Ailments of the heart have become quite common in modern days, thanks to the loads of junk we eat and the stress we take. The Department of Cardiac Science and its team of cardiologists deal with the treatment of heart diseases. Angina pectoris, also known as the pain in the heart muscles, is the result of obstruction in the blood vessels that supply the heart.
What is Angina and ways to deal with it:
Angina is not a disease but a symptom that is quite often associated with heart attack. The affected person will feel pain and discomfort in the chest and a burning sensation as well. Victims who are rushed to the hospital within the golden hour can get their life back. Reports state that about 50% of patients with acute heart attacks die before they reach the hospital.
The first four hours, after the symptoms set in, are very crucial. With every additional hour spent at home, the heart muscles suffer more damage, thus risking life. Within the first two hours, remarkable changes occur in the heart rate, owing to heart blocks. The person must be taken to the cardiac ICCU to handle the situation with defibrillators and temporary pacemakers.
Warning signs of heart attack – How to know if you are in the golden hour?
A heart attack is fatal. It is thus important to recognize its warning signs and contact cardiac science specialists at the earliest. The first hour after the onset of a heart attack is the golden hour. Prompt medical intervention in this golden hour can reverse its effects. Understanding the golden hour is important as most deaths and cardiac arrests occur during this period. Some symptoms that are worth taking seriously are as follows,
- Squeezing pain or tightness in the chest
- The pain keeps spreading to the neck, jaw, arms and back
- Heartburn or ingestion or a sense of heaviness in the chest
- Shortness of breath
- Feeling dizzy or lightheaded
- Feeling anxious that mimics a panic attack
- Coughing and wheezing
- Drop in blood pressure
How do cardiologists deal with Angina?
The cardiologist will first analyze the condition of the client with the help of a preliminary examination and ECG test. They will then prepare to open the coronary artery, which has constrictions and restricts the blood supply to the rest of the heart.
The best method to open up the coronary artery in case of acute heart attack is by performing coronary angioplasty and stenting. This procedure limits the extent of heart muscle damage and has saved millions of lives. Reaching the hospital early after angina improves the chances of survival in many folds.
The second mode of treatment is by administering drugs that are capable of dissolving the clots in the blood vessels of the heart. This is the treatment of choice if there is a delay in reaching the hospital that has a cath lab for coronary angioplasty. Doctors will follow this procedure by coronary angioplasty within 6 to 24 hours. Experts in cardiac science suggest that, with the onset of chest pain, one should chew an aspirin tablet, 325 mg. This anti-platelet tablet will start dissolving the clots immediately, and this helps in delaying the golden hour by a few minutes.
FAQ:
What is coronary angiography?
This is an invasive procedure where doctors access the heart through the right arm or thigh under local anesthesia. Through the vein that connects the heart, doctors will insert a wire and identify the blocked artery. They will dissolve the clot and place a stent (wire mesh made of stainless steel) in the place of the clot. This will help in preventing further clotting and maintain a constant flow of blood.
Bottom Line:
Experts in cardiac sciences will act swiftly to provoke the heart and supply blood to the rest of the body. But what matters is to reach the hospital immediately after the symptoms set in. It is also important to reach a hospital that has a panel of cardiologists and technology to diagnose and treat heartblocks immediately.