A heart
attack, or myocardial infarction (MI), is permanent damage to the heart muscle.
"Myo" means muscle, "cardial" refers to the heart, and
"infarction" means death of tissue due to lack of blood supply. A
person with heart disease is more susceptible to a heart attack and cardiac
arrest. The best way to deal with such emergencies is by going for a CPR class Memphis. The classes will
train the students in the life-saving resuscitation procedures comprising of
chest compressions and rescue breaths, proper application of which can revive
the life of a victim in the middle of a cardiac emergency.
Always
choose a certified training center for obtaining training. Being a resident of
the Memphis region in Tennessee, you can enroll for a program at the AHA
accredited CPR Memphis. At the end of the training classes, a student will be
eligible for a certification after successfully passing a skills test and a
written exam.
What Happens during a Heart Attack?
More than a
million Americans have heart attacks each year. The heart muscle, for
nourishment requires a constant supply of oxygenated blood and it is the
coronary arteries that provide the heart with this critical blood supply. The
arteries become narrow and blood cannot flow as well as they should if an
individual has coronary artery disease. Fatty
matter, calcium, proteins, and inflammatory cells build up within the arteries
to form plaques of different sizes. The plaque deposits are hard on the outside
and soft and mushy on the inside.
With the
plaque being hard, the outer shell cracks (plaque rupture), platelets
(disc-shaped particles in the blood that aid clotting) come to the area, and
blood clots form around the plaque. If a blood clot totally blocks the artery,
the heart muscle becomes "starved" for oxygen which causes death of
heart muscle cells within a very short time, causing permanent damage. This is
a heart attack.
It is quite
unusual but a heart attack can also be caused by a spasm of coronary artery.
Heart Attack Symptoms:
1. Rapid or irregular heartbeats
2. Discomfort, pressure, heaviness, or
pain in the chest, arm, or below the breastbone
3. Discomfort radiating to the back,
jaw, throat, or arm
4. Sweating, nausea, vomiting, or
dizziness
5. Shortness of breath, anxiety,
weakness
Some people
may have a heart attack without having any symptoms (a "silent"
myocardial infarction). A silent MI can occur in anyone, but diabetics are more
susceptible it.
Tests to Diagnose a Heart Attack:
I.
Electrocardiogram
or ECG
II.
Echocardiography
III.
Cardiac
catheterization
IV.
Blood
Tests
If an
individual is struck with a heart attack, quick treatment to the blocked artery
would be essential in order to lessen the amount of damage. One should
immediately dial 911 for the emergency medical services. The best time to treat
a heart attack is within one to two hours of the first onset of symptoms.
Waiting longer not only increases the damage to the heart but also reduces the
chances of survival.
Chest
discomfort can be described in many ways which can in the chest or in the arms,
back, or jaw. Do take notice if you have the symptoms and do not overlook any
symptom.
Going for a CPR
class Memphis will train you in the life-saving resuscitation procedures
which can come handy for you during cardiac emergencies like a cardiac arrest
or heart attack. For more information, call CPR Memphis on 901-438-4200. You
can either call us or can register for a class online.
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