Signs of a heart attack in men: first aid

The term "myocardial infarction" reflects the death (necrosis) of heart muscle cells (cardiomyocytes) as a result of ischemia. A heart attack in men most often occurs at the age of 40 years. However, in the modern world, given the influence of many negative factors, a heart attack can occur in younger men, whose age does not even reach 30 years.

Myocardial infarction is a fairly common condition that occurs in almost every second man. This disease is a manifestation of the pathology of the cardiovascular system. Most often, MI is a consequence of coronary heart disease (CHD) - myocardial damage caused by a violation
blood flow in the coronary arteries (CA). The defeat of the CA is organic (irreversible) and functional (transient). The main cause of organic damage to the CA is stenosing atherosclerosis. Factors of functional damage to the CA are spasm, transient platelet aggregation and intravascular thrombosis.

This happens at the moment when the flow of blood to any part of the heart muscle stops. At the same time, if blood access to the site is not resumed within 15 minutes, then it dies. This process is called a heart attack.

Fact! According to statistics, people who are struck by a myocardial infarction, in half of the cases, do not even survive to arrive at a medical facility. Another part of the population, about one third, dies in the hospital.

Causes of a heart attack

The main reason why a heart attack occurs is the appearance of blood clots in the arteries. This is the reason why 95% of myocardial infarctions occur. In this situation, a heart attack is a consequence of cardiac ischemia.

Rare causes of CAD (<5% случаев):

• congenital anomalies of CA discharge;
• syndromes of Marfan, Ehlers-Danlos;
  with dissection of the aortic root;
• coronary vasculitis in systemic diseases and
  collagenoses;
• Kawasaki disease and Hurler syndrome;
• bacterial endocarditis;
• overdose of vasoconstrictor drugs and some narcotic drugs;
• diffuse stenosis of the coronary artery in a transplanted heart.

There are certain predisposing factors to the development of coronary artery disease and, as a result, can lead to a heart attack. They are divided into modifiable (changeable), which can be eliminated and non-modifiable (non-removable). Social risk factors are also identified.

The main modifiable risk factors for coronary artery disease:
- hypercholesterolemia;
- arterial hypertension;
- diabetes;
- smoking;
- low physical activity;
- obesity.

Non-modifiable risk factors for coronary artery disease:
- male gender;
- age;
- burdened family history of cardiovascular diseases.

Social risk factors predisposing to the massive spread of coronary artery disease in
developing countries:
— urbanization;
- industrialization;
- economic backwardness of the population.

Symptoms of a heart attack in men

The main symptoms of a heart attack that can be recognized by any person are:

• severe pain behind the sternum of a pressing, burning, squeezing nature, lasting more than 20 minutes;
• pain can radiate to the arm, neck, lower jaw, mainly on the left side;
• there is a panic fear of death;
• a person, if in a state to overcome pain, begins to rush about, worry, get nervous;
• cold, clammy sweat appears;
• pulse quickens;
• a person becomes pale, earthy gray;
• the mind becomes cloudy, confusion occurs;
• severe weakness, dizziness may occur;
• dyspnea;
• increase in body temperature;
• pressure rises, and then can drop sharply or normalize;
• may be nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain;
• a person can feel a strong heartbeat, interruptions in the work of the heart.

All of the above symptoms may indicate that a person has heart disease and needs medical attention.

Stages of the disease

There are several stages of a heart attack:

• preinfarction state;
• acute heart attack.

Often a heart attack is preceded by an attack of angina pectoris.

Signs of a typical (undoubted) angina pectoris:
1. Pain in the sternum, possibly radiating to the left arm, back, or lower
jaw, less often in the epigastric region, lasting 2-5 minutes.
Pain equivalents are shortness of breath, a feeling of "heaviness", "burning".
2. The above pain occurs during physical exertion, or strong
emotional stress.
3. The above pain quickly disappears after the cessation of physical activity
or after taking nitroglycerin.

