Time plays a crucial role in surviving a heart attack. Delayed intervention will result in permanent heart damage and cardiac arrest. In the first hour of a heart attack, the cardiac muscle damage is minimal and the functioning of the heart can still be revived. If proper medical intervention is not ensured within the first 60 minutes of a heart attack – the golden hour – it literally becomes a matter of life and death for the affected individual.
What is a heart attack?
Heart attack is caused when heart muscles don’t get enough blood due to clot formation or blocked arteries and starts choking the heart muscles of blood supply which eventually leads to death. The only way to revive the heart after the onset of an attack is through timely medical intervention to remove the clot, clear the blocked artery or set up a bypass for proper blood circulation.
What is the golden hour?
Dr Vanita Arora, Senior Consultant Cardiac Electrophysiologist and Interventional Cardiologist, Department of Cardiac Pacing & Electrophysiology, Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, New Delhi says, “The heart muscle starts dying due to lack of blood and oxygen. Initially the affected heart muscles slowly go into a state of shock.”
“When the person is rushed to the hospital and if you have a cardiac catheterization laboratory then you take the patient immediately and an angiography can be done to spot the blockage and an emergency procedure (angioplasty) is done to restore the blood flow,” she says. Dr Arora also adds that depending on the nature of the clot and coronary artery blockage, sometimes blood clot busters are also given to the person to burst the errant clot and restore blood circulation.
Dr Mukesh Goel, Senior Consultant Cardiothoracic and Heart Surgery, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi, recalls a case of a man in his early 40s who drove to a medical facility in Delhi with his wife after he started feeling severe discomfort on the road. They approached a nearby nursing home which identified that he was suffering from a heart attack.
“It was confirmed that he had suffered a heart attack but he slipped into cardiac arrest. The man was constantly revived via regular CPR and shocks; meanwhile he was shifted to my hospital and an emergency angioplasty was done,” adds Dr Goel.
“He became conscious in a day and started responding positively. He fully recovered in a couple of days,” he adds.
Watch out for the symptoms
Experts point out the signs, especially unexpected and unexplainable signs, of heart attack that should be known by more people as it will facilitate immediate identification and action. These are signs to keep an eye on:
- Uneasiness
- Chest heaviness
- Breathlessness
- Sweating
Dr AB Mehta, Director, Department of Cardiology, Jaslok Hospital & Research Centre, Mumbai, India, highlights those between 45 and 60 years of age with a family history must always be on alert. Additionally, individuals with risk factors like excess stress, high cholesterol levels, obesity and diabetes should be mindful.
He further points out that there is a misconception that people believe pain due to heart attack only occurs at the left side of the chest. However, this is not true as it can occur in any part of the chest and can move to the jaw or the left arm. Sometimes, it can even move to the back or upper abdomen and the right arm.
How to act?
- Identify the symptoms
- Make the person comfortable
- Keep a few helplines on emergency dial
- Call for medical help immediately
- Inform someone as soon as the pain begins (especially, if alone)
Takeaways
Prompt identification and timely medical intervention during a heart attack increase the chances of survival. People must not ignore the unexpected and unexplainable signs like chest heaviness, breathlessness, chest pain and sweating. They should call for help immediately.
