Saturday, 21 July 2012

Survive from Heart Attack-Complete Heart Care and Information




Survive from Heart Attack-Complete Heart Care and Information

No need to explain about heart and its functions as we all know if it stops for a while, everything stops and only people around you preserve only your smiles. Heart is a part in our body pumps rich blood to every living cell in the body. It must continuously contract and relax in order to deliver the oxygenated blood to all living cells. An average heart beats ranges between 60 to 100 in a minute and pumps in an average of 1900 gallons of blood a day.

So, what should we do now?

We need to know about the basic and sudden risks with heart functioning to avoid Heart Attack or Heart Stroke, a major ailment of heart. Without notice, heart can stop its working due to various reasons, which leads to death ultimately. We need to understand that Heart diseases include the risk of hereditary and that is why all the doctors are requesting to undergo health check that passes age of 30.

Understand this…

“Your heart is beating, keeps on repeating,
As you stress out in your board meeting, or something rating
Your heart is beating, keeps on repeating,
As pizzas and pastries you go on eating,
Listen to your heart, hear its plea for help,
Take care of it NOW – for time is fleeting.”

Heart Anatomy

Because the heart is composed primarily of cardiac muscle tissue that continuously contracts and relaxes, it must have a constant supply of oxygen and nutrients. The coronary arteries are the network of blood vessels that carry oxygen- and nutrient-rich blood to the cardiac muscle tissue.
The blood leaving the left ventricle exits through the aorta, the body’s main artery. Two coronary arteries, referred to as the "left" and "right" coronary arteries, emerge from the beginning of the aorta, near the top of the heart.

See the Images below


 















What is Heart Attack / Stroke?

When cholesterol plaque accumulates to the point of blocking the flow of blood through a coronary artery, the cardiac muscle tissue fed by the coronary artery beyond the point of the blockage is deprived of oxygen and nutrients. This area of cardiac muscle tissue ceases to function properly. The condition when a coronary artery becomes blocked causing damage to the cardiac muscle tissue it serves is called a myocardial infarction or heart attack.

What are the Causes for heart stroke?

 See the video here


  • Emotional stress or pain
  • Age risk factors
  • Consumption of drugs
  • Smoking
  • Exposure to extreme cold
  • Angina (An illness where not enough oxygen is reaching patient’s heart
  • Extreme cholesterol levels in blood
  • Diabetes
  • Consumption of large quantities of animal fats and oils 
  • Hereditary risks
  • Obesity
  • Hypertension
  • Physical inactivity
  • Depression
  • lack of care 















What are the Symptoms of Heart Stroke?

  • Chest pain associated with shortness of breathe
  • Profuse sweating and nausea
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Squeezing or heavy pressure around heart
  • Light headedness and dizziness
  • Continuous cough associated with severe pain
  • Anxiety, cough and faint

*Please keep emergency doctor number and ambulance number in mind and take immediate attention if any above symptoms you notice.

HOW TO SURVIVE A HEART ATTACK WHEN YOU ARE ALONE

Since many people are alone when they suffer a heart attack, without help, the person whose heart is beating improperly and who begins to feel faint, has only about 10 seconds left before losing consciousness.

However, these victims can help themselves by coughing repeatedly and very vigorously.

  •  A deep breath should be taken before each cough, and the cough must be deep and prolonged, as when producing sputum from deep inside the chest.
  • A breath and a cough must be repeated about every two seconds without let-up until help arrives, or until the heart is felt to be beating normally again.
  • Deep breaths get oxygen into the lungs and coughing movements squeeze the heart and keep the blood circulating.
  • The squeezing pressure on the heart also helps it regain normal rhythm. In this way, heart attack victims can get to a hospital.
First Aid after above steps

  • Take an aspirin(After your doctor’s advice). Aspirin makes platelets less sticky and can minimize blood clot formation and prevent further blockage of the artery.
  • To rest. When the body does work, the heart has to pump blood to supply oxygen to the muscles and clear the waste products of metabolism. When heart function is limited because it doesn't have an adequate blood supply itself, asking it to do more work may cause more damage and risk further complications. Treatment
  •  
Some Question and Answers by a legendary Heart Surgeon Dr. Devi Prasad Shetty

Q What are the five thumb rules for a layman to take care of his heart?

