Heart attack - symptoms, signs and therapy

Heart attack: acute coronary syndrome

Heart ailments such as a heart attack or heart attack are among the leading causes of death in modern industrial nations. Unhealthy eating habits, too little exercise and being overweight are considered to be major causes of the significant increase in fatal cardiovascular diseases in recent decades. Some simple countermeasures can significantly reduce the individual risk of disease.

contents

• Heart attack: acute coronary syndrome
• Difference between heart attack and heart attack
• symptoms
• Causes of a heart attack
• diagnosis
• Treatment for heart attack
• Naturopathy as a supplement
• Prevent a heart attack through proper nutrition and exercise

Difference between heart attack and heart attack

Colloquially, there is little distinction between the terms "heart attack" or "acute coronary syndrome" and "heart attack". However, in the medical community, these terms are used to describe various severities of acute cardiac distress. The main difference is that the more general term describes ailments that can occur even without permanent damage to the tissue of the heart, while a heart attack always brings irreversible damage to the heart muscle tissue. Every heart attack is also a seizure, but not every heart attack becomes a heart attack.

A heart attack often overtakes those affected in completely unexpected situations. (Image: Robert Kneschke / fotolia.com)

The circulatory disorders of the heart, which are the cause of the potentially fatal heart disease, are less pronounced in other forms of a heart attack, as in a heart attack, but otherwise there are hardly any differences in both the symptoms and the triggers.

symptoms

A heart attack, as well as a heart attack, is primarily characterized by a massive puncture in the chest. The acute chest pain or heartache can also radiate into the arms, neck, lower jaw, stomach and back. The pain is accompanied by a severe pressure and tightness behind the breastbone. Tachycardia, heart stuttering and cardiac arrhythmias are other typical side effects.

The acute symptoms lead to a growing inner restlessness in those affected, which can increase to death anxiety. The heart attack patients usually have a pale-pale complexion and start to sweat heavily. Some patients suffer from more nonspecific concomitant symptoms, such as shortness of breath or nausea and vomiting.

The intensity of the symptoms always depends on the severity of the circulatory disorder of the heart underlying the seizure. This is also the measure of the medical distinction between a heart attack and a heart attack. The spectrum of acute coronary syndrome ranges from unstable angina pectoris due to a short-term circulatory disorder of the heart to heart attack.

Causes of a heart attack

Causes of acute chest pain may be various diseases of the cardiovascular system, which cause a reduced blood flow to the heart muscle. Here are primarily an arteriosclerosis and coronary heart disease to call, as well as an embolism or endocarditis (inflammation of the inner lining) as causes into consideration. In addition, numerous risk factors are known that lead to an increased susceptibility to acute heart problems.

Arteriosclerosis (arteriosclerosis) leads to deposition of so-called plaques on the inner walls of the vessel, which narrows the cross section of the arteries and obstructs blood flow. In the worst case, a thrombus forms, which closes the blood vessels completely. In the case of arteriosclerosis in the region of the heart, the blood supply of the vital organ may no longer be guaranteed to the necessary extent.

High blood pressure is one of the biggest risk factors for cardiovascular disease. (Image: angellodeco / fotolia.com)

In addition to hereditary factors, a disease of diabetes, hypertension and nicotine consumption are known as widespread risk factors. Because overweight and physical inactivity correlate with many potential causes of heart attack, they are considered to be indirect risk factors.

An association of acute heart complaints with mental stress and stress is considered assured, even if there is no clear scientific evidence for this. This applies in a similar way to the observed increased risk in migraine patients, who not only experience headaches during the migraine attacks, but also the typical aura symptoms.

diagnosis

Often, the noticeable symptoms already quite clearly indicate a heart attack. However, under certain circumstances, this can be without the typical signs. Here, the preparation of an electrocardiogram (ECG) or electrocardiography usually provides the diagnostic method of choice. However, the performance of an ECG requires some time and every minute counts. In order to arrive at an estimate more quickly, a supplementary echocardiographic examination (ultrasound examination) of the heart may therefore be carried out.

Blood tests or certain biomarkers in the blood can provide evidence of a possible heart attack. These also usually take some time and can only provide results if tissue has already died.

