Can You Really Survive a Heart Attack?

Thank God I Survive a Heart Attack!

      There are 2 reasons why you need to know how to survive a heart attack, or myocardial infarction (MI).

First, the chances are very high that you or someone you love will suffer a heart attack during your lifetime.

Second, whether you survive a heart attack or not depends on what you and your doctor do during the first few hours.

A heart attack occurs when there is a severe blockage or reduced blood flow to part of the heart. This is a medical emergency that can be life-threatening, and the longer it goes untreated, the more damage it can do to the heart.

Studies have found that the survival rate of people hospitalized for a heart attack is about 90%2 to 97%.3, depending on the type of heart attack, which arteries are involved, and other aspects including gender and age.

Heart Attack Definition

A heart attack occurs when the flow of blood to a person's heart is blocked. The most common blockage is due to a buildup of fat, cholesterol and other substances, which form plaque in the arteries that feed the heart (coronary arteries).

Plaque can break down and form clots that block blood flow. Cut off blood flow can damage part of the heart muscle.

Heart attack (myocardial infarction), can be fatal, but the good news is that treatment techniques have drastically improved over the years. Call 911 or emergency medical assistance if you think you're having a heart attack.

Heart Attack Symptoms in Women

The most common symptoms of a heart attack in women are the same as in men – chest pain, discomfort or pressure that lasts more than a few minutes, comes and goes.

Women often display heart attack pain as tightness or pressure. And it's possible you're having a heart attack without chest pain. (mayoclinic.org)

Women are more likely than men to have symptoms of a heart attack that are not associated with chest pain, such as: jaw, neck, shoulder, upper back or upper abdominal discomfort, pain in one or both arms, shortness of breath, unusual tiredness, lightheadedness or dizziness.

These symptoms may not look like the chest pain that is often associated with a heart attack. This may be because women tend to experience blockages not only in the main arteries, but also in the small arteries that supply blood to the heart.

What To Do When a Heart Attack Occurs?

1. Call for emergency help

If you are having a heart attack, whether you are alone or with someone, the first thing to do is seek emergency medical help. You will need special care as soon as possible to save your heart muscle.

If you are alone when the heart attack occurs, stop whatever you are doing, go to a safe place to rest and seek medical help. If you are driving, first pull over to the side of the road and ask for help.

2. Take aspirin, if you don't have allergies

Aspirin is the most commonly used blood thinning drug in the world, which will increase your chances of surviving a heart attack.

Most cases of heart attack are caused by a blood clot forming in one of the blood vessels, which are responsible for regulating the blood supply to the heart.

The resulting blockage causes the heart to lose oxygen-rich blood, causing damage to the heart muscle, which progressively dies.

Taking aspirin during a heart attack can help, because it prevents clots from becoming larger, giving the body a chance to break up clots.

Is it normal to feel so depressed?

Heart attack patients will feel various emotions, usually about 2 to 6 months after the event. Sufferers who feel depressed along with anger and fear are normal.

Every time you feel a little sick, you may feel afraid it will happen again, you fear death. This is normal, and will start to pass with time.

You may be angry that this is happening, and you may feel irritated that you have a "short fuse" with someone else.

Hatred sometimes comes after a heart attack. Try to understand that your friends and family are as worried as you are. Although depression is normal after a heart attack, but if it interferes with your sleep, eating, self-esteem, or if you have suicidal thoughts, you should talk to your doctor, and talk to people close to you about how you feel. .

Don't be afraid to ask for help. Recovery is much quicker with a trusted support team made up of your healthcare professionals, friends and family.

How long should you rest after a heart attack?

Rest is very important after a heart attack, it is just as important for you to participate in relaxation, recreation and social events, and to start making exercise a part of your daily life. In most cases, doctors will recommend that survivors do more light physical activity than they were before their heart attack.

A good night's rest is essential for heart attack patients. And if you feel tired during the day, try taking a nap or taking a short break.

Heart disease sufferers should rest before feeling too tired. Your doctor will tell you what's best for your specific situation, but most heart attack patients find they have plenty of energy for work and recreational activities.

Are You at Risk?

The three major risk factors for heart disease are high cholesterol, high blood pressure and smoking.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately half of Americans have at least one of these risk factors.

Other risk factors include age (over 55 for women, over 45 for men), family history, diabetes, inactivity or obesity, stress, and substance use.

If you've had a heart attack before, you're at higher risk for a second attack.

Summary

After you have symptoms of a heart attack, you or someone close to you should call a healthcare professional, and you should take aspirin tablets (if you do not have an aspirin allergy, and if a medical professional has instructed you to do so).

Receiving immediate medical care is the best way to improve a person's life safety.

With the right treatment, most people will recover from a heart attack, and be able to live fulfilling lives.

Making healthy lifestyle choices and following the treatment plan that your doctor recommends can reduce your risk of having a heart attack in the future.