Health Focus
Health Focus will concentrate on topics and behaviors that lead to the practice of healthy life-styles. It is not an advice column nor is it intended to take the place of your doctor or other health care provider. If you have symptoms or develop symptoms similar to those mentioned on this page, please contact your doctor or other health care provider immediately.
Questions and Answers About Coronary Artery Disease, Heart Attack and Cardiac Arrest
What is coronary artery disease?
Coronary artery disease is a medical condition marked by narrowing of arteries in the heart's own vascular system. Normally, the arteries are smooth, hallow tubes that deliver blood and oxygen to the heart muscle. When the arteries become narrowed by a hard yellow substance called plaque and can not deliver blood and oxygen to heart muscle tissue, coronary artery disease is said to be present. Plaque is derived from fatty substances that form on the inside of the coronary arteries. The medical term for this process is called arthrosclerosis. The lay term is called "hardening of the arteries".
Why should arthrosclerosis concern me? Isn't it a disease of the elderly ?
Autopsies of children reveal that fatty substances begin to form in the arteries before adolescence.
What are the signs or symptoms of coronary artery disease?
Angina or angina pectoris is a sign that an area of the heart muscle is being deprived of oxygen. Angina is the generalized oppressive discomfort in the center of the chest. It can occur soley as chest pain or it may travel to the left neck, jaw, back and down the arm and may last between 20 and 30 minutes. Other symptoms include, shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, and perspiration. Women, the elderly and diabetics describe their angina in terms of dizzness, weakness, lightheadedness and pain scattered throughout the chest.
Does it happen all of the time or just at certain times?
Angina generally occurs during times of increased oxygen demand with activities such as exercise, stair climbing and also with emotional or psychological stress. Angina at rest or sleep is called unstable angina.
What happens when the pain lasts 30 minutes or longer?
Angina that lingers for 30 minutes or longer may be a sign of heart attack. Heart attack or the medical term, myocardial infarction occurs when the heart muscle has been deprived of oxygen for 30 minutes or longer. In addition to the pain and shortness of breath, a person having a heart attack may feel extremely anxious. This life-threatening event can happen when a coronary artery becomes completely occluded by a blood clot that forms where the hard outer region of plaque ruptures to expose the soft inner region. The oxygen deprived tissue becomes damaged.
How does someone get help if a heart attack is suspected?
If a heart attack is suspected, activate the emergency medical system by dialing 911 immediately. Describe the symptoms and follow the instructions of the dispatcher until the emergency medical technician arrives. According to the American Heart Association, chances for survival increase when medical attention occurs within the first few minutes of symptoms. The goal of treatment will be to prevent further damage and the objective will be to break up exsisting clots and prevent others from forming.
What is the difference between a heart attack and a cardiac arrest?
A cardiac arrest occurs when the heart stops beating and there is no breathing. It can happen during a heart attack, usually in the first hour of heart attack symptoms. During cardiac arrest, there is no circulation of blood to the brain or other parts of the body. Brain damage can occur if circulation is not restored in 4-6 minutes.
What can be done to save a victim from the damage of a cardiac arrest?
Activate the emergency medical system immediately by dialing 911.
How does CPR fit into such an event?
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is critical in restoring circulation and preserving brain function. People who learn CPR are trained to recognize the signs of heart attack and cardiac arrest. They will be able to perform basic life-support measures until the emergency medical techincian arrives.
What will the technician do on arrival?
In addition to the CPR, the technician will provide an advanced form of assessment and care that includes the automated external defibrillator (AED).
What is an automated external defibrillator (AED)?
The automated external defibrillator (AED) has been described as the single most important advancement in the treatment of cardiac arrest since CPR. The AED is an advanced computerized device that can be utilized by medical and lay personnel to diagnose lethal cardiac rhythms and advise its operator to deliver a shock to induce a norml heart rhythm in a cardiac arrest victim. After a normal rhythm has been established, the patient can be transported to the closest hospital that can care for a patient who has arrested.
How common is coronary artery disease, what are the risk factors and how is it diagnosed?
Accoding to the American Heart Association, approximately two million Americans will be diagnosed with acute coronary syndrome to include angina and heart attack.
The risk of developing coronary artery disease grows with age and is different for men and women. If you are male and over the age of 45 or female over the age of 55 and have blood relatives with coronary artery disease, have diabetes, are obese, sendentary (get little exercise), have elevated cholesteral levels (greater than 200), smoke, have high blood pressure and have had high levels of stress over a long period of time, you have a high risk for coronary artery disease. There is nothing that can be done about age, gender or family history, but other risk factors can be modified through more heart-healthy hehaviors.
It takes a cardiologist to diagnose coronary artery disease. The cardiologist will obtain a health history, evaluate your symptoms, perform a physical examination, and do other tests and procedures to make the determination of coronary artery disease.
What are some heart-healthy behaviors?
Eat foods that are low in cholesterol and saturated fat, eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, legumes and grains, have your cholesterol checked, participate in a regular exercise progam, do not smoke, stop smoking if you are a smoker, keep blood sugar under control if you are a diabetic, have your blood pressure checked, keep it under control if you already have high blood pressure, and loose weight if you are over weight or obese. (Before you change your diet, try to loose weight or start an exercise program, please seek the advice of your dorctor or other health care professional.)
For more information about coronary artery disease, heart attact, cardiac arrest, contact your doctor or other health care provider. To learn CPR, please contact the American Heart Association.
I Am Going To Have My Peace of Heaven on Earth...
by Peggy A. Muhammad,R.N.
110-page booklet of affirmations of good health practices
Type II Diabetes
by Peggy A. Muhammad,R.N.
Audio-tape about the growing epidemic of type II diabetes. Ms. Muhammad discusses, signs, symptoms, complications, risk factors and treatment.
Maneuvering Through the Health Care System
by Peggy A. Muhammad, R.N.
Audio tape - Ms. Muhammad offers ways to help you reduce the stress and anxiety of clinic and hospital visits, provides information on informed consent, advance medical directives, medication safety and organ donation.
