Anyone worried about chest pain should not wait to get urgent medical care. They should call for an ambulance straight away, especially if the pain is unexplained, sudden, or severe.
Heart attack pain is caused when one of the arteries supplying the heart becomes blocked. Angina is a similar chest pain caused when these arteries are narrowed by heart disease. Heartburn is a burning pain often felt in the upper belly or lower chest. It is caused by stomach acid going back up the food pipe. Heartburn and heart attack pain can be similar. If someone is in doubt whether pain is a heart attack, they should always call for an ambulance. If it is a heart attack, prompt medical care can be lifesaving. Contents of this article:
What is a heart attack?A heart attack is an event caused by disease in the coronary arteries. These blood vessels supply blood to the heart, keeping it alive with energy and oxygen. When coronary artery disease causes a loss of blood supply to part of the heart muscle, this is a heart attack. A heart attack is when there is a loss of blood supply to part of the heart muscle.A heart attack can lead to the heart stopping. This is called a cardiac arrest. Someone with cardiac arrest will not be responsive and will have no pulse. Doctors also use the term "acute coronary syndrome" or ACS to talk about heart attack and other serious heart problems such as unstable angina. Symptoms of a heart attackHeart attacks can often - but not always - happen with classic symptoms:
Not all heart attacks give the same symptoms. Symptoms can be mild or severe, and some people experience no symptoms at all. The chest pain or discomfort is usually central or central-left, but it might not be. The pain may spread to other areas - to one or both arms, the neck, jaw, or upper or mid-back. Heart attack often comes with other symptoms:
People who may be less likely to experience symptoms when having a heart attack include those of senior age or who have diabetes. These people may still show other symptoms though, such as breathlessness. An "indigestion sensation" can be a sign of heart disease in people with diabetes especially, says Dr. Ahmed Idris for a Florida Hospital article comparing heartburn and heart attack pain. What is angina? Angina is a type of chest pain that is similar to the pain of a heart attack. Rather than the reduced supply of blood to the heart being caused by a coronary artery blockage, it is caused by vessel narrowing instead. People with angina are at greater risk of having a heart attack. Anyone who has angina should be under medical care and alert to this risk. The most common form of angina is temporary pain that goes away after rest or medication. This is called stable angina. Unstable angina raises the risk of a heart attack. What is heartburn? Though the pain is located in the chest, heartburn is not related to the heart in any way.Heartburn is a symptom, not itself a disease. It is the sensation, usually of burning pain, caused by acid reflux. Acid reflux is the contents of the stomach splashing back up into the food pipe. Heartburn is not related to the heart in any way. The confusion comes from the location of the pain, in the chest. The stomach produces mucus to protect its lining from the acid that it uses to help with digestion. The food pipe lacks this protection, so acid reflux damages its lining. For many people, though, acid reflux does not cause such damage. Why people with acid reflux experience pain is not fully understood. Acid-sensitive nerves may be involved in causing the pain. Heartburn symptoms Heartburn creates a burning sensation in the food pipe. This burning-type pain usually happens just above the stomach. The acid can also reach higher up, possibly even as far as the back of the mouth. Other symptoms of acid reflux disease can go with the heartburn. These can include nausea, bloating, and belching. Differences between symptoms of heartburn and heart attackIt can sometimes be difficult to know if symptoms are due to a heart attack or heartburn. Doctors often find making a diagnosis based on symptoms alone difficult and rely on tests. When doctors themselves get symptoms, they can find them difficult to understand. A doctor at Harvard, for example, has told his story of heart disease. He had a burning symptom in his upper belly whenever he exercised, but treatments for heartburn did not help. It was not until he became breathless and unable to carry on that he turned up at the hospital. Tests revealed heart disease that was close to causing a heart attack. The main difference between symptoms is that:
Treatment for heart attack If there is any suspicion of a heart attack, getting to an emergency room quickly is important. Emergency doctors will consider the symptoms and examine the patient. Tests for heart attack may include:
Angiography, passing dye into the heart circulation, is one way doctors test for heart attack.Cardiac catheterization is one form of treatment. A doctor will mechanically open up narrowed arteries through the skin of the groin or arm. A thin, flexible tube is passed along a blood vessel to the one affected at the heart. A balloon is used to widen the artery and improve flow through it. A mesh tube may be left in place, known as a stent, to keep the vessel open. Drugs known as fibrinolytic or thrombolytic agents are another treatment option for heart attack. These medications to break down clots may be offered while a patient waits for cardiac catheterization. Other drugs may be continued to prevent further clotting events, including blood-thinners such as aspirin and heparin. Surgery options may include coronary artery bypass graft. Here, a surgeon grafts on a new blood vessel taken from another part of the body to bypass the blocked coronary artery People who have suffered a heart attack will also be urged to make long-term efforts to reduce their risk of future problems. This can include lifestyle changes from dietary and exercise advice. Smokers would be advised to stop using tobacco. There may be more intensive help with such changes from a program known as cardiac rehabilitation. Treatment for heartburn The diagnosis of heartburn is through a combination of:
Doctors often make the diagnosis based on the symptoms. The doctors can then try treatment that will confirm the diagnosis if it works. Read Article: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/312964.php John Paul Runyon, MD, FACC, FSCAI, FCCP, cardiologist at Ohio Heart And Vascular Center, and affiliated with Adams County Regional Medical Center and The Christ Hospital, has been named a 2016 Top Doctor in Cincinnati, Ohio. Top Doctor Awards is dedicated to selecting and honoring those healthcare practitioners who have demonstrated clinical excellence while delivering the highest standards of patient care.
