Heart Attacks: Definition
A heart is a muscle, and it needs a good circulation of blood to keep it healthy. As we age, the smooth inner walls of the arteries (like pipes) that supply the blood to your heart muscle can be damaged and grow narrower due to the build of fatty materials, called "plaque", which is mostly made up of cholesterol. Who gets heart attacks? Heart disease, including hear attack, is the world's No. 1 killer. A person's risk of heart attacks depends mostly on a familiar repertoire of factors: exercise, smoking, diet, weight, genes. Each year around 55,000 Australians suffer a heart attack. Though many think that heart attacks are a "man's and the elders' disease", it affects both male and female from all age groups. But generally, the risk of cardiovascular disease increases as you age. Causes The underlying cause of a heart attack is coronary heart disease (CHD). Several people may not recognise that they have this until after a heart attack. For others, the heart attack can occur after weeks or even years if they receive treatment CHD. CHD is the slow build-up of fatty deposits on the inner wall of the arteries that supply your heart muscle with blood. These fatty deposits, called "plaque", gradually clog and narrow the inside channel of the arteries. It is a continual process, and can be very subtle. A heart attack usually begins when an area of plaque cracks. Blood cells and other parts of your blood stick over the damaged area and form a clot that suddenly and completely blocks the blood flow to your heart muscle. If your artery remains blocked, the lack of blood permanently damages the area of your heart muscle supplied by that artery. Symptoms The warning signs of a heart attack include pain, pressure, heaviness or tightness in one or more of your:
Treatment and Management Angioplasty (procedure to open narrowed or blocked blood vessels that supply blood to the heart) is often the first choice of treatment. It should be done within 90 minutes after you get back to the hospital, and no later than 12 hours after a heart attack. You may be given drugs to break up the clot. It is best if these drugs are given within 3 hours of when you first felt the chest pain. This is called thrombolytic therapy. Some patients may also have heart bypass surgery to open narrowed or blocked blood vessels that supply blood to the heart. This procedure is called open heart surgery. After your heart attack, you will be guided by your medicine team with diagnosis and treatment that will prevent further heart attacks. |
Stroke: Definition
A stroke is a condition in which the brain cells suddenly die because of a lack of oxygen. Types 1. Ischemic stroke 2. Hemorrhagic stroke Who gets stroke? Anyone can suffer from stroke. Although many risk factors are out of control, several can be kept in line through proper nutrition and medical care Risk factors of stroke include the following 1.) Age: As you get older risk increases 2.) Male is more likely to get a stroke than female 3.) High blood pressure/cholesterol 4.) Smoking cigarettes 5.) Diabetes 6.) Obesity 7.) High levels of homocysteine 8.) Frequent alcohol consumption Causes Obstruction in the blood flow Rupture of an artery that feeds the brain Symptoms
Treatment and Management If you have stroke symptoms, call 0-0-0 straightaway. Don't drive to the hospital or let someone else drive you. Call an ambulance so that medical personnel can begin life-saving treatment on the way to the emergency room. During a stroke, every minute counts. Once you receive initial treatment, your doctor will try to treat your stroke risk factors and prevent complications. |