart attack.

Although the specific cause of atherosclerosis is not known, it has been found that certain risk factors help in identifying population groups that are more likely to develop it. Three major risk factors are high levels of cholesterol and other blood fats, high blood pressure (hypertension) and cigarette smoking. Others include diabetes, obesity, a sedentary life style, aging, being male and heredity.

Atherosclerosis begins forming as a fatty streak on the inner wall of an artery, usually at its branching-out point, and disturbs the smooth flow of blood. As patches of fatty tissue build up, the inner wall becomes narrower, which inhibits blood flow in a more significant way. An artery continues to narrow as the tissue buildup progresses, and in time, the fatty deposit becomes a hard mass of fatty tissue with a tough outer lining of cells – a plaque. As plaques spread and thicken, they erode the wall of the artery, which interferes with blood flow and makes it increasingly turbulent. This turbulence may trigger the blood to form a clot (thrombus), partially or completely blocking the artery. Further, a fragment of the clot (embolus) may be carried by the bloodstream and block an artery at some distant, narrower point.

Heart attacks sometimes occur in people with little or no coronary artery disease. Some experts believe that a spasm or sudden constriction of the coronary artery may be the cause of these heart attacks. It appears that a spasm may occur in a coronary artery that is totally free of atherosclerosis (as well as in one that is heavily affected by that condition), and this would explain why many people suffer angina and other cardiac problems without any evidence of underlying blockage in the arteries.

Symptoms of a Heart Attack

A heart attack can come on gradually, preceded by several attacks of angina over days, weeks, months or even years. (Angina is the name given to the chest pain that arises when the muscular wall of the heart is temporarily deprived of sufficient oxygen.) But a heart attack may also occur without any apparent warning, and in people who have never previously experienced any chest pain.

Typically, the pain of a heart attack is a sensation of constriction in the central chest area; it may vary in intensity from a feeling of tightness to one of agonizing crushing or bursting. The pain may be continuous, or it may last a few minutes, fade and then recur. It commonly spreads to the back, jaw and left arm. Although a heart attack may be precipitated by physical or emotional stress, the pain, unlike that of angina, does not subside when the stress ceases.

Pain is commonly accompanied by shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, dizziness and pallor. (Some people experience a heart attack without any of these symptoms. This is known as a “silent” infarct, which may be confirmed by changes in an electrocardiogram or certain other hospital tests.)

A Medical Emergency

Most deaths from heart attack occur within minutes to hours after the onset of symptoms. Therefore, when sudden and severe chest pain occurs, an ambulance should be called immediately and the individual taken to a hospital. Denying that these symptoms represent a life-threatening illness may cause a delay that could be fatal.

One of the major cause of death from coronary thrombosis is the development of abnormal heart rhythms in the hours immediately following the attack. Emergency treatment, therefore, concentrates on stabilizing the heart rhythm, as well as on relieving pain and preventing shock.

In the hospital’s intensive-care or cardiac-care unit, the rate and rhythm of the heart will be continuously monitored by an electrocardiograph machine. Blood tests to detect enzymes released from the heart aid in assessing the infarct further and various medications may be given. Mood changes and feelings of apprehension are very common following a heart attack, and a mild tranquilizer is often given to the patient.

Depending on the severity of the attack, the patient may be allowed out of bed within three or four days and be discharged after two weeks. Bed rest for more than a short time should be avoided, where possible, because it results in a rapid loss of the body’s muscle tone and in increased heart rate on exertion. Physical activity is gradually increased and most patients are able to return to their full range of normal activity within a few months.

Long-Term Treatment

Depending on such factors as the patient’s age and general physical condition, and the extent of the heart damage, a variety of different approaches may be taken to deal with the underlying coronary artery disease and to reduce the possibility of another heart attack.

Changes in life style. A number of steps can be taken to prevent or slow down the progression of heart disease. These include stopping smoking, exercising regularly and adopting a low-cholesterol diet.

Drug treatment. The use of drugs depends upon the nature of the heart attack and underlying coronary disease. Antihypertensive drugs may be prescribed to lower the blood pressure. Other drugs may be given to improve heart function, prevent chest pain or lower the level of blood cholesterol.

Other treatments A number of other treatments, including coronary bypass surgery, are available. Obviously, their use depends upon individual needs.

Summing Up

Heart attacks are a common occurrence, particularly among middle-aged and older men. An understanding of the risk factors involved in coronary artery disease, and the adoption of appropriate preventive measures may reduce the likelihood of an attack. If the typical pain of a heart attack does strike, prompt treatment greatly improves the chances of survival. Modern treatments enable most heart attack patients to resume a full, active life, although some changes in life syle probably will be required.

If you have been diagnosed with heart disease, depending on the type of disease that you have, and how far that disease has progressed, there are several treatment options. Your doctor will usually discuss the treatment that is available for your specific condition, but here, you will find the most common treatments available for a wide variety of heart disease conditions.

In almost all cases of heart disease, your doctor will prescribe medication. When these medications are prescribed, it is essential that you take them as prescribed, and that you never go without refilling your prescriptions. If you have trouble affording your medication, talk to your doctor and pharmacist about options that are available to help you pay for your medications.

It is also important that you learn as much as possible about each medication, including brand names and generic names and dosages that are prescribed to you. When you have your prescription filled or refilled, check the label to make sure that you have the right medication. Also look closely at the pills themselves to ensure that they look like the medication that you take.

Depending on the condition and how far the condition has advanced, your doctor may determine that you require surgery. Surgery can be a very scary prospect for most people, and if your doctor recommends it, you should always seek a second opinion. If the first two opinions agree, and you are still not quite comfortable with the decision, get a third opinion. Have your doctor describe exactly what is going to be done, how this is intended to help your situation, and what you can expect after the surgery, as well as the risk associated with the surgery – during and after the procedure.

While damage done to the heart can rarely be undone, it is important that you start eating right and exercising to prevent further damage, if possible. Talk to your doctor about what you should eat, as well as what types of physical activities are safe and which are dangerous for your condition. Never participate in any type of exercise program without first checking with your doctor to make sure that this is safe for you.

Finally, break habits that may have led to heart disease, such as using tobacco products. It is true that damage has already been done, but if you break these habits now, you can prevent further damage from being done.