Heart Attack Archive

Chewing an aspirin tablet during the first symptoms of what could be a heart attack can save your life. But in order for it to work properly, you must understand which kind of aspirin to take, and how to take it.

Why?

A heart attack is usually the result of a blood clot in a coronary artery that blocks blood flow. Aspirin inhibits the formation of a clot and helps restore blood flow.

High LDL cholesterol levels are known to increase the risk of heart attack, and lowering LDL levels has been proven to help protect against heart attack.

Both surgical and nonsurgical options can prevent stroke.

The same process that causes obstructions in the heart's arteries can block the carotid arteries in the neck, a disease known as carotid stenosis. If these interfere with blood flow, a stroke can occur.

Symptoms of pending stroke (see box) usually require treatment to reduce the risk. One option calls for opening the artery and removing the plaque—a surgical procedure known as endarterectomy. A less-invasive option, called carotid stenting, involves inserting a catheter into an artery in the groin, advancing it to the carotid artery, opening the blockage with a balloon, and leaving behind a wire cage (or stent) to hold the artery open.

So why don't more take advantage of it after a heart attack?

Cardiac rehabilitation is recommended for both men and women after a heart attack or coronary artery bypass surgery, Through a structured, multi-week program that promotes supervised exercise, proper medication use, and a healthy lifestyle, the cardiovascular system recovers and stamina returns. People feel better, are able to do more, and are less likely to become bedridden or to die from heart disease.

Contrast-enhanced computed coronary tomographic angiography (CCTA), a noninvasive technology, accurately diagnosed or ruled out heart attack much faster than standard evaluation methods.

Heart attack survivors are at high risk for another heart attack or stroke, but until recently, no one knew why. Now an international study led by Harvard physicians and published online in Nature has found that heart attack triggers an immune response that accelerates the development of atherosclerosis and inflammation in cholesterol-filled plaques embedded in artery walls. "It's an ancient ‘fight-or-flight' response to injury, but instead of healing the wound, it accelerates the underlying disease," says senior author Dr. Matthias Nahrendorf of the Center for Systems Biology at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and an assistant professor of radiology at Harvard Medical School.

During a heart attack, sympathetic nervous system activation causes stem cells to be released from the bone marrow. Stem cells induce production of monocytes and other immune cells in the spleen. These cells accumulate at yet-unruptured plaques, aggravating existing inflammation and triggering the release of enzymes that may cause those plaques to rupture.

Q. I am 90 years old and have had severe heart failure for seven years after having a heart attack. I have an implantable defibrillator. It has never gone off. It is near the end of its lifetime, and the cardiologist asked me if I want it replaced. What would you advise?

A. Many people with severely damaged hearts receive implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) because they have a high risk of sudden death from rhythm abnormalities. Fortunately, you have not had this problem, but you remain at considerable risk. If a dangerous arrhythmia occurs, the defibrillator might save your life.

A new report answers the questions on everyone's mind.

After a heart attack or revascularization procedure, many people wonder whether it will be safe to resume sexual activity, and if so, when. They may worry about having another heart attack, or about dying during intercourse. If they have had bypass surgery, they may worry that sexual activity might be painful. Despite the importance of sex in a healthy relationship, many people (including doctors) are uncomfortable discussing it. As a result, questions go unasked, and information is not volunteered. The whole issue becomes the elephant in the room.

An aspirin a day has been shown to lower the risk of a first heart attack in men and a first stroke in women, but it also increases the risk of major bleeding in the digestive tract or brain.

The antibiotic azithromycin sometimes can trigger abnormal heart rhythms. Though uncommon, it is more likely to happen to people with heart failure, diabetes, or a previous heart attack.