Heart Attack,What is and What are the Symptoms?

What is Heart Attack?

Heart attack is the most common form of ischemic heart disease and is the leading cause of death in developed countries. In Spain, there are about 70,000 heart attacks a year, of which approximately 30% die before arriving at the hospital (mainly due to the development of “malignant” arrhythmias such as ventricular fibrillation) and another 10% die in the short to medium term as a result of the damage and after-effects of the heart attack.

To reduce the risk of death from a heart attack, it is essential to get medical care as soon as possible, since the less time it takes to treat a heart attack, the less irreversible damage to the heart and the less risk of developing a “malignant” arrhythmia.

How do I know I’m having a heart attack?

Symptoms that should alert you and think about the possibility of having a heart attack are oppressive chest pain that can radiate to the neck, back, shoulders and arms, sweating, shortness of breath, nausea, dizziness, palpitations, general discomfort… These symptoms should be reported to the healthcare service as soon as possible, stand still, and sit down and try to calm down. Under no circumstances should fatal arrhythmias be the cause of driving or exerting efforts.

What are the symptoms of a heart attack?

The usual symptoms are pain in the chest, back, shoulders, and arms, as well as dizziness and sweating.

Why do heart attacks occur?

Heart attacks are caused by a sudden blockage of a coronary artery (vessels that carry oxygen and nutrients to the heart so it can work) when a thrombus forms on a cholesterol plate. The accumulation of cholesterol plaques in the coronary arteries (what is known as atherosclerosis) is caused by different factors: smoking, high blood pressure, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, age and hereditary genetic factors. All these factors are called cardiovascular risk factors.

How can I avoid having a heart attack?

The best way to prevent a heart attack is to acquire a cardio healthy lifestyle to reduce the risk of atherosclerotic plaques forming in the coronary arteries, and to adequately control those cardiovascular risk factors that are already present. Smoking should be avoided, aerobic physical exercise should be performed regularly (2-3 weekly sessions of moderate-intensity exercise for 1-1.5 hours like fast walking, running, cycling, swimming, tennis, paddle tennis), avoid overweight and maintain a balanced diet (it is especially recommended our Mediterranean diet rich in fruits, vegetables, legumes, olive oil and low in fats and sugars).

​These good habits of life must be acquired from childhood so that they can be maintained throughout life. To this end, numerous health promotion campaigns have been carried out since school age, with emphasis on the Mediterranean diet, physical exercise, and the control of overweight since childhood. In adulthood, one should not forget to visit the doctor regularly to detect the existence of a cardiovascular risk factor and to be able to treat and monitor it as soon as possible. Ultimately, leading a healthy life is the best way to avoid a heart attack.