If the diagnostic methods mentioned so far do not provide clear information, a so-called angiography of the coronary arteries, in which the patient is injected with a contrast agent and subsequently subjected to an x-ray examination, remains as a further diagnostic option. However, since the organism is exposed to relatively high levels of radiation exposure, this process should only be used to a very limited extent. Ultimately, an ECG to be prepared as quickly as possible in cases of suspected heart attack remains the diagnostic method of choice to date.

Treatment for heart attack

In general, the period immediately following onset of the circulatory disorder of the heart is often critical to the success of the treatment or survival of the patient. Providing adequate first aid in the first few minutes of the onset improves the patient's prospects significantly.

As soon as possible alerting the ambulance service, is also the supreme motto in case of suspected heart attack. Because after half an hour at the latest begins to die of heart tissue. Ideally, a hospital is reached beforehand, where a remedy of the existing vascular occlusion by means of lysis therapy or cardiac catheterization is initiated.

If there is a suspicion of a heart attack, emergency medical care must be called immediately and first aid provided. (Image: VanHope / fotolia.com)

If cardiac arrest occurs in the course of the seizure, cardiopulmonary resuscitation should be started immediately. This also applies to the first responders, as long as the rescue service has not yet arrived. In the ambulance and hospital, it is possible to stabilize the heartbeat using a defibrillator in case of possibly existing ventricular fibrillation.

Various medicines are used to counteract blood clots and to improve circulation and oxygenation in the heart. Accompanying pain relief drugs are usually administered. In some cases, patients also get strong tranquilizers.

If the suspected coronary artery occlusion is confirmed in the subsequent examinations, the only option is an invasive procedure to save the patient's life. The so-called primary percutaneous coronary intervention using a stent here describes nothing more than an operation in which the closed vessels are reopened or replaced by a new (artificial) hollow organ.

Regrettably, however, even countermeasures initiated at an early stage may not be successful and those affected may die. If the acute heart attack is over, this does not mean that the danger is finally over. Often sufferers must take a life-long blood-thinning, anticoagulant and blood pressure-regulating drugs. The implantation of a pacemaker or even a heart transplantation may be necessary in the long term.

Naturopathy as a supplement

Naturopathy offers numerous treatment options, which are used in addition to the previously mentioned therapies and can make a very positive contribution to relieve the symptoms as well as to prevent a renewed heart attack.

For example, homeopathic remedies such as Aconitum, Arnica, Arsenicum album, Aurum metallicum, potassium carbonicum and many more are recommended. The selection of suitable preparations should always be left to experts. In addition, homeopathic remedies are by no means an alternative but merely a supplement to conventional heart attack treatment. This also applies to the Schüssler salts, which are also frequently used for heart problems.

To protect the heart, it is important to build negative stress and inner tension. (Image: Robert Kneschke / fotolia.com)

Since stress is said to have a negative effect on the heart, as part of the naturopathic treatment and stress relief measures, such as autogenic training or yoga, play an important role.

Bach flower remedies are also used to treat mentally-related heart problems or mental suffering. From the field of herbal medicine (phytotherapy) hawthorn should be mentioned because of its stimulating effect on heart function. Ginko should develop a blood circulation-promoting effect and garlic protect the vessels. The so-called orthomolecular medicine is complementary to the treatment of heart patients with high-dose vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin B, vitamin C and magnesium.

Prevent a heart attack through proper nutrition and exercise

Nutritional therapies can make a significant contribution, above all in the sense of prevention, whereby a low-cholesterol balanced diet seems advisable. Alkaline foods offer a good approach to counteract any possible acidification of the organism or to achieve a balance in the acid-base balance.

In the course of nutritional therapy, a reduction of possibly existing excess weight should be sought. An accompanying movement therapy can be helpful here. As a rule, this also has a positive effect on the entire cardiovascular system. Special cardiovascular training (cardio training) can make a significant contribution to heart attack prevention.

In general, endurance sports are a way to improve cardiovascular functions, but cardiac patients should not overstretch their body, especially immediately after a heart attack. A gentle entry with slow increase of the strain is recommended here. Already half an hour of going for a walk during the day can have a very pleasing effect in terms of heart attack prevention. (fp, updated on 10/20/2017)
Specialist supervision: Barbara Schindewolf-Lensch (doctor)