1.       Diet – Less of carbohydrate, more of protein, less oil.
2. Exercise – half an hour’s walk, at least five days a week. Avoid lifts and avoid sitting for a long time.
3. Quit smoking
4. Control weight
5. Control blood pressure and sugar.

Q Is eating non-veg food (fish) good for the heart?
No

Q. It’s still a grave shock to hear that some apparently healthy person get a cardiac arrest. How do we understand it in perspective?
      This is called silent attack. That is why, we recommend everyone past the age of 30 to undergo routine health check-ups.

Q  Are heart diseases hereditary?
      Yes

Q What are the ways in which the heart is stressed? What practices do you suggest to de-stress?
      Change your attitude towards life. Do not look for perfection in everything in life.

      Q Is walking better than jogging or is more intensive exercise required to keep a healthy heart?
      Walking is better than jogging since jogging leads to early fatigue and injury to joints.
  
Q You have done so much for the poor and needy. What has inspired you to do so?
      Mother Theresa who was my patient.


Q Can people with low blood pressure suffer heart diseases?
      Extremely rare.

Q Does cholesterol accumulate right from an early age (I’m currently only 22) or do you have to worry about it only after you are above 30 years of age?
      Cholesterol accumulates from childhood.

Q How do irregular eating habits affect the heart?
      You tend to eat junk food when the habits are irregular and your body’s enzyme releases for digestion gets confused.

Q Can a healthy person without a medical history have a heart attack due to stress?
      Extremely rare

Q How can I control cholesterol content without using medicines?
      Control diet, walk and eat walnut.

Q Can yoga prevent heart ailments?
Yes, Yoga helps

      Q which is the best and worst food for the heart?
      Best food is fruits, worst are oils.
  
Q If a person has undergone angioplasty, what are the chances of the stent getting displaced?
      Stent doesn’t get displaced. It can get blocked. You could prevent it by controlling sugar, cholesterol and taking medication to prevent clots.
  
Q Do negative emotions like depression or anger always cause heart disease?
      Not always. On the other hand, positive emotions help recovery of the heart.

      Q I have read about music therapy for the heart and the mind. What is your opinion on this?
      I Guess, it helps.

      Q Which oil is better – gingili, groundnut, sunflower, saffola, olive?
      All oils are bad. The so-called best oil company has the largest marketing budget.

Q What is the routine check-up one should go through? Is there any specific test?
      Routine blood test to ensure sugar, cholesterol is ok. Check BP, Treadmill test after an echo.

      Q How different was it in treating Noor Fatima, the little kid from Pakistan?
      It was extremely difficult because of the media attention. As far as the medical treatment is concerned, she was like any other child with a complex heart problem.

      Q What are the first aid steps to be taken on a heart attack ?
      Help the person into a sleeping position, put an Aspirin tablet under the tongue with a Sorbitrate tablet if available, and rush him to coronary care unit since the maximum casualty takes place within the first hour.

Q How do you differentiate between pain caused by a heart attack and that cause due to gastric trouble ?
      Extremely difficult without ECG.

Q Can drinking less water lead to heart problems ?
      No. However, drinking plenty of water in normal people helps preserve good health.

Q Is it true that diabetic women seem to have 3 to 7 times greater risk of developing heart diseases than non-diabetic women? Is it the same with high BP patients as well ?
      Women are protected by the hormones till the age of 45. After that, their risk increases like men and in general, the result of treatment on heart patients who are women is slightly poorer than men.

Q What are some of the precautions during pregnancy to avoid heart problems in the new born ?
German measles, which causes congenital abnormalities in the babies. No smoking.

