A heart attack usually is triggered when the artery wall separating the plaque and the blood breaks down or ‘ruptures.’ Blood is then directly in contact with the plaque. Once blood is exposed to plaque, it causes the blood to form a clot that can completely block the flow of blood and, if not reversed quickly, results in that portion of the heart muscle dying.
While plaque formation is a relatively slow process that takes years to develop, a plaque can rupture, form a clot and completely occlude a vessel in a matter of minutes or hours. Unfortunately, one-third of patients who rupture a plaque and experience a heart attack started with a blockage less than 70 percent and had no warning symptoms prior to the heart attack.
The symptoms of a heart attack can vary from person to person. For some these may be mild and others very severe. It is important to know the most common signs of a heart attack and to remember these facts:
Heart attacks can start slowly and cause only mild pain or discomfort. Symptoms can be mild or more intense and sudden, and can wax and wane over several hours.
People who have diabetes may have no symptoms or very mild ones.
The most common manifestation in men and women is chest pain or discomfort.
Women are somewhat more likely to have shortness of breath, nausea and vomiting, unusual tiredness (sometimes for days) and pain in the back, shoulders or jaw.
Some people have no indicators at all. This is referred to as a silent heart attack.
We recommend any patients who experience the above and think they are having a heart attack to take one aspirin tablet (if not allergic) and call for an ambulance or go to the nearest emergency room. One aspirin taken during a heart attack can limit the damage to your heart. It may save your life.
Quick action by patients and doctors can lead to treatments that open the blockages and limit any damage, but only if done within minutes or hours of the onset of symptoms.
Angina pain is similar to heart attack pain but usually only associated with activity and resolves with rest. If you are experiencing any pain with exertion or exercise pain that resolves with rest or have an unexplained decrease in exercise or activity tolerance, then notify your physician immediately so you can be evaluated.
Knowing the symptoms of a heart attack and how to take action can save your life or the ones you love.
Dr. Gary Sackrison is a family medicine doctor at Vista-SK International Medical Center, Lvl 4, Bldg 4C, Shenzhen Software Industry Base,Xuefu Rd, Nanshan District 深圳市南山区学府路软件产业基地4栋C座裙楼4层 (0755-3689 9833)）
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