What Is a Heart Attack?
A heart muscle needs a constant supply of oxygen-rich blood. Your coronary arteries give your heart this critical blood supply. If you have EKG: Also known as an drugs to prevent further blood clotting in the heart and ease the strain on the heart. Drug therapy aims to break up or prevent blood clots, stop platelets from collecting and sticking to the plaque, stabilize the plaque, and prevent more ischemia.
You should get these medications as soon as possible (within 1 or 2 hours from the start of your heart attack, if possible) to limit heart damage.
Drugs used during a heart attack may include:
- to stop blood clotting that may make the heart attack worse
- Other antiplatelet drugs, such as clopidogrel (), prasugrel (Effient), or ticagrelor (Brilinta) to stop clotting
- Thrombolytic therapy (“clot busters”) to dissolve blood clots in your heart’s arteries
- Any combination of these
Other drugs given during or after a heart attack help your heart work better, widen your blood vessels, lower your pain, and help you avoid life-threatening heart rhythms.
Are there other treatments for a heart attack?
Treatment may also include a procedure to open the blocked arteries.
Cardiac catheterization: In addition to making a picture of your arteries, cardiac cath can be used for procedures (such as angiography or stent) to open narrowed or blocked arteries.
Balloon angioplasty: This treatment can be done, if needed, during cardiac catheterization. A balloon-tipped catheter (thin, hollow tube) is inserted into the blocked artery in the heart. The balloon is inflated gently to press plaque outward against the walls of the artery, to open the artery and improve blood flow. Most of the time, this is not done without putting in a stent.
Stent placement: In this procedure, a small tube is inserted through a catheter into a blocked artery to “prop” it open. The stent is usually made of metal and is permanent. It can also be made of a material that your body absorbs over time. Some stents have medicine that helps keep the artery from getting blocked again.
Bypass surgery: You might have bypass surgery in the days after a heart attack to restore the blood supply to your heart. Your surgeon will reroute blood flow around your blocked artery, usually using a blood vessel from your leg or chest. They can bypass multiple arteries.
What happens in the coronary care unit (CCU)?
If you’ve had a heart attack, you’ll usually stay in a CCU for at least 24 to 36 hours. Once past the critical phase, you’ll continue to get a variety of drugs, including:
- Beta-blockers to slow the heart
- Nitrates to increase heart blood flow
- Blood thinners such as aspirin, Brilinta, clopidogrel, Effient, , or Plavix to prevent further clotting
- ACE inhibitors to help the heart muscle heal
- — cholesterol-lowering drugs such as and simvastatin — to help the heart muscle heal and lower the risk of another heart attack
While you’re in the hospital, medical staff will constantly monitor your heart by EKG in case you develop unusual heart rhythms.
Some people may need to be fitted with a , a battery-powered device to help keep a steady heart rhythm. If you have a dangerous arrhythmia known as ventricular fibrillation, medical providers will give an electric shock to your chest.
Treatments don’t cure coronary artery disease. You can still have another heart attack. But you can take steps to make it less likely.
Tips for Heart Attack Prevention
The goal after your heart attack is to keep your heart healthy and lower your risk of having another heart attack. Take your medications as directed, make healthy lifestyle changes, see your doctor for regular heart checkups, and consider a cardiac rehabilitation program.
Why do I need to take drugs after a heart attack?
You might take certain drugs after a heart attack to:
You might take medications that treat an uneven heartbeat, lower your blood pressure, control chest pain, and treat heart failure.
Know the names of your medications, what they’re used for, and when you need to take them. Go over your medications with your doctor or nurse. Keep a list of all your medications, and take it to each of your doctor visits. If you have questions about them, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
It sounds like a no-brainer, but don’t skip your . Many people don’t take their medications the way their doctor told them to. Figure out what keeps you from taking your medicine — it could be side effects, cost, or forgetfulness — and ask your doctor for help.
What lifestyle changes are needed after a heart attack?