Q What is the main cause of a steep increase in heart problems amongst youngsters? I see people of about 30-40 years of age having heart attacks and serious heart problems.
      Increased awareness has increased incidents. Also, sedentary lifestyles, smoking, junk food, lack of exercise in a country where people are genetically three times more vulnerable for heart attacks than Europeans and Americans.

Q What is the right time to check the BP in any person?
      Past the age of 30 and earlier, if you have symptoms.

Q Is it possible for a person for a person to have BP outside the normal range of 120/80 and yet to be perfectly healthy?
      Yes

Q Are there any symptoms for heart problems, which we need to be aware of ?
      Shortness of breath on exertion, and chest pain.

Q If a person has had a heart attack, how frequently is regular heart check-up recommend?

Once in 6 months.

Q Marriages within close relatives can lead to heart problems for the child. Is it true?
      Yes, co-sanguinity leads to congenital abnormalities and you may not have a software engineer as a child.

Q Many of us have an irregular daily routine and many a time we have to stay in office till late nights. Does this affect our heart? What precautions would you recommend?
      When you are young, nature protects you against all these irregularities. However, as you grow older, respect the biological clock.

Q How can we find out about blockage of arteries, beforehand?
      Routine cardiac evaluation by blood test, ECGs, TMTs, Stress Thallium Scan, Cardiac CT Scan for Calcium score.

Q Does a recurring pain in the left arm signify any heart related ailment?
      Usually, you get chest discomfort or shortness of breath, months or years before the heart attack. So, when in doubt, go for a heart check-up, which should not take more than a couple of hours.

Q Will taking anti-hypertensive drugs cause some other complications (short/long term)  Yes, most drugs have some side effects. However, modern anti-hypertensive drugs are extremely safe.

Q Will consuming more coffee/tea lead to heart attacks?
      No

Q What are the chances of lean people developing heart complications? Are they at less risk?
      Obese people are at a higher risk. Lean people also develop heart attacks, but primarily because of genetic predisposition.

Q Is it true that after open-heart surgery, patients lose memory-recall to some extent?
      No. Especially after bypass grafting on a beating heart, incidence of neurological problems have come down significantly.

Q Are Asthma patients more prone to heart disease?
      No

Q How would you define junk food?
      Fried food like Kentucky, McDonalds, Samosas, and even Masala Dosas.

Q You mentioned that Indians are three times more vulnerable. What is the reason for this, as Europeans and Americans also eat a lot of junk food ?
      Every race is vulnerable to some disease and unfortunately Indians are vulnerable for the most expensive disease.

Q Does consuming bananas help reduce hypertension?
      No

Q Is there any cure for chronic palpitations?
      The patient should be investigated and if there is a cause for palpitation like an electrical abnormality of the heart, this can be rectified by a procedure called radio-frequency-ablation.

Q How would you rate the health facilities currently available in India?
      There are institutions, which are as good or even better than the one in the US and Europe. However, they are exceptions. In general, the qualities of health-care available to the masses are poor.

Q If there is a small hole in the heart, what are the possible ways of curing it? Is operation the only solution?
      Small holes in children less than 6 months of age usually closes. But the decision not to operate should be taken by the specialists who are experts in treating children with heart problems.

Q Are emotions really controlled by heart?
      No. The heart is just a slave of the brain and it is the brain, which controls the emotions.

Q If a person does not do any physical exercise, he is bound to have shortness of breath on exertion; say climbing stairs. Is this an indication of heart disease?
      No. But if one has difficulty in breathing on mild exertion, it is better to go for a heart check-up.

Q Can a person help himself during a heart attack?
      Yes. Lie down comfortably and put an aspirin tablet of any description under the tongue and ask someone to take you to the nearest coronary-care-unit without any delay and do not wait for the ambulance since most of the time, the ambulance does not turn up.

Q Do, in any way, low white-blood-cells and low hemoglobin-count lead to heart problems?
      No. But it is ideal to have normal hemoglobin level to increase your exercise capacity.

