MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION – HEART ATTACK
A myocardial infarction, or heart attack, occurs when part of the heart muscle suddenly dies. This occurs from a complete blockage of one of the arteries in the heart. Myocardial infarction may come on at rest or during times of stress. The discomfort described may be similar to angina or may be completely different.
Heart Attack Warning Signs
Some heart attacks are sudden and intense. In the movies, there is no doubt about someone having a heart attack: a sudden grasping of the chest and aA blockage in a coronary artery. dramatic collapse is the classic scene. Although this certainly can be the case, most heart attacks start slowly, with discomfort. Often people affected aren’t sure what’s wrong and wait too long before getting help.
Here are signs that can mean a heart attack is happening:
• Chest discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.
• Discomfort in areas of the upper body: pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
• Shortness of breath, which may occur with or without chest discomfort.
Other signs of a heart attack include feeling nauseated or light-headed and breaking out in a cold sweat.
Treatment
A heart attack requires immediate medical attention. Special hospital coronary care units have trained staff to monitor and treat a recovering heart attack patient. Time is extremely critical for the potential heart attack patient. Minutes can make the difference between life and death! Any time chest pain or discomfort is present, immediate action must be taken to save a life.
Calm the patient and encourage a sitting position. Call for help immediately (PIC and Aircare Access). The patient may have personal medications including nitroglycerin and aspirin. Both of these drugs have been shown to reduce pain and heart damage in patients for whom they are prescribed. You can assist the patient in taking personal medication. Give high- flow oxygen to the patient. It too can reduce heart damage by adding more available oxygen to the heart.
A blockage in the coronary artery.
Nitro Circulatory System 39
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101
