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1. Is it easy to describe cardiac pain?
No. It is actually very difficult to describe it. The brain is unable to identify cardiac pain as accurately as it senses pain in other parts of the body. The sensations we receive from our internal organs (including the heart) are not as well localized as those originating from the body’s external surface. This inability to perceive pain is a consequence of the way the human nervous system is structured.
2. What happens during a heart attack?
During a heart attack, one of the coronary arteries becomes partially or completely blocked. The area of the heart muscle that does not receive enough oxygenated blood through the artery suffers damage, and so the heart cells die from a lack of oxygen supply. The larger the area that receives insufficient oxygen, the more severe the attack.
3. What are the symptoms of a heart attack?
The most frequent symptoms are a discomforting sense of pressure or pain in the center of the chest which can last over 20 minutes or can come and go; pain radiating to the shoulders, neck or arms (usually the left arm); chest discomfort with a sense of dizziness, fainting, sweating, nausea and shortness of breath.
Less common symptoms are “a-specific” chest, abdominal or stomach pain; nausea or dizziness; difficulty in breathing without chest pain; unprovoked anxiety; heart palpitations; cold sweats; pale skin color. There is no general rule for the onset of symptoms. They can sometimes be sudden or more subtle.
4. What should be done in case of a heart attack?
The most important thing is to take immediate action. One common treatment is to have the person chew gum containing acetylsalicylic acid, an antiplatelet agent. This makes blood more fluid and enhances its flow in the blood vessels. It is also used as part of a post-heart attack therapy regimen.
In the hospital, pain is reduced by administering oxygen and infusions of nitroglycerin and other drugs to decrease the heart muscle’s demand for oxygen. Surgery may be performed if required. Surgical treatment comprises thrombolysis (an infusion of special drugs that can dissolve the blockage lodged in the coronary artery; angioplasty (insertion of a balloon catheter to dilate the artery); bypass surgery (creation of new flow through an alternative channel using vein grafts or other conduits).
5. What is angina pectoris?
Angina pectoris is the first signal of a cardiovascular disorder following coronary artery disease (inadequate coronary circulation) due to narrowing of a coronary artery.
6. How is the pain of angina pectoris described?
The pain is described according to various symptoms. The most common are sense of pressure, pressing, constriction, squeezing or expansion of the chest; burning or pain. Other signals can be sweating and a bluish skin color; shortness of breath; nausea or vomiting or a sensation of unprovoked anxiety.
The pain can radiate up to the neck and jaw or down along the left arm. Sometimes the pain is described as a sensation that starts or continues in one or both wrists, arms or shoulders, the jaw and neck, between the shoulder blades or at the stomach opening.
7. Which medications are generally prescribed in the treatment of angina pectoris?
The most widely used drug is nitroglycerin. This potent vasodilator (which causes blood vessels to widen) increases total coronary blood flow. It can be taken in various formulations, either fast-acting or sustained release; derivatives of the drug are also available. Beta blockers reduce the oxygen needs of the heart muscle by reducing the heart rate or lowering blood pressure, thus avoiding heart cell injury. Acetylsalicylic acid, or aspirin, permits enhanced blood flow through the coronaries. It also reduces the risk of further angina episodes.
8. What is atherosclerosis?
Atherosclerosis is a multistage disease caused by the deposit of lipid or fatty material (mostly cholesterol) on the internal wall of the arteries. With the gradual accumulation of lipid deposits, the diameter of the artery is narrowed and ultimately blocked.
9. What causes atherosclerosis?
Atherosclerosis is caused by a combination of many genetic and environmental factors that determine abnormalities in the lipid components of the blood and the internal structure of the arteries. The risk factors involved in the onset of atherosclerosis include hyperlipidemia (elevated lipids, or fat-carrying proteins commonly known as cholesterol, in the blood), which is the principal cause; high blood pressure; smoking; diabetes; sedentary lifestyle; stress and obesity.
10. How can atherosclerosis be prevented?
Atherosclerosis can be prevented by following a healthy, low-fat diet, keeping hypertension and weight under control, managing diabetes, fighting stress and depression, taking up regular physical activity, and finding out if other family members have cardiovascular diseases.
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