What happens during a heart attack?

What happens during a heart attack? An interview with Professor dr. med. Volker Klauss, specialist in internal medicine and cardiology in Munich

How to announce a heart attack?
For the heart to beat, it needs sufficient oxygen, among other things. Responsible for this are the coronary arteries, the coronary arteries. In some cases, these vessels, which were initially smooth and elastic, become tight and stiff. This is due to deposits of fat or lime - so-called plaques. Through this, a sufficient blood supply to the heart muscle is no longer guaranteed. Physicians speak in this case of CHD, a coronary heart disease. Patients, especially during exertion or excitement, may progressively experience cardiac pain with radiance or tightness in the chest and shortness of breath. In a complete blockage of a vessel threatens a heart attack.

What happens during a heart attack??
If an acute occlusion of a coronary vessel occurs, the patient will suffer a heart attack if the vessel is not reopened immediately. Then the heart muscle dies and under certain circumstances the heart can no longer adequately fulfill its function of pumping blood through the body.

Do women have other symptoms than men?
The classic signs, such as annihilating chest pain radiating to the arms, the upper abdomen, in the back or in the neck or jaw, women feel much less common compared to men. They have more nonspecific symptoms such as shortness of breath, nausea or vomiting. As a result, they come to the hospital later and are also less likely than men to receive a treatment that complies with the guidelines.

Are there undetected infarcts??
There are also infarcts that produce only mild symptoms and later, for example, by an ECG during a check-up, are detected. Doctors then speak of a dumb infarction. V. A. People with diabetes mellitus are affected. Frequently, a mute heart attack accompanies a mute infarct, which permanently affects the patient's everyday life. There is also a high risk of another infarction.

What is the consequence of this?
There are a variety of procedures available for the therapy. In addition to a change in lifestyle and a drug therapy, the closed infarct vessel can be opened by implanting a stent. To aid physicians in deciding on the best possible therapy for further vasoconstriction, there is a diagnostic technology - Fractional Flow Reserve (FFR) measurement. This allows a detailed physiological analysis of the narrowings of the vessels. Doctors can use it to measure the severity of the circulatory disorder and determine from the determined so-called FFR value, whether a treatment is required and the patient requires one or more stents.

How do I notice when my counterpart suffers an infarction?
For example, if the other person is suffering from more than five minutes of pain in the chest area, but also in the arms, upper abdomen or shoulder blades. Also, a severe tightness or a burning burning sensation in the chest, nausea and vomiting or cold sweat on dull skin may indicate.

What do I have to do then??
If people recognize these signs with themselves or with their counterparts, they must immediately call the ambulance. Already here it should be mentioned that there is a suspicion of heart attack.

Is there such a thing as a check-up?
Regular checkups are important in order to detect the risk of an infarction prematurely. This is especially true for people with risk factors for this disease. For preventive examinations, the question of disease symptoms and risk factors is particularly important. Then a detailed physical examination and an ECG, a cardiac ultrasound and a stress test. If there is a suspicion of a narrowing of the coronary arteries, a cardiac catheter is performed.

Is there a connection between stroke and infarction?
A stroke is also known as cerebral infarction. If one takes this word, the distinction or the difference becomes clear. While parts of the heart muscle are no longer supplied with blood due to a heart attack, the same happens with a stroke in the brain.

Is there a particularly vulnerable age??
While in men, the rate of deaths due to cardiovascular disease decreases, it decreases less in women and even increases between the 40th and 60th year of life.

What are the risk factors for coronary heart disease and an infarct??
Risk factors include smoking, physical inactivity and overweight, high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, high cholesterol and coronary heart disease in siblings and parents.

How can I prevent an infarction??
Those who pay attention to a healthy lifestyle can prevent a heart attack. Healthy and balanced nutrition contributes to this. We recommend a low-fat diet with lots of fruits and vegetables. Getting enough exercise and avoiding overweight also contributes to a healthy cardiovascular system. (Pm)