“Heart Attack: The Silent Killer”
A heart attack is one of the leading causes of death among the population in the United States. It does not come with a warning, and it can happen to anyone at any age, although it most commonly occurs in older men, or people with a family history of heart disease. Having the proper education and an understanding of the causes and symptoms of this common killer can help save the lives of many people. Know how to help prevent the attack from happening by practicing a healthy, active and happy lifestyle. Learn how to recognize the symptoms in advance and never waste a minute of time. Call 9-1-1 immediately at the first signs of an oncoming heart attack, and If available at the time, take the proper dosage of aspirin promptly during the call to 9-1-1.
Definition and Facts
A heart attack, also known as myocardial infarction, is damage to a heart muscle caused by the deprivation of oxygen, which could be caused by a blockage in an artery leading to the heart. Studies have shown that nearly every 43 seconds, a person in the United States falls victim to a heart attack, and the number of heart attacks in America yearly are approximately 735,000 citizens. Out of those 735,000 people, 525,000 suffer from their first heart attack, and the remaining 210,000 are people who have already been victimized from an attack in the past. Of all of those suffering from a myocardial infarction, one of five attacks are silent, which means the damage has taken its toll without the person knowing it even occurred.
Symptoms & Complaints
The symptoms for men and women slightly vary but the majority of people who experience a heart attack complain of chest pains described as indigestion that may worsen with time. Chest pains are also described as a squeezing pain and pressure. Symptoms also accompanying the chest pains can include pain commonly in the left arm, but in some cases, the pain has been experienced in both arms. Another sign that can lead to a heart attack is fatigue and shortness of breath that can start days prior to the attack. Complaints of pain in the jaw, neck, back and stomach are also common, as well as cold sweats and nausea or vomiting.
Causes
The coronary arteries pump blood through the heart muscle providing the heart with oxygen to keep it alive. When the arteries become clogged with plaque caused from an abundance of calcium, proteins, and fats, they will no longer be able to provide the blood flow to the heart properly. Blood clots will then begin to develop and block the artery in its entirety, thus resulting in a heart attack caused from lack of oxygen to the heart.
Diagnosis & Tests
A healthcare provider will evaluate the patient through a physical examination and review of family health history to determine the possibility of a myocardial infarction. After the initial assessment, a series of blood tests may be performed to review the possibility of abnormal enzyme levels in the bloodstream. A patient may be tested for heart damage through the use of an electrocardiogram, also known as an ECG or EKG. An electrocardiogram is a quick and painless procedure where the patient is connected to a heart monitor, and the doctor will be alerted of any damage, abnormal wavelengths, or patterns in the heart. Within as little as three hours from the time a heart attack is recognized, the patient may undergo a thrombolysis procedure. This procedure contains a clot-dissolving product that is injected into the blood clot, helping to clear the arteries of the clots and start blood flow to the heart again.
Treatment & Therapy
Aspirin is a common medication used during the first signs of a heart attack to prevent the blockage from clotting any further. It is made up of particles that reduce the blockage and work toward clearing out the rest of the clog. It is recommended to take aspirin at the first sign of a potential heart attack. In such a case, patients are typically advised to chew four low dose baby aspirins or chew two adult aspirins to get the medication into the bloodstream as quickly as possible. This is also a common daily regiment for those who have had heart attacks in the past. Whether it is prescribed daily or not, it is always a good over-the-counter drug to have on hand in case of emergencies. Once a patient has a history of a myocardial infarction, it is common to find the patient taking nitroglycerin daily, with extras on standby in case of a potential future attack. Coronary Angioplasty or Coronary Artery Bypass Graft surgery (CABG) may need to be performed in the future if a thrombolysis treatment was not performed at the time of the heart attack. This surgery will be completed to improve the blood supply to the heart muscle, eliminating the possibility of a future attack.
Prevention & Prophylaxis
While a myocardial infarction cannot always be completely prevented, there are things that a person can do in attempts to avoid having one. These are usually the basic prevention measures of anything else, which include a healthy diet, exercise, minimal to no stress, and no smoking. Also, try to prevent other health conditions by maintaining a healthy blood pressure, healthy cholesterol, and prevent the possible onset of diabetes. It is also a good idea to see a physician regularly for checkups, especially if the patient has a family history of heart attacks or angina. With a family history of the disease, a doctor may put the patient on preventives or other daily medication to monitor the blood flow through the arteries. The patient may be advised to minimize or eliminate some regular physical activity for a period of time while recuperating from a myocardial infarction. A physician may recommend a cardiac rehabilitation program to educate and assist with the developing and maintaining of lifestyle changes.
