Did you know? A Heart Attack Occurs Every 20 Seconds

mimmii7777
Oct 9, 2020
2 min read

What is a heart attack?

A heart attack, also called a myocardial infarction, occurs when the blood flow to the heart is blocked. This blockage is a result of fat, cholesterol, and other substances that form a plaque on the arterial walls (atherosclerosis). This condition, called coronary heart disease, is what causes heart attacks.

Symptoms

Some signs and symptoms of heart attacks include:

pressure, tightness, or pain in the chest which can spread to the neck and back
abdominal pain, nausea or heartburn
shortness of breath
cold sweat
fatigue
lightheadedness or sudden dizziness

It is important to note that not everyone experiences the same symptoms and the degree of severity may vary from person to person as well. In addition, some heart attacks occur spontaneously while others are issued by warning signs in advance.

What to do if you or someone else is experiencing a myocardial infarction?

If you think that yourself or somebody else might be having a heart attack, see a doctor immediately or call for an ambulance right away. Better safe than sorry!
If you see an unconscious person, check if they are breathing and have a pulse.
If they are not breathing or don't have a pulse, begin CPR right away.

Proper CPR delivery:

Place one of your hands on top of the other and clasp them together. With the heel of the hands and straight elbows, push hard and fast in the center of the chest, slightly below the nipples. Push at least 2 inches deep. Compress their chest at a rate of least 100 times per minute. Let the chest rise fully between compressions.

Making sure their mouth is clear, tilt their head back slightly and lift their chin. Pinch their nose shut, place your mouth fully over theirs, and blow to make their chest rise.

Prevention:

To sum it up, the best heart attack preventions are:

Eating healthy
Exercising
Quitting smoking
Managing stress

side note: I have watched a video on a medical channel on YouTube. The doctor had said that a guide for proper chest compression rate is the beat of the song Stayin' Alive by the Bee Gees. I know, I know, quite ironic since we are trying to save a life here...

Well, that's it for today. I hope you enjoyed this segment on myocardial infarctions.

Stay safe and stay healthy,

Until next time!

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