What are short term effects of heart disease?

Answer 1

Heart attack basically occurs when blood flow to a section of heart muscle becomes blocked. If the flow of blood isn't restored quickly, the section of heart muscle becomes damaged from lack of oxygen and begins to die.

The most common heart attack signs and symptoms are:

• Chest discomfort or pain-uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain in the center of the chest that can be mild or strong. This discomfort or pain lasts more than a few minutes or goes away and comes back.
• Upper body discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach.
• Shortness of breath may occur with or before chest discomfort.
• Other signs include nausea (feeling sick to your stomach), vomiting, lightheadedness or fainting, or breaking out in a cold sweat.

As per the study about half of all heart attack victims wait at least two hours before seeking help. This increases their chance of sudden death or being disabled. The longer the artery remains blocked during a heart attack, the more damage will be done to the heart. If the blood supply is cut off severely or for a long time, muscle cells suffer irreversible injury and die. This can cause the patient to die. That is why it is important to recognize the signs of a heart attack and seek prompt medical attention at the nearest hospital with 24-hour emergency cardiac care.

If you think you or someone you know may be having a heart attack:

• Call Ambulance within a few minutes-5 at the most-of the start of symptoms.
• If your symptoms stop completely in less than 5 minutes, still call your doctor.
• Only take an ambulance to the hospital. Going in a private car can delay treatment.
• Take a nitroglycerin pill if your doctor has prescribed this type of medicine

Acting fast at the first sign of heart attack symptoms can save your life and limit damage to your heart. Treatment is most effective when started within 1 hour of the beginning of symptoms.

In USA - call 911 or in the UK 999 (L)