Heart Attack

Description A heart attack occurs when a blood clot blocks the flow of blood through a coronary artery. When the disturbed blood flow occurs during a heart attack, it can destroy the muscles in the heart. A heart attack is also called a Myocardial Infarction. This disease can be fatal, treatment for this has gradually improved over the years. Picture From: http://heartresearch.org.uk/heart

Causes Diet high in saturated fats and cholesterol Lack of exercise Being overweight or obese Diabetes Arteriosclerosis Drugs, such as cocaine can cause a heart attack or a life threatening spasm.   Picture From:http://guardianlv.com/2013/10/flu-vaccine-may-cut-heart-attack-risk/

Symptoms Pressure, tightness, pain, or a squeezing or aching sensation in your chest or arms that may spread to your neck, jaw or back.  feeling of fullness, nausea, indigestion, heart burn or abdominal pain Shortness of breath Fatigue Trouble at sleeping Picture From:http://www.southernct.edu/student-life/health/healthservices/selfcare/nausea-vomiting-diarrhea.html

Picture From: http://www. forbes Treatment People are usually instructed to take aspirin by the emergency medical personnel. Aspirin reduces blood clot, maintaining a blood flow through a narrowed artery. Nitroglycerin is used to treat a chest pain, temporarily opens arterial blood vessels, improving blood flow in the heart. Beta Blockers help relax the heart muscle, slow the heart beat and decrease blood pressure. It can also limit the damage on the heart muscle and prevent future heart attacks. Emergency angioplasty opens blocked coronary arteries, letting blood flow more freely to your heart. Doctors insert a catheter that's passed through an artery to a blocked artery in your heart. Ace inhibitors lowers blood pressure and reduce stress in the heart.

Prevention Cholesterol lowering medication called statins can help lower the levels of unwanted blood cholesterol. Not smoking Controlling certain conditions, like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes Staying physically active Eating healthy foods Maintaining the right weight Reducing Stress Picture from:data:image/

Is it Hereditary No it is not hereditary because heart attack could occur anytime, and may strike instantly or be warned for hours, days or weeks for the heart attack to happen. If it happens to either your parents or siblings had a heart attack doesn’t mean you’ll get one, too. The risks of a heart attack can be hereditary, such as, high cholesterol and obesity. Picture From:http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Human_genome.png

Review Questions 1. What is one cause for a heart attack? Diet high in saturated fats and cholesterol, Lack of exercise, Being overweight or obese, Diabetes, Arteriosclerosis, cocaine use 2. What is a heart attack? A blockage in a coronary artery that will destroy the heart muscle 3. What are the symptoms in a heart attack? Pressure, tightness, pain, or a squeezing or aching sensation in your chest or arms that may spread to your neck, jaw or back, feeling of fullness, nausea, indigestion, heart burn or abdominal pain, Shortness of breath, Fatigue, Trouble at sleeping 4. What can you do to prevent it? Cholesterol lowering medication called statins can help lower the levels of unwanted blood cholesterol, Not smoking, Controlling high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes, Staying physically active, Eating healthy food, Maintaining the right weight, Reducing Stress 5. Name two treatments for a heart attack? Aspirin, nitroglycerin, Beta blockers, ACE inhibitors, angioplasty

Works Cited "Heart Disease." Mayo Clinic. Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 29 July 2014. Web. 16 Sept. 2014. <http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases- conditions/heart-disease/basics/definition/con- 20034056>. Naff, Clay Narris, ed. Perspective on Diseases & Disorders. Farmington Hills: Christine Nasso, 2008. Print.

Side effects of Treatment Picture From: http://www.forbes.com/sites/daviddisalvo/2011/10/30/study-daily-aspirin-cuts-hereditary-cancer-risk-in-half/ Side effects of Treatment Aspirin: upset stomach, heart burn Nitroglycerin: headaches, dizziness Beta Blockers: fatigue, headaches Angioplasty: blood clots, bleeding Ace inhibitors: dry cough, headaches