*This is just one of my original articles. It is not posted on any of my blogs.*
Is Your Dog Depressed?
This is my 2 year old maltipoo Bugsy. He and I are the best of friends. He is another inspiration for my blog and many of the things I write about. I observe his behavior and learn a lot from him. Last week I experienced something very different in him that never happened before. He was acting very strange. He didn’t care about going outside, eating or most importantly, he didn’t follow me around everywhere I went. Instead, all my Bugsy wanted to do was lay around and sleep, burying his head most of the time. I tried to talk to him but he turned his head. I tried to kiss him and he didn’t care. I began to worry as I thought about what might be the cause of his unusual behavior. While observing his reactions, I watched as he went through the house smelling everything and looking behind the furniture. It was at that moment I realized what was wrong with my faithful companion.
My son was visiting and had left the day before. Now, I know what you are thinking, he was looking for his brother. No, I knew that wasn’t the problem because my son spends many weekends at home while he is on break from school. No, it wasn’t that he missed his brother, it was the puppy his brother brought home with him that he was missing. Bugsy spent a lot of time with the 8 week old puppy. In only a few days they became strong companions. Bugsy taught Nuppie the puppy many things. He taught her how to go potty outside and even how to climb up and down the stairs. After a little research, I realized that Bugsy was experiencing doggie depression.
Yes, there is a such thing as doggie depression and it really isn’t much different than human depression. The only difference is that a dog should overcome the depression within a few days to a few months. Yes, they can be treated with medication but only for a short time. In the case of Bugsy, he was only depressed for about a day and a half because it took me almost an entire day to figure out what was happening, and then after I caught on, it took me another half day to bring him back to himself.
A dog may suffer depression after a change such as a new home, a new baby or even a new spouse or family member. A big reason for dog depression may be the loss of a human companion or another animal companion. Just remember that animals have feelings too and you will want to remind them they are still loved. They cannot talk, so it is important to learn a form of communication with your furry friend that you can both understand. Offer him a little extra TLC and reassure him that he is still safe.
In addition to the added TLC and assurance, you will want to include him in the things that make him happy, such as playing with a ball or frisbee. Perhaps a car ride to the park will make him happy. Whatever it is that he likes, if you see his tail wag, reward him with a treat. Reward him for the positive, but don’t feed into the negative. Regardless of what people may think, animals are smart and if your companion is like mine, you know he is more human than people give him credit for. If you are sad he will be sad, so the best thing you can do for your depressed pal is to be as positive as you can with him and in no time he should come around. If however you feel he is not getting better, please take him to the vet for a complete check up because he could have a more serious medical condition that is causing the depression.
*This is an exerpt taken from one of my blogs: http://lwrites4you.wix.com/animal-talk *
"My Dream" (In the Eyes & Voice of My Dog)
Hi friends! Mommy doesn’t know, but when she was sleeping last night I watched that thingy in her room that has pictures on it, I think she calls it tv. I saw doggies in boxes with slats like I was in one time. They looked sad and that made me sad. I wish they could have Mommy like I have. I was gonna lick Mommy ‘cause I wanted her to know I was happy now, but she was sleep and I didn’t want to bother her, so I just pushed button on the little thingy that makes the pictures move. I saw peoples putting food together. It looked good ‘cause people food is always best. I got hungry then, but I didn’t go downstairs to eat ‘cause Mommy was still sleep and I couldn’t eat without her, so I pushed button again. I saw words moving, but I couldn’t read them, ‘cause I’m a dog and I’m not supposed to read, but the music was nice. I watched the words move and listened to the music, but then I got sleepy, so I sleeped. When I sleeped I saw people food and doggy bones mixed up in Frisbees flying around the room with nice music. Doggies were eating people food and peoples were sitting in the boxes with slats, eating doggy bones. That was funny, well not the part about the peoples sitting in the boxes with slats, but the part about them eating the bones was funny. Then I didn’t hear music anymore and all the peoples were gone. I opened my eyes and the music and pictures were all gone from the TV. The room was dark, so I got way under the covers and snuggled with Mommy until there was noise on her little thingy beside her bed. I knew that meant I should put my paw on her and lick her face ‘cause she was supposed to open her eyes. Uh oh! I just heard Mommy say it is time for bath! I need to go find my special blanket and hide under it so she can’t find me. I will write tomorrow if bath doesn’t hurt me. Bye bye.
*This is an exerpt taken from another one of my blogs: https://bugsysjournal.wordpress.com/ *