Dr. John Paul Runyon is a highly experienced cardiologist, having been in practice for more than 33 years. His long and successful career in medicine began in 1983, when he graduated from the University of Kentucky in Lexington. Since entering private practice, Dr. Runyon has also served in a number of senior academic and research positions, including as Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Cincinnati. Dr. Runyon is dual board certified in Internal Medicine and in Cardiovascular Disease, and with his wealth of experience he treats a wide range of conditions relating to the heart and vascular system, from cardiomyopathy to arrhythmias and acute myocardial infarction. Expert procedures undertaken by Dr. Runyon include cardiac catheterization and cardiac MRI, and coronary angioplasty. Dr. Runyon is renowned across Ohio and beyond as an innovator in the field of cardiology. He is noted for his use of minimally invasive techniques, and for lower limb preservation, and has led clinical trials and research in this area. He is now using his experience and expertise in his role as a physician executive. His dedication and commitment makes Dr. John Paul Runyon a very worthy winner of a 2016 Top Doctor Award. About Top Doctor Awards Top Doctor Awards specializes in recognizing and commemorating the achievements of today’s most influential and respected doctors in medicine. Our selection process considers education, research contributions, patient reviews, and other quality measures to identify top doctors. Heart attacks and strokes are life-threatening medical emergencies. They may share some similarities, but they are very different medical conditions. It is important to understand the signs and symptoms of each to ensure immediate treatment.
What is a heart attack? When the blood flow to the coronary artery is reduced or blocked, a heart attack occurs.A heart attack occurs when blood flow to a coronary artery is reduced or blocked. This can stop the flow of blood to the heart. Coronary arteries that supply the heart muscle with blood flow can become narrow due to the buildup of substances including fat andcholesterol. These substances are referred to as plaque. Plaque buildup typically occurs over several years. If a plaque in a heart artery breaks, a blood clot forms around it. This blood clot formation can obstruct the normal blood flow to the heart muscle. As a result, part of the heart muscle does not get enough oxygen. This part begins to die if the blockage is not treated quickly. Scar tissue begins to replace healthy heart tissue. Damage or death to the heart muscle due to a lack of oxygen and nutrients results in a heart attack. According to the American Heart Association, someone in the United States has a heart attack every 43 seconds. What is a stroke? A stroke occurs when the supply of blood to the brain is interrupted, reduced, or blocked. This deprives the brain tissue of oxygen and other essential nutrients. A blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain either bursts or is blocked by a clot. Any brain cells that are deprived of oxygen begin to die. This sudden death can happen within minutes. Transient ischemic attack (TIA) is commonly referred to as a "mini-stroke" and is caused by a temporary clot. Symptoms of heart attacks and strokesThe most common symptoms of a heart attack include:
Stroke symptoms depend on the part of the brain that is damaged. Patients can have a number of problems including memory, speech, muscle control, and other functions. A stroke occurs when the blood supply to the brain is reduced or blocked.Common stroke symptoms include:
Common risk factorsFactors linked with a higher risk of heart attack or stroke that cannot be helped include age, family history of stroke or heart attack, race, and gender. People who have had a prior stroke, mini-strokes, or a heart attack are at an increased risk of having another one. Other risk factors include:
Similar medical conditions and symptomsIt is important to diagnose a heart attack or stroke correctly. There are other medical conditions that have similar symptoms and can affect the heart. These conditions include:
Severe heartburn or acid reflux can also feel like a heart attack by causing severe chest pain. Panic disorders, anxiety,depression, and emotional stress can also cause chest pain in some people. It is important to seek emergency medical treatment for chest pain to be sure it is not a heart attack or another serious medical condition. Though there are some tell-tale signs of strokes, there are some other conditions such as migraines, headaches, and seizures that can present similar symptoms. Other medical conditions that can mimic strokes include:
