Diseases & Conditions
Also known as acute myocardial infarction, heart attack is the leading cause of death worldwide. An average of 1.2 million Americans suffer from a heart attack annually and 40% of these people die.
This condition is characterized by an interruption of the blood flow to a particular region in the heart. The interruption results to oxygen shortage which causes heart tissue damage and tissue death. People with a history of stroke, atherosclerotic heart disease or angina and abnormal heart rhythm have a higher risk of experiencing a heart attack. The disease mostly affects men over 40 years old and women over 50 years old.
Never ignore professional medical advice in seeking treatment. If you think you may have a medical emergency, immediately call your doctor or dial 118.
Medical Condition Description
A person’s lifestyle can also increase chances of a heart attack. Smoking, drinking, drug abuse, presence of high triglyceride levels in the food you eat, high LDL levels and low HDL levels are some of the risk factors you should learn to avoid. On the other hand, individuals diagnosed with diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure and high stress levels are also considered to be at serious risk.
A person having a heart attack will experience chest pains, nausea, shortness of breath, vomiting, sweating, palpitations and anxiety. These symptoms are usually experienced by males while in females, symptoms include fatigue and weakness. There is evidence that at least 30% of all myocardial infarction incidents have no visible symptoms and are considered to be “silent” infractions. A person suffering from a heart attack requires immediate medical attention to prevent sustained heart damage
