The heart is a vital organ that constantly pumps blood throughout the body, providing oxygen and nutrients to the tissues and removing waste products. It consists of four chambers: two atriums at the top and two ventricles at the bottom.
The right side of the heart sends deoxygenated blood to the lungs to get oxygen, while the left side pumps oxygenated blood to the rest of the body.
It is important to keep the heart healthy, as it can be affected by various diseases such as coronary artery disease, heart failure, and arrhythmia. Regular physical activity, a balanced diet, and avoiding smoking are essential for a healthy heart.
Heart Attack:
A heart attack is a sudden stoppage of blood supply to the heart muscle. This usually occurs when a blood clot forms in the heart arteries and stops blood flow. This causes a lack of oxygen to the heart muscle, and if not treated quickly, the muscle may be damaged or die.
Common symptoms of a heart attack may include severe chest pain or discomfort, difficulty breathing, cold sweat, nausea, and upper body pain. It is a medical emergency and requires immediate medical attention. Timely treatment can save lives and prevent permanent damage to the heart.
The symptoms of a heart attack may include:
- Chest pain that occurs in the middle or left side of the chest and lasts for a long time.
- Breathing in a cold sweat
- Experience of sudden heaviness, constriction, or pain in the chest.
- Experience of a burning, sharp, or strange tingling sensation.
- Difficulty breathing.
- Difficulty laughing or doing other physical activities.
- Experience of vomiting, fatigue, and dizziness.
Heart failure:
Heart failure, also known as heart failure, is a condition in which the heart is not able to fully pump blood to the body as needed. This means that the heart is not able to send enough blood and oxygen to meet the body's needs.This condition can develop gradually or come on suddenly.
Symptoms of heart failure:
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain or pressure
- Fatigue
- irregular heartbeat
- Abdominal swelling or weight gain
- Vomiting
- swelling in the legs and feet.
Heart Attack Patients in India
Heart disease is increasing rapidly in India. An estimated 2.5 million people suffer from heart attacks every year.
The average age of heart disease in the Indian population is 50–55 years, which is about 10 years younger than in Western countries.
Heart Attack Patients in the World
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), heart disease (which includes heart attacks) is one of the leading causes of death globally.
In 2019, cardiovascular diseases caused approximately 17.9 million deaths, accounting for 32% of all global deaths. 85% of these deaths were caused by heart attacks and strokes.
Causes of Heart Attack:
- An unhealthy diet, i.e., a diet high in fat, cholesterol, and salt, can lead to plaque buildup in the arteries.
- Lack of regular physical activity can increase the risk of heart disease.
- Smoking damages the arteries and increases the risk of blood clots.
- Excessive alcohol consumption can increase the risk of heart disease.
- High blood pressure can damage the heart and arteries.
- High cholesterol can cause plaque buildup in the arteries, impeding blood flow.
- Diabetes is a major factor in heart disease.
- Excess weight puts extra pressure on the heart, increasing the chances of a heart attack.
- Prolonged stress
- Family history: i.e., if someone in the family has heart disease, then you may also be at risk.
Causes of heart failure
- high blood pressure and high cholesterol in the person
- Lack of timely treatment of heart diseases
- Lack of treatment for other conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and thyroid
- Smoking, excessive drinking, and excessive exercise
The number of patients with HF or heart failure in India ranges from 1.3 million to 4.6 million, with an annual incidence of 491 600–1.8 million.
Heart failure cases are increasing rapidly in India. It is especially increasing in big cities and suburbs.
According to the information of heart failure patients around the world, currently, about 26 million people are living with heart failure worldwide.
The chances of survival for such patients are very low. Their survival rate is also lower than that of colon, breast, or prostate cancer.
Diagnosis of a heart attack:
- Electrocardiography (ECG) is used to measure the activity of the heart.
- Blood test: Through a blood test, the status of enzymes can be checked, which may be indicative of a heart attack.
- Measurement of cardiac enzyme activity: It checks the level of cardiac enzymes in a highly excitable state.
- Cardiac catheterization: This test is done to take pictures of the heart and arteries.
Diagnosis of heart failure:
- Electrocardiography (ECG) and echocardiography: These tests are done to check the condition of the heart.
- Blood test: The blood test checks various parameters, such as brain neutral peptide (BNP) and troponin.
- Cardiac monitoring: This test regularly monitors the heart's activity. CT scan: This test is done to study the function and condition of the heart.
Based on these tests, the doctor diagnoses a heart attack or heart failure.
Treatment of a Heart Attack:
In case of a heart attack, immediate medical help is required, and there can be various measures for that, such as:
2 .Medications: Doctors usually prescribe medications to increase blood flow, reduce fatigue, and provide relaxation. This may include nitrates, blood thinners, beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, and others. Such as Asprin.
3 .Angioplasty and Stenting: This procedure is done to open or widen the blocked artery and install a stent so that blood flow can be regularized.
4 .Cardiac Rehabilitation: Physical exercise, dietary changes, and a healthy lifestyle can be resorted to to improve heart health as an Ayurvedic treatment.
The treatment of heart failure :
1. Taking medications prescribed by the doctor, such as diuretics, beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, and diuretics.
2. Following the appropriate physical exercises suggested by the medical team.
3. Eating a healthy diet and reducing salt and oil.
4. Regular checkups and monitoring of heart health, such as blood tests, ECG, and echocardiography.
5. Surgical treatment: In some cases, a heart transplant or heart registration may be required.
All these measures combine to help improve the condition of the individual and help them enjoy a healthy and active lifestyle. Apart from this, it is important to follow all the measures as advised by the doctor.
