New
Therapy for Heart Attacks
New drugs can stop or limit the damage of a heart attack,
but only if the patient gets help immediately, experts say.
Once the flow of blood to a portion of the heart is blocked
for several hours, the damage is irreversible.
Knowing the symptoms of a heart attack, which can be wide-ranging
and confusing, is extremely important. So is knowing risk
factors, such as obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and
family history.
Typical symptoms of a heart attack include a crushing pain
in the
chest, sweating, difficulty breathing, weakness and pain in
the arms, particularly the left. Symptoms one could attribute
to something else can cause devastating delays in seeking
treatment.
These include feelings of indigestion, back shoulder and
neck pain
and nausea. Early signs of trouble may appear during physical
activity and disappear with rest. Any numbness of tingling
of the fingers or toes, dizziness, shortness of breath or
difficulty in breathing should not be ignored.
Clinical studies, laboratory investigations and a number
of surveys
show certain personal characteristics and life-styles pointing
to increased danger of heart attack. These danger signs are
called "risk factors." These well established risk
factors are high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, cigarette
smoking and diabetes mellitus.
Attempts at modifying risk factors most certainly have contributed
to the declining death rate from heart attacks in the United
States.
During the 1960's, U.S. death rates from heart attacks were
still rising, but today's figures show that heart attacks
have fallen dramatically. And, overall, heart-related problems
have declined about 25 percent in the last decade. This decrease
undoubtedly is due to better medical care of heart attack
victims, but it is likely that a sizable percentage is related
to modification of risk factors.
Medical technology is advancing at an increasingly rapid
rate. More
drugs and medical technology are available than ever before
and the
entire population is now more aware of the seriousness of
heart attacks. There has been an increased interest in learning
CPR and many community organizations now offer this valuable
training.
Of particular concern by doctors and researchers is the role
that the American diet plays in the health of one's heart.
Obesity predisposes individuals to coronary heart disease.
Some of the reasons for this are known, but others are not.
The major causes of obesity in Americans are excessive intake
of calories and inadequate exercise. When caloric intake is
excessive, some of the excess frequently is saturated fat,
which further raises the blood cholesterol. Thus, obesity
contributes to higher coronary risk in a variety of ways.
Many of the major risk factors for a heart attack are silent
and much of the responsibility for their detection lies with
each of us as individuals. Regular checkups are particularly
necessary if there is a family history of heart attacks of
heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels
or diabetes. others are not.
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