Recognizing the symptoms of heart attacks and arrhythmia

The effects of a heart attack can have a long-lasting, devastating impact on you and your family. That’s why being aware of the symptoms could potentially help you or someone you love get the necessary medical attention when seconds count.

According to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, a heart attack occurs when the flow of blood to a section of the heart is blocked and the heart is deprived of oxygen.

• A heart attack may potentially be caused by a clot in a coronary artery or by another event that cuts off vital blood supplies to the heart muscle.

The medical term for a heart attack is "myocardial infarction," often shortened to MI.

• This term indicates that some cells in the heart muscle (myocardium) have died because of lack of blood (an infarction).

If blood flow to the heart isn’t restored quickly, the section of the heart that can’t get oxygen begins to die. In turn, the amount of damage to the heart tissue depends on how long the blood supply was cut off.

• In the worst-case scenarios, the heart stops beating altogether and goes into cardiac arrest.
• With rapid treatment damage to the heart muscle can potentially be halted and, if blood flow is restored in time, a full recovery is possible.

If there is a delay in treatment, a part of the heart muscle may be permanently damaged leaving an area of scar tissue.

• If the scar tissue is extensive, you may experience long-term breathlessness or other related symptoms.

Sometimes a heart attack can disturb the flow of electrical impulses that normally generate your heartbeat and upset the sequence of regular heart muscle contractions that drives blood around your body.

• If this disruption happens, you may develop heart-rhythm abnormalities, known as arrhythmias, where your heart beats irregularly.
• Arrhythmias are most common in the first three to six hours following a heart attack.
• Some are mild and may cause symptoms such as: palpitations, dizziness, chest pain, upper body discomfort, shortness of breath, sweating, nausea or fatigue. However, others can be life-threatening.

Signs of a heart attack can vary from person to person, so never ignore any of these symptoms!

If you are in the hospital, arrhythmias can often be detected and treated – another reason to seek prompt emergency assistance if you believe you're having a heart attack.

• If damage to the heart muscle is extensive following a heart attack, heart failure may follow.
• A damaged heart usually cannot pump strongly enough to circulate blood around the body, and tends cause breathlessness that may possibly become increasingly severe as fluid accumulates in the lungs.

Heart failure can usually be diagnosed quickly by a qualified healthcare provider through a physical examination and various tests.

• It can also be treated effectively in the hospital with drugs that help to prevent further heart muscle damage and reduce the heart's workload.
• Severe cases may sometimes need surgery to bypass the blocked coronary artery and restore blood flow.

The effects of a heart attack can have devastating consequences. Knowing what symptoms to look for and seeking immediate medical treatment could be the key to helping you, or someone you love, get the care needed in an emergency.

N.B.: Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before starting any exercise program, changing your diet or taking supplements of any kind. The general information in this article is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, instruction or treatment.