09 Mar 2008 03:49:55 | Jinky C . Mesias
The first step in diagnosing a heart attack is to be mindful
that a heart attack is occurring. In cases wherein an individual
feels severe chest pain there should already be a suspicion that
a heart attack is occurring. However, a problem arises whenever
the symptoms of a heart attack leave out chest pain because a
heart attack may not be suspected and therefore the some of the
appropriate tests may not be performed.
In addition, there is a gadget that is used to record the
electrical activity of the heart. This gadget is called the
electrocardiogram which aside from recording abnormal electrical
activity of the heart also identifies the areas of the heart
muscle that are lacking in oxygen as well as determine areas of
the heart muscle that have died. Moreover, for patients
experiencing typical symptoms of heart attack, the
electrocardiogram is an effective way of securing a diagnosis of
the heart attack thus giving way for the immediate treatment of
the heart attack. However, there are some cases wherein
diagnosis for a heart attack may become less secure, and example
of which are patients experiencing symptoms that are rather
vague or atypical that are the results of pre-existing
electrocardiogram (ECG) abnormalities resulting from previous
heart attacks or some abnormalities in the electrical patterns
that makes the interpretation of the ECG difficult to diagnose.
In such case, diagnosis can be made only hours later through the
detection of elevated cardiac enzymes in the blood.
Another way of determining heart attack is by means of blood
tests since cardiac enzymes are proteins that are released into
the blood by dying heart muscles. These cardiac enzymes are
usually elevated in the blood several hours after the start of a
heart attack. Moreover, series of blood tests for the enzymes
especially when performed during a 24 hour period are very
useful not only in aiding the diagnosis of heart attack but also
helps in determining the changes in the levels of the enzyme in
the blood over time and then correlates with the amount of heart
muscle that has died.
Still nothing can compare to a prompt medical attention in
diagnosing and treating a heart attack. The quick evaluation
allows for the early treatment of potential heart attack
symptoms like abnormal rhythms such as ventricular fibrillation.
Aside from that, early evaluation of heart attack symptoms also
results in early reperfusion which is a procedure to unclog the
blocked coronary arteries. Moreover, the faster the blood flow
is reestablished the more heart muscle that is saved.
About Author :
Author’s Bio: Jinky C. Mesias is a lover of simple things and of
nature. She spend most of her time reading and writing poetry.