To confirm the diagnosis of typical (undoubted) angina pectoris, the patient must have all three of the above signs at the same time. There are atypical variants of localization of pain and irradiation. The main symptom of angina pectoris is a clear dependence of the onset of symptoms on physical activity.
The equivalent of angina may be shortness of breath (up to suffocation), a feeling of "heat"
in the sternum, attacks of arrhythmia during exercise. The equivalent of physical activity can be a crisis increase in blood pressure (BP) with an increase in the load on the myocardium, as well as a plentiful meal. The condition preceding myocardial infarction is characterized by a feeling of depression, severe anxiety, and anxiety. There is a slight pain behind the sternum, which gradually increases. The heartbeat becomes rapid and can reach 90 beats per minute.

The stage of a preinfarction state may be absent altogether. In such a situation, myocardial infarction occurs and develops rapidly. The pain in this case lasts at least 20 minutes. The pain syndrome may not go away even after taking medications (nitroglycerin).

Types of development of a heart attack in men

Myocardial disease can develop in accordance with certain symptoms, which can be divided into several types depending on the location of the localization.

First aid to the victim

At the time of a heart attack, first aid to the victim plays an important role. Most cases of a positive outcome of an attack are due to the fact that the patient was provided with correct and timely medical care. Since at the time of the attack the patient begins to experience a feeling of fear and panic, the first thing to do is to calm him down and make it clear that he will be helped and will not be left alone.

First aid:

1. Call an ambulance or take the victim to the hospital yourself.
2. Put the patient to bed, on a bench (depending on the location of the person who was struck by a heart attack), while the head should be slightly raised. In the case when he has shortness of breath or bronchospasm, the patient should be given a reclining position or planted.
3. Give the drug - nitroglycerin. It should be placed under the tongue. Nitroglycerin relieves pain slightly. It is impossible to give several tablets at once, the medicine can be given again only after 15 minutes. Nitroglycerin also helps to reduce shortness of breath. It is better not to give it more than 3 times in a row, as the pressure may drop significantly, and the patient's condition will become even worse.
4. If possible, check the pressure. In the event that the pressure is too low, then it is better not to give nitroglycerin. By external signs, low blood pressure can be determined by pale skin, weak pulse.
5. Another drug that should be taken in case of myocardial infarction is acetylsalicylic acid at a dose of 150-300 mg, chew the tablet, take it orally.
6. Remove shoes, belt, outerwear from the person, unfasten the buttons so that nothing compresses him.
7. Provide access to fresh air.
8. In case of loss of pulse, consciousness, respiratory failure or its loss, the heart rhythm should be restored with a short, strong blow of the hand to the chest of the victim. If this method does not help, then you can try to do artificial respiration.
9. When the patient is restless, you can give him a few dozen drops of Valocordin. Some people think that valocordin will help relieve pain in case of a heart attack, but this is not so. Valocordin at the time of the attack will only help to calm the patient's condition and nothing more.

Important! When providing first aid to a victim of myocardial infarction, it is worth giving him medications such as nitroglycerin and aspirin. They will relieve the pain a little and improve the condition of the person. Valocordin does not help with a heart attack, but only relieves anxiety and anxiety.

Video - Myocardial infarction: signs, symptoms

Treatment of a heart attack in men

After hospitalization, the victim with a heart attack is immediately sent to the intensive care unit in order to eliminate the blood clot that caused the attack. Thanks to special means, the formed thrombus is promptly dissolved for the patient and the blood flow in the coronary artery is restored.

Doctors will conduct all the necessary tests and procedures to identify possible new blood clots and prescribe medicines to prevent a heart attack. One of these is aspirin, or acetylsalicylic acid. It is able to slow down blood clotting, reduces the possibility of complications after a heart attack and is able to prolong people's lives. It is also prescribed as a prophylactic for those who suffer from cardiovascular disease and those who are most likely to suffer from a heart attack.

In the treatment of a heart attack, beta-blockers are often prescribed. These are drugs that reduce the need for oxygen in the heart muscle, thereby saving heart cells from death. In addition, they are able to make the activity of the heart less diligent, that is, more "economical", which is also very important during a heart attack.

As a treatment for a heart attack and its consequences, doctors may suggest surgery, which is more effective and helps when medicines fail. Such surgical interventions include coronary balloon angioplasty, coronary stenting, coronary artery bypass grafting, and some others. In some situations, such surgical interventions are simply indispensable.

After a heart attack, the patient remains for some time in the hospital, since at this time special care is required, examination by doctors, and bed rest. Gradually, doctors are allowed to sit, get up, walk, and the person returns to his usual life, begins post-infarction rehabilitation.

