ischemic heart disease powerpoint

chest pain is the most common heart attack signs, but it is important to understand that there are different types of pain in the chest. Many people with coronary artery disease, angina pectoris, the chest pain or discomfort when the heart is not enough blood. Usually occurs when the heart work harder, such as during exercise or physical activity, but goes away when the activity ends.

The chest pain associated with a heart attack can occur at any time, especially in the morning, and is of long duration and continuous. People with a history of angina pectoris may be more frequent anginal attacks in the coming weeks or days before a heart attack.

The chest pain is often described as heavy, as if something crushing the chest of a heart attack victim, a severe, extreme pressures or pressure sensation. Some people have it as a tightness in the chest or burning. The pain begins usually in the middle of the chest. Then it can radiate outwards and affect the shoulders, neck, jaw, or arms. This chest pain lasts 15 minutes and up are not relieved by rest or nitroglycerin.

The signs of a heart attack for women and older adults may differ. Often their symptoms as atypical chest pain. This means it feels more like indigestion or heartburn and nausea and vomiting. Women are more likely than men to have a silent or unrecognized heart attack. For women, they will also experience shortness of breath and fatigue and weakness of the shoulders and upper arms.

Older adults often seek medical attention for a variety of symptoms such as shortness of breath, confusion, fainting, dizziness, abdominal pain or cough. They often think they have a stroke, in fact, if it is a heart attack.

Other symptoms that occur during a heart attack are responses to the harm caused by the heart, during the attack. Anxiety, tachycardia (rapid heartbeat) and vasoconstriction (narrowing of blood vessels) in response to sympathetic nervous system stimulation. This leads to a cool, moist, mottled skin. The respiratory center in the brain reacts to pain and blood chemistry changes by increasing respiration. Death of heart tissue causing inflammation, which an increase in white blood cells and an increase in temperature.

Depending on the location and amount of infracted (dead) heart tissue other signs of heart may be high blood pressure, low blood pressure, nausea, vomiting, or bradycardia (slow heartbeat). Irritation of the diaphragm can cause the hiccups as well. In extreme cases, the first signs of a heart attack is a sudden death. This is particularly suitable for the case that a large blood vessel is completely blocked.

It is extremely important to a doctor at the first sign of heart attack. The sooner a heart attack victim receives medical help, the better the chances of survival.

To learn more about the signs and symptoms of heart disease, please visit Heart Disease, by clicking here.