Heart Attack Research Paper

What is it? -a sudden and sometimes fatal occurrence of coronary thrombosis, typically resulting in the death of part of a heart muscle.

-More than a million Americans have heart attacks each year.

Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach. Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort. Other signs such as breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness. As with men, women's most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort.

When It Happens? -The risk of heart disease increases for men after age 45 and for women after age 55

-A heart attack happens when the blood supply to the heart is cut off. Cells in the heart muscle that do not receive enough oxygen-carrying blood begin to die. The

Of these, 525,000 are a first heart attack and 210,000 happen in people who have already had a heart attack.

-About 15% of people who have a heart attack will die from it.

-Almost half of sudden cardiac deaths happen outside a hospital.

-Having high blood pressure or high blood cholesterol, smoking, having had a previous heart attack or stroke, or having diabetes can increase your chance of developing heart disease and having a heart attack.

-It is important to recognize the signs of a heart attack and to act immediately by calling 911. A person's chance of surviving a heart attack increases if emergency treatment is administered as soon as possible

Symptoms of Heart Attack

Discomfort, pressure, heaviness, or pain in the chest, arm, or below the breastbone

Discomfort radiating to the back, jaw, throat, or

Tests to diagnosed Heart Attack-

The ECG (also known as EKG or electrocardiogram) can tell how much damage has occurred to your heart muscle and where it has occurred

Blood Test- Blood may be drawn to measure levels of cardiac enzymes that indicate heart muscle damage. By measuring the levels of these enzymes, the doctor can determine the size of the heart attack and approximately when the heart attack started.

Echocardiography is an imaging test that can be used during and after a heart attack to learn how the heart is pumping and what areas are not pumping normally. The "echo" can also tell if any structures of the heart (valves, septum, etc.) have been injured during the heart attack.

Treatment- Aspirin is to prevent blood clotting that may worsen the heart attack

Other antiplatelets, such as Brilinta, Effient, or Plavix, to prevent blood clotting

Thrombolytic therapy ("clot busters") to dissolve any blood clots in the heart's arteries

Ways to Prevent Heart Attacks- Take responsibility for your