Important! It is not possible to treat a heart attack on your own. Only doctors can help with a heart attack.

Rehabilitation after a heart attack in men

The consequences of a heart attack affect the entire body. Many men after an attack are not able to cope even with small physical exertion, as unpleasant symptoms immediately appear - pain, shortness of breath, weakness, etc. Some people have difficulty getting out of bed. Everyone handles it differently. Therefore, rehabilitation after a heart attack is very important. It will help a man recover, normalize his mental and emotional state, and improve his health. The period of postinfarction rehabilitation can last quite a long time from several days to several years. It all depends on the severity of the heart attack, on how quickly he was given first aid, on the individual characteristics of the body, etc.

Rehabilitation for men after a heart attack usually includes the following:

1. special diet. Proper nutrition is important for any disease, especially after heart disease. The main goal of the diet is to normalize disturbed metabolic processes, improve blood flow through the vessels, eliminate possible blood clots, bring weight back to normal, put the whole body in order. At the same time, the main requirement in the diet of a man will be to exclude foods that can increase the level of cholesterol in the blood.
2. Medical therapy. Doctors will prescribe a number of medications that can eliminate the complications and consequences of a heart attack, improve heart function, and prevent relapses. All medicines are prescribed individually by the attending physician.
3. Therapeutic exercise. No wonder they say “movement is life”. Therapeutic gymnastics is a fundamental factor in post-infarction rehabilitation in men. Physical activity can improve a person's performance and quality of life. Thanks to daily training, a man is able to fully restore strength, health, and emotional state. Training, as well as medicines, are compiled individually and include special gymnastic exercises, exercises on simulators, and therapeutic walking. At the same time, it is important to engage constantly, but not to overload yourself beyond measure, as this is harmful.

If you follow a strict diet, take medications, and exercise regularly, you can recover and significantly improve your condition. An important factor will be the attention of close relatives, children, wife. The support of friends and relatives also has a beneficial effect on the condition of a man.

Important! Rehabilitation is an important step towards regaining health and restoring the body. It can last for several years. Do not despair if recovery does not come quickly, for everyone, post-infarction rehabilitation occurs in different ways. The main thing is to firmly go towards your goal and strictly follow the instructions of the doctors.

Prevention of heart attack in men

A heart attack is a very dangerous disease, especially for its consequences for the body. Prevention of this disease is very important. All risk factors for the disease can be controlled independently.

Prevention should be as follows:

1. Nutrition should be correct, food should be healthy.
2. Lead an active lifestyle, play sports.
3. Quit bad habits, especially smoking.
4. Control weight.
5. Monitor the pressure, bring it back to normal and treat it (worsens the work of the heart, increases the risk of a heart attack).
6. Make sure that there is no excess insulin, otherwise not only diabetes mellitus, but also a heart attack may occur.
7. People with diabetes should be fully armed, as they have a very high risk of a heart attack. According to statistics, 80% of diabetics die due to cardiovascular pathologies.
8. Excess iron. In men, this indicator is especially important, excessive accumulation of iron in the blood can cause a heart attack, since iron accelerates the development of atherosclerosis. It is for this reason that even a healthy man can have an attack.
9. Influence of infections. Bacteria that enter the blood from the foci of infection produce toxins and damage the walls of blood vessels. Therefore, it is worthwhile to treat all possible diseases of caries, infections of the nasopharynx, kidneys, inflammation of the gums, etc.
10. Monitor potency. Male intimate forces begin to weaken by the age of 30. Problems with potency mean that the arteries, through which blood enters the reproductive organ, are affected by atherosclerosis. Thus, you can find out that the body already has atherosclerosis, which in turn means possible heart problems.

Note! Medications usually do not help reduce the amount of iron. However, it should not rise beyond measure in the blood of a man. In order to remove excess iron from the body, you can simply become a donor and donate blood about 3 times a year. In such an easy and useful way, you will save yourself from a possible heart attack.

A heart attack is a common and at the same time dangerous disease. Especially often it occurs in men, and can appear even in young people under the age of 30 years. Many heart attacks end in death, so it is very important to provide first aid to the patient. Correctly and timely measures taken to help the patient survive, avoid serious consequences and recover. Particular attention should be paid to the prevention of a heart attack.

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