Q Sometimes, due to the hectic schedule, we are not able to exercise. So, does walking while doing daily chores at home or climbing the stairs in the house, work as a substitute for exercise?
      Certainly. Avoid sitting continuously for more than half an hour and even the act of getting out of the chair and going to another chair and sitting helps a lot.

Q Is there a relation between heart problems and blood sugar?
      Yes. A strong relationship is there since diabetics are more vulnerable to heart attacks than non-diabetics.

Q Do bypass surgeries reduce the risk of future heart attacks ?
      It significantly reduces the risk of heart attack.

Q What are the things one needs to take care of after a heart operation?
      Diet, exercise, drugs on time. Control Cholesterol, BP and weight.

Q Are people working on night shifts more vulnerable to heart disease when compared to day shift workers?
      No.

Q Can you brief us about angina attack? How major it is?
      Angina is the pain, which comes on exertion and goes away with rest and medication. One has to be investigated in detail to plan treatment.

Q What are the modern anti-hypertensive drugs?
      There are hundreds of drugs and your doctor will chose the right combination for your problem. But my suggestion is to avoid the drugs and go for natural ways of controlling blood pressure by walk, diet to reduce weight and changing attitudes towards lifestyle.

Q Does dispirin or similar headache pills increase the risk of heart attacks?
      No

Q If there is about 85 percent blockage in the arteries, can the person be treated without surgery? If not, what other remedies and the power of your heart muscles
      It depends on collateral or natural bypass, the quality of other arteries and the power of your heart muscles. It’s impossible to give an opinion without seeing the angiography film.

Q There is a feeling that bypass is unnecessarily being performed in some cases. When is bypass really needed?
      When you have blockages affecting major arteries, bypass is the best option. I am sure, conscientious doctors will not perform an operation when it is not required.


Q Is it true that mechanical valves can fail any moment?
      No. If you take medication to prevent clot formation and maintain the INR at accepted levels, the valve cannot get blocked. However, like any mechanical gadget, it can fail and fortunately, such incidences are extremely low.

Q Can you brief me on pulmonary stenosys problems? What are the complications involved and what care needs to be taken?
      In this condition, the pulmonary valve is narrower at birth and putting a balloon across the valve and dilating it can easily correct it.

Q Why is it the rate of heart attacks more in men than in women?
      Nature protects women till the age of 45.

Q How can one keep the heart in a good condition?
      Eat a healthy diet, avoid junk food, exercise every day, do not smoke and, go for a health checkup if you are past the age of 30 for at least once in two years.  And WORK VERY HARD.

Prevention & Dietary Tips
1. Daily intake of Emblica myrobalan (amla) and lemon helps in avoiding heart problems.
2. Beetroot juice is the most effective against heart ailments.
3. Daily intake of 2-3 pieces of garlic boiled in milk is advised for preventing heart problems.
4. Drinking parsley tea once or twice a day is helpful.
5. Fresh grapefruits tone up the heart.
6. Apple juice and apple jam can be taken for heart stimulation

Home Tips

1. 1/4 tbs. powdered cardamom should be added when boiling tea.
2. 1 to 2 tbs juice of snake gourd leaves, should be taken thrice a day.
3. 2-3 grams of spikenard with a pinch of camphor and cinnamon should be consumed
4. A mixture of honey and a spoon of tulsi powder should be had on an empty stomach everyday.
5. Daily intake of 3-5 soaked almond in the morning and one glass of milk with honey gives strength to the heart.

Lifestyle Tips

1. Avoid smoking.
2. Excess of salt should be avoided.
3. Alcohol consumption should be restricted.
4. Daily exercise or brisk walks helps in reducing risk of heart troubles.

