The one definitive treatment for cardiac arrest is defibrillation.
But most heart attacks can be prevented. The major risk factors of a heart attack are well known in the medical community. They include:
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Obesity
- Smoking
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Stress
Men over age 50 with a family history of heart attack are particularly at risk for heart attack. Post-menopausal women are at a higher risk than pre-menopausal women, although high levels of estrogen, which can be attained with hormone replacement therapy, may protect them.
A cardiologist runs many tests on a suspected heart attack victim. Some of those tests include: an ECG, which is done early to assess the condition; an angiogram; and an echocardiogram.
Once the patient has gotten emergency care and the prognosis of heart attack has been confirmed, the usual hospital stay is at least 36 hours. The patient will receive a painkiller, such as morphine, to ease the chest pains.
The cardiologist will usually recommend a medication called a vasodilator, like nitroglycerine, to expand the blood vessels; a beta-adrenergic blocker to quiet down the heart; and aspirin to reduce the risk of blood clot.
While hospitalized, an ECG machine monitors the patient constantly. In some cases, the cardiologist will perform angioplasty to remove a clot or reopen a clogged artery.
During hospitalization, the cardiologist may recommend the insertion of a pacemaker to sense and correct any irregularities associated with the patient’s natural heartbeat.
Some medical experts estimate that up to 30% of fatal heart attacks and follow-up surgeries can be avoided with healthy lifestyle changes. The majority of heart attack sufferers do not take these precautions, however.