To keep heart disease from getting worse and to head off another heart attack, follow your doctor’s advice. You might need to change your lifestyle. Here are some changes you can make that can cut your risk and put you on the path to a healthier life:
:Smoking dramatically raises your risk of both heart attacks and strokes. Talk to your doctor about how to quit. You’ll also be doing your friends and family a favor, since can also lead to heart disease. You also can call the hotline 800-QUIT-NOW and visit the smokefree.gov website.
Keep a healthy body weight: If you’re overweight or obese, you don’t have to get thin to reduce your risk for a heart attack or stroke. If you lose 5% to 10% of your weight, you’ll improve your and lower your blood pressure and blood sugar levels.
Follow an : Moderate physical activity lowers your chances of a heart attack. It also can reduce your blood pressure and LDL or “bad” cholesterol, raise your HDL or “good” cholesterol, and help you stay at a healthy weight.
Aim for 30 minutes of exercise that gets your pumping at least 5 days a week. Brisk walking or swimming are some good choices. On the other 2 days, do strength training, like lifting weights. If you’ve got a tight schedule, break your exercise routine into small chunks.
Eat a heart-healthy diet: Fill your plate with different kinds of fruits, veggies, beans, and lean meats, such as poultry without the skin. Also up your intake of whole grains like oatmeal, quinoa, and brown rice and of f ish, especially those with omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, trout, and herring.
Avocados, olive oil, and flaxseeds also have omega-3s, as do some nuts and seeds. Fat-free or low-fat dairy products such as milk, yogurt, and cheese also are better choices for your heart health than higher-fat versions.
Cut back on unhealthy foods: Stay away from processed or prepared foods that often are high in salt and added sugar. They’re also filled with preservatives. Avoid fatty beef, butter, fried foods, and palm oil. All are high in saturated fats.
Skip sugary drinks like sodas and fruit punch, which can lead to weight gain. So can packaged baked goods such as cookies, cakes, and pies. They are high in trans fats and can raise your cholesterol levels.
Limit alcohol: If you don’t drink already, don’t start. If you do drink, limit how much you drink. The recommendation is no more than one drink a day if you are a woman and no more than two a day if you are a man. Drinking raises your heart rate and blood pressure. It also increases the level of fat in your blood and can cause weight gain.
Get regular checks of your , blood pressure, and blood sugar (glucose) levels: If you have diabetes, make sure it’s controlled. Keeping a check on these numbers can help you be more aware of the changes you need to make to keep these levels within normal limits.
Control stress: You may feel anxious or frustrated at times. Make sure you open up to your family and friends about what’s going on. Support groups can help you learn how others adjusted to life after a heart attack or stroke.
You may want to talk to a mental health professional or ask your doctor about a stress management program. You can also reduce stress with plenty of physical activity and mind-body practices like meditation.
Pay attention to your symptoms: Don’t just hope they’ll go away. See your doctor if you feel anything unusual, like shortness of breath, changes in your heart rhythm, or extreme tiredness. Also, watch for pain in your jaw or back, nausea or vomiting, sweating, or flu-like symptoms.
Why should I take part in cardiac rehabilitation?
If you’ve had a heart attack or have been diagnosed with heart disease, your doctor may recommend cardiac rehabilitation. You’ll work with a team of experts to boost your health and avoid future problems.
Your team may include doctors and nurses, as well as specialists in exercise, nutrition, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and mental health. They’ll set up a program to fit your needs. They can also help you make changes in your daily life. If you stick with it, it can make a big difference in your recovery and overall well-being.
When will I see my doctor again after I leave the hospital?
Make a doctor’s appointment for 4 to 6 weeks after you leave the hospital following a heart attack. Your doctor will want to check your recovery. You might need an exercise stress test on a regular basis. These tests can help your doctor find or slow blockages in your coronary arteries and plan your treatment.
Call your doctor if you have symptoms such as chest pain that happens more often, gets stronger, lasts longer, or spreads to other areas; shortness of breath, especially while you’re resting; dizziness; or uneven heartbeats.