IGNORANCE IS THE BIGGEST MENACE WHEN IT COMES TO HEART

Getting a regular health check-up at regular intervals is one of the best ways to stay healthy and fit. During this Global Pandemic, because of the anxiety and fear, people have become little reluctant to come forward and seek medical attention until they experience any symptoms. But in many situations, we don’t tend to witness any warning signs until situation gets worsen. It is indeed true, particularly in the case of Heart Diseases.

We all watch movies. We might have seen in so many movies an elderly person,  usually the heroes or heroines father hears a shocking news and immediately has severe chest pain with profuse sweating and he clutches his chest in severe pain, has severe distress in his face becomes pale and cold. He is immediately shifted to a hospital ICU. The Doctor steps out of ICU and tells the family members that the elderly person has a major heart attack. This is a classical picture we all have about a heart attack. But the trouble is, in real life heart attack symptoms don’t always announce themselves so dramatically. Hence many people wait for hours before seeking medical help. This can be a fatal mistake. Early treatment not only minimizes heart damage it can save one`s life. 

IMPORTANCE OF EARLY TREATMENT IN HEART ATTACK

Dr. RAMESH GUDAPATI, MD DM Chief of Cardiology STAR Hospitals, Hyderabad, said, During a heart attack blood flow to heart muscle is cut off suddenly because a blood clot blocks an artery. When heart muscle does not receive oxygen and nutrients due to shut down of blood supply it can die. The longer the treatment is delayed more is a damage.  Usually if the heart blood circulation is not restored in 6-12 hours time the entire heart muscle not receiving blood supply dies. Hence the faster one can get to a hospital emergency the better are the chances of survival and limiting damage to the heart.   

These days well equipped hospitals and competent Doctors are accessible to most of the people. But despite this the delay is often due to the failure of the patient to recognize the symptoms of heart attack.

HEART ATTACK SYMPTOMS – WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR ?       

Classical symptoms of heart attack include chest pain which is usually constricting or crushing or squeezing type. Often patient  complains of heavy weight in the chest.  It can sometimes be burning sensation in the chest. The pain usually in the front of the chest with radiating more to the left side. Often this can be associated with pain in the left arm. The pain is usually prolonged lasting more than 30 minutes and frequently for a few hours. The intensity of pain can vary but often is severe and intolerable. This can be severe and intolerable. Pain may be associated with severe sweating and suffocative feeling.

This kind of classical symptoms may not be there in many patients of heart attack, especially in women.  Heart attack pain may be experienced anywhere from lower jaw to umbilicus. Patients may have pain only jaw, neck, interscapular region (back pain  between the shoulder blades), shoulder, arms or stomach only without any chest pain. In some patients there may be only pain in the stomach which is often misinterpreted as indigestion or acidity.

Few individuals may never have any pain and may experience only one or more of the following symptoms:-

• Breathlessness at rest or minimal exertion.
• Light headedness, loss of consciousness.
• Severe profound weakness with feeling of impending doom.
• Acute indigestion
• Nausea, vomiting
• Paralytic symptoms

This kind of atypical symptoms without classical heart attack symptoms can happen in up to 40-50% of women and 20-30% men.

SILENT HEART ATTACK   

In a few people heart attack may go unrecognized by the patient and discovered only on subsequent routine ECG. Of these unrecognized heart attacks about half are truly silent without any symptoms. In the other half, patients usually experience some mild or atypical symptoms which the patient might have failed to recognize as heart attack symptoms. On asking leading questions they come out with the symptoms. Silent heart attacks are more common in diabetics.        

WHY DO PEOPLE WAIT FOR SEEKING TREATMENT ?

Very often people expect heart attack symptoms to be dramatic and may write off  unfamiliar heart attack symptoms as unimportant. For example they may blame abdominal discomfort on indigestion.  With some symptoms when they are not severe we tent to wait in the hope that they will just go away. Many of the atypical symptoms described earlier may ultimately not turn out to be heart attacks after investigation. Hence patients also delay treatment because they fear making a fuss or feeling embarrassed if symptoms turn out to be a false alarm.

However it is important to seek medical help when any person experiences any of the earlier described symptoms. It is not necessary that all of them turnout to be heart attacks, but in those where it does it makes a big difference.

WHAT TO DO WHEN ONE SUSPECTS A HEART ATTACK ?

• If someone has heart attack symptoms seek medical help immediately.
• Stop performing any physical activity and rest.
• Do not drive yourself and take help from others to reach the hospital.
• If one is already a known heart patient keep Sorbitrate tablet under the tongue.
• Patient can chew or swallow Aspirin tablet.    

HOW IS HEART ATTACK TREATED IN THE HOSPITAL ?

Apart from the routine supportive measures and medications, the key aspect in the treatment of heart attack is restoring blood flow in the blocked artery supplying the heart.  There are two ways of doing this.  

1. Emergency angiogram & angioplasty.

2. Clot dissolving drugs (thrombolytics). 

In hospitals where there is cathlab facility, emergency coronary angiogram is performed and the blockage in the artery is cleared by balloon (Balloon Angioplasty) and stent is implanted as soon as possible. This procedure helps in restoring blood circulation immediately in more than 98% of the patients. This is the treatment of choice and is highly effective.  In hospitals where cathlab facility is not available, clot dissolving drugs (thrombolytics) are given to restore blood circulating to heart. Between the two, emergency angioplasty and stent is more effective than clot dissolving drugs (thrombyolytics) in restoring blood circulation to heart. Unlike the clot dissolving drugs (thrombolytics) which requires 60-90 minutes before they are fully effective, emergency angioplasty restores blood circulation immediately and in more percentage of patients. Hence although angioplasty and stent is more expensive and requires a cathlab facility and experienced Cardiologist to perform the procedure, it is the preferred mode of treatment wherever these facilities are available.  Whatever may be the mode of treatment that is instituted, the earlier the treatment is instituted the more are the chances of preventing damage to heart and saving life. 

CELEBRATE & SPREAD AWARENESS ON WORLD HEART DAY

“Use Heart to Beat Heart Diseases” - the theme for this year’s World Heart Day clearly illustrates the importance of awareness required to overcome the challenges. Symptoms of Heart Diseases may vary from individual to individual and may not always be classical. Public awareness about the different type of symptoms in heart attack will go a long way in them seeking medical help early which is crucial in limiting damage to heart and saving lives.   

For Further details contact -  040 4477 7777, 9100 911 911

Book appointment: Dr. RAMESH GUDAPATI, MD DM Chief of Cardiology STAR Hospitals, Hyderabad