Heart Attack
21/11/2012 12:50
Heart attack is one of the leading causes of death in the world. In Singapore, it is the second killer disease after cancer. A heart attack occurs when blood flow to a part of your heart is blocked for a long enough time and the heart muscle is damaged or dies.
Symptoms
Symptoms
Treatment
Heart attack is one of the leading causes of death in the world. In Singapore, it is the second killer disease after cancer. A heart attack occurs when blood flow to a part of your heart is blocked for a long enough time and the heart muscle is damaged or dies.
Most heart attacks are caused by a blood clot that blocks one of the coronary arteries. The coronary arteries bring blood and oxygen to the heart. If the blood flow is blocked, oxygen is unable to travel to the heart, which will affect its function critically.
The most common cause of heart attack is atherosclerosis (narrowing of the artery due to build-up of cholesterol). Plaque, a substance made up of cholesterol and other cells, can build up in the coronary artery, and causing it to be blocked or narrowed. A heart attack can occur as a result of plaque buildup.
However, the trigger for a heart attack is not predictable. Heart attacks may occur:
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When you are resting or asleep
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After a sudden increase in physical activity
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When you are active outside in cold weather
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After sudden, severe emotional or physical stress, including an illness
Symptoms
Chest pain is the most common symptom of a heart attack. You may feel the pain in only one part of your body, or it may move from your chest to your arms, shoulder, neck, teeth, jaw, belly area, or the back. The pain can be severe or mild. It can feel like:
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When you are resting or asleep
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After a sudden increase in physical activity
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When you are active outside in cold weather
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After sudden, severe emotional or physical stress, including an illness
The pain usually lasts longer than 20 minutes. Other symptoms of a heart attack include:
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Anxiety
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Cough
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Fainting
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Light-headedness, dizziness
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Nausea or vomiting
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Palpitations (feeling like your heart is beating too fast or irregularly)
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Shortness of breath
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Sweating, which may be very heavy