Useful Links for more information:

Best Cardiac (Heart) Surgeons in India

Dr.Devi Prasad Shetty
(Chairman & M.D. of Narayana Hrudayalaya, Benguluru)
Narayana Hrudayalaya is an institute where the rich and the poor are treated at par. The poor can avail of the services at a subsidized rate or even free of cost. This is the dream of Dr. Devi Shetty who heads this ‘hospital with a heart’.
Ph: +91 80 7122 2222


Dr.Naresh Trehan
(Chairman & M.D. of Medanta, Gurgaon-Haryana)
Medanta – The Medicity is one of India's largest multi-super specialty institutes located in Gurgaon, a bustling town in the National Capital Region. Founded by eminent cardiac surgeon, Dr. Naresh Trehan, the institution has been envisioned with the aim of bringing to India the highest standards of medical care along with clinical research, education and training. Medanta is governed under the guiding principles of providing medical services to patients with care, compassion, commitment.
Website: www.medanta.org
+91- 124 4141414
+91- 124 4411441

Dr.Vivek Jawali
Dr. Jawali brings to Fortis/Wockhardt Heart Hospital a vast experience of performing more than 18000 Cardiac surgeries and has presented more than 100 scientific papers in national and international forums. He has also performed India’s first minimally invasive bypass surgery (MIDCAB), and also a minimally invasive valve replacement.
Mob/Tel: 08026567899, 91-80- 66214444 / 22544444/9663367253

Dr.S.Padmavathi
Senior Consultant Cardiologist,
National Heart Institute, New Delhi
Dr S Padmavati was born in Burma and received training in Cardiology in the UK, USA and Sweden. She is now Director of the National Heart Institute and President of the All India Heart Foundation. She has done research on high blood pressure, coronary artery disease and rheumatic heart disease and has many publications to her credit. She is an Emeritus Professor of Medicine and Cardiology of the University of Delhi. She is the recipient of many awards including Padma Vibhushan, Harward Medical International, BC Roy award, Kamla Menon Research award, and D.Sc (Hon) Madras University among many others.

Dr.Ramakanth Panda
VICE CHAIRMAN & MANAGING DIRECTOR
CHIEF CONSULTANT: CARDIOVASCULAR THORACIC SURGERY
Dr. Panda is credited and recognized amongst his peers as being among the first surgeons in the country to introduce the concept of 'total arterial revascularization', as well as being one of the pioneers of "off-pump" bypass surgery, redo bypass surgery, high risk surgeries patients
and so on..

24 hours helpline: +91-22-6698 6666


Dr.Sharat Tandon
Head of Non-Invasive Cardiology
and Cardiac Intensive Care

Dr.Viresh Mahajan
Dr.Viresh Mahajan MD (Peadiatrics), DNB (Peadiatric Cardiology) at Max Super Speciality Hospital, East Wing (A unit of Devki Devi Foundation), Saket.
He was associated with Department of cardiac catheterisation Laboratory at Childrens Hospital, Boston, USA and exposure to Fatal cardiology at Queen charlotte Hospital, London
New delhi

Best Heart Care Hospitals in India

Asian Heart Institute and Research Centre, Mumbai

The Asian Heart Institute and Research Centre, Mumbai, is a 250 bedded speciality heart hospital which offers expert cardiac care at a reasonable price. It is designed to meet international standards in cardiac care. It is a desired destination for medical tourism, attracting patients from Africa where there is a lack of good quality doctors and infrastructure and from the United States and Europe where medical care is extremely expensive with long waiting lists.

Escorts Heart Institute and Research Centre Ltd., New Delhi

This institute provides state-of-the-art facilities which match global standards. It conducts ethical research with the aim of developing cheaper modes of treatment for cardiac patients.

Narayana Hrudayalaya, Bangalore

Narayana Hrudayalaya is an institute where the rich and the poor are treated at par. The poor can avail of the services at a subsidized rate or even free of cost. This is the dream of Dr. Devi Shetty who heads this ‘hospital with a heart’.

Manipal Heart Foundation, Bangalore

The Manipal Heart Foundation is a part of the Manipal Hospital in Bangalore. It is one of Asia’s biggest cardiac care centres with a 90 bedded cardiac care unit. It claims a 98% success rate after cardiac surgery with extremely low infection rates.

Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiology, Bangalore

The Jayadeva Institute of Cardiology, an exclusive cardiac care hospital, is one of the largest in Asia with 530 beds. It is a teaching institute offering super speciality courses in cardiology and cardiac surgery.

B. M. Birla Heart Research Centre, Kolkata

This is the first hospital in India to get NABH accreditation. This is a certificate issued by the National Board of Accreditation for Hospitals to those healthcare institutes which maintain the desired quality standards in hospital services.

N. M. Wadia Institute of Cardiology, Pune

Founded in 1966 as a charitable trust, the N. M. Wadia Institute of Cardiology was the first private hospital in India to establish a Coronary Care Unit.
Services offered:
Today, it routinely performs angioplasties, cardiac catheterization and complicated cardiac surgeries.
It has the latest cardiac catheterization flat panel equipment, the first of its kind in Asia.
This institute provides free outpatient services and subsidized inpatient facilities to underprivileged patients. The social service department also provides financial aid and moral support to such patients.

Apollo Cardiac Centre, New Delhi

The Apollo Cardiac Centre is a part of the Indraprastha Apollo Hospital in New Delhi.
Services offered:
The hospital has got sophisticated equipment and well trained staff to handle all aspects of cardiac care.
The services provided cover everything from a basic ECG to the most complicated cardiac surgeries. The hospital reports a 98.5% success rate after cardiac surgery.
It is one of the preferred destinations for medical tourism.

Wockhardt Hospital and Heart Institute, Bangalore

Wockhardt Heart Institute is a super speciality cardiac wing of the Wockhardt Hospitals group. It is the first to perform ‘Awake heart bypass surgery with valve replacement’ in a patient without giving general anaesthesia and ventilatory support.
Services offered:
Apart from providing standard cardiac care facilities, it is among the few hospitals in Asia which offer treatment of cardiac arrythmias by radiofrequency ablation.
It also uses ‘intravascular ultrasound’ which provides an image of the interior of the blood vessel to facilitate angioplasty and stenting procedures.

Bombay Heart Brigade, Mumbai

The Bombay Heart Brigade is an initiative of the Rotary Club of Bombay. It is a telephone helpline which provides free emergency assistance to any patient who is having a heart attack. On dialing 105, the patient is connected to a cardiologist. A fully equipped ambulance with a team of doctors is sent to the patient’s address. They provide emergency medical care to stabilize the patient and, if admission to a hospital is required, they shift the patient to whichever hospital he chooses.
I do hope you have found this article useful.
Finally, eat healthy, beat stress and exercise everyday. This is the only effective ‘mantra’ to a healthy heart.

More Videos

Please visit your Doctor for More Information. This article is to provide basic Information only 
 

6 comments:

  1. Thanks for Sharing this Information
    We at Mayo Medical Centre have comprehensive patient care set up to provide world class diagnostic and therapeutic treatments to our patients. we are situated in Lucknow
    and Best Hospital in Lucknow

    ReplyDelete
  2. Nice and useful blog
    Click here to get a best astrological services contact. Best Indian Astrologer in Boston

    ReplyDelete
  3. Dr. Prof Anil Arora is widely regarded as the Best Hip and Knee Replacement Surgeon in Delhi, offering advanced, safe, and highly successful joint replacement treatments. With over 30 years of experience, he specialises in Robotic Knee Replacement, Total and Partial Hip Replacement, Computer-Assisted Surgery, Arthritis care, and Sports Injury Treatment. Patients choose Dr Arora for his precision-based techniques, high success rate, reduced pain methods, and faster recovery protocols. Whether you suffer from severe knee pain, hip arthritis, or long-term joint problems, Dr Prof. Anil Arora provides expert diagnosis and personalised treatment plans using the latest medical technology. Please feel free to book your consultation today and take the first step towards pain-free movement and a better quality of life.

    ReplyDelete