If a person has stroke-like symptoms, it is important to call for help immediately. The sooner treatment can begin, the lower the risk of possible brain damage. Treatment for heart attack and stroke If a heart attack or stroke is suspected, medical treatment should be started right away, often before the diagnosis has been confirmed. Doctors often give aspirin to stroke and heart attack patients to help prevent further blood clotting. Many people who are at risk of a heart attack or stroke or who have had one in the past take aspirin on a daily basis. Other treatments for a heart attack include:
The type of treatment for a stroke depends on the type of stroke a person has suffered. Common treatments include:
The overall impact and treatment for the stroke depend on the area of the brain involved and the amount of tissue damage. A doctor will decide if this is necessary and if any additional treatment is needed. PreventionThere are things that people can do to try and reduce their risk of having a heart attack or stroke. As some risk factors cannot be controlled, it is important to understand how to lower the risk. A well-balanced diet and exercise are a vital part of reducing heart attack and stroke risk.Tips for reducing the risk of heart attack or stroke include:
Leading a healthy lifestyle with a balanced diet and exercise is another vital part of reducing the risk. People who have had previous heart or stroke problems may also want to include a dose of aspirin into their daily regimen. The quicker a heart attack or stroke is recognized, the better the chances of survival and a full recovery. Read Article: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/313217.php "Pulse" is one of the most iconic medical terms. It is symbolic of medicine and widely familiar as a measure of our heartbeat.
The term is as well known as the shape of a normal EKG or ECG reading, which is often dramatically illustrated in TV dramas to the soundtrack of the heartbeat's classic sound. But what is the best way to find and measure the pulse? This article gives straightforward guidance. What is the pulse?The pulse is simply the expansion of the arteries caused by the increases in blood pressure pushing against the elastic walls of the arteries each time our heart beats.1 These arterial expansions come and go with the same regularity against which the heart pumps our blood and then refills. The pulsations are felt at certain points on the body where larger arteries run closer to the skin. Find out more from MNT about what the heart rate is exactly, with an article that also explains normal heart rate readings. We also have an article that answers the question, what exactly is blood pressure? That page introduces information about abnormal blood pressures - the conditions known as hypotension and hypertension. Read Entire Article: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/258118.php "Nine popular painkillers – including traditional NSAIDs and cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors – are associated with an increased risk of hospitalization for heart failure in adults, based on data from a case-control study of approximately 92,000 hospital admissions. The findings were published online Sept. 28 in BMJ. By Dr Ananya Mandal, MD
The term cardiology is derived from the Greek words “cardia,” which refers to the heart and “logy” meaning “study of.” Cardiology is a branch of medicine that concerns diseases and disorders of the heart, which may range from congenital defects through to acquired heart diseases such as coronary artery disease and congestive heart failure. Physicians who specialize in cardiology are called cardiologists and they are responsible for the medical management of various heart diseases. Cardiac surgeons are the specialist physicians who perform surgical procedures to correct heart disorders. Cardiology milestonesSome of the major milestones in the discipline of cardiology are listed below: 1628 The circulation of blood was described by an English Physician William Harvey. 1706 A French anatomy professor, Raymond de Vieussens, described the structure of the heart's chambers and vessels. 1733 Blood pressure was first measured by an English clergyman and scientist called Stephen Hales. 1816 A French physician, Rene Laennec, invented the stethoscope. 1903 A Dutch physiologist Willem Einthoven, developed the electrocardiograph or ECG, a vital instrument used to measure the electrical activity of the heart and diagnose heart abnormalities. 1912 An American physician, James Herric, described atherosclerosis – one of the most common diseases of the heart. 1938 Robert Gross, an American surgeon, performed the first heart surgery 1951 The first artificial heart valve was developed by Charles Hufnagel. 1952 An American surgeon called Floyd John Lewis performed the first open heart surgery 1967 Christian Barnard, a South African surgeon, performed the first whole heart transplant 1982 An American surgeon called Willem DeVries implanted a permanent artificial heart designed by Robert Jarvik, into a patient." Read Article: www.news-medical.net/health/Cardiology-What-is-Cardiology.aspx Sources
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