Heart Blockage and Heart Attack Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention

Heart blockage, also known as coronary artery disease, is a condition that affects millions of people across the globe, including a significant number in India. In simpler terms, it’s when the blood vessels that provide the heart with oxygen-rich blood become narrow or blocked. This can lead to various uncomfortable symptoms like chest pain, difficulty breathing, and, in more severe cases, a heart attack.

Heart Blockage Is a Major Concern for Heart Attack

In India, heart blockage is a major concern for our health, making up around 60% of all heart-related problems worldwide. Unfortunately, it’s also one of the leading causes of death in our country. The number of people experiencing heart blockage is increasing, and this is largely due to various factors like not moving enough, eating foods that aren’t good for us, smoking, and experiencing a lot of stress. Detecting and treating heart blockage early is incredibly important because it helps prevent further harm to the heart and leads to better outcomes

How Does Heart Attack or Heart Stroke Comes?

Think of your heart like a pump that needs fuel to keep going. Oxygen and nutrients are like the fuel, and your blood vessels are the roads that carry this fuel to your heart. When these roads get clogged or blocked, your heart can’t get enough fuel, and that’s when problems start to happen. It’s like a traffic jam in your heart’s highways.

Imagine your heart as a pump that works all the time to keep your body going. To do this, it needs blood full of oxygen and nutrients. The blood vessels that carry this special blood to your heart are like tiny tubes. When these tubes get narrow or blocked, your heart doesn’t get what it needs and that can lead to big problems. This is how heart attack or heart stroke happens.

Different Types of Heart Blockage

There are different kinds of heart blockages, which can help us understand how severe the problem is:

• First-degree heart block: The mildest form of heart blockage is known as first-degree heart blockage. In this type, there is a minor disruption in the heartbeat’s rhythm. The electrical signals that control the heartbeat might experience a slight delay or slowdown, but they still manage to reach the ventricles—the lower chambers of the heart responsible for pumping blood to the rest of the body. It’s worth noting that first-degree heart blockage rarely causes noticeable symptoms.

• Second-degree Heart Block is a more serious condition. There are two types of second-degree heart block:
  • Mobitz type I (also called Wenckebach’s block): In this type, the electrical signals gradually slow down, which can lead to moments where your heart skips a beat or two.
  • Mobitz type II (also called high-grade block): For Type II, the electrical signals intermittently fail to reach the ventricles. This interruption can result in an abnormal, slower heart rhythm. In some cases, second-degree Type II blockage may progress to the more severe third-degree heart blockage.

• Third-degree Heart Block (also called complete heart block): Third-degree heart blockage is the most severe form. It occurs when the electrical signals completely cease to travel between the upper and lower chambers of the heart. As a result, the ventricles take over and start beating independently. However, this uncoordinated rhythm makes it difficult for the heart to effectively pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs. This condition is critical and can be life-threatening, so seeking immediate medical attention is crucial.

Here is a table summarizing the three types of heart block:

Heart Blockage: Signs and Symptoms

Your body tries to tell you when something is wrong. For heart blockage, it can give you signs like:

• Chest pain or discomfort: It’s like a tight feeling in the middle of your chest, and it can sometimes spread to your arms, back, jaw, or even your stomach.
• Feeling short of breath: You might feel like you can’t catch your breath, even when you’re not doing anything.
• Being really tired: If you’re tired all the time, it could be a sign that your heart is struggling.
• Heart beating strangely: You might feel your heart beating too fast or too slow, or it might feel like it’s skipping a beat.
• Feeling dizzy or even fainting: This can happen if your heart isn’t working right.
• Sweating a lot: Sometimes, your body sweats more than usual when your heart isn’t happy.

There are some other signs that might show up, especially in women and older people, like feeling sick to your stomach, pain in the back or jaw, or even just feeling weak.

What Makes Heart Blockage or Heart Attack Happen?

Think of your blood vessels like pipes that carry water. If you put too much junk in the pipes or let them get all rusty, the water can’t flow properly. The same thing happens with your blood vessels. A few things can make heart blockage more likely:

• High Blood Pressure: This is like too much pressure in the pipes, and it can make them weak and prone to blockages.
• Too Much “Bad” Cholesterol: Imagine this as gunk building up inside the pipes. When there’s too much “bad” cholesterol, it sticks to your blood vessels and causes blockages.
• Smoking and Using Tobacco: Tobacco is like a corrosive liquid that damages the pipes, making them narrow and more likely to get blocked.
• Being Overweight and Not Moving Enough: Your heart likes when you stay active. If you don’t, the pipes can get rusty and blocked.

Things That Increase Risk of Heart Blockage and Heart Attack

Some things can make you more likely to get heart blockage:

• Getting Older and Being a Man: As you get older, your pipes (blood vessels) can get weaker, and men are more likely to have heart blockage earlier than women.
• Family History: If your family has a history of heart problems, you could be more at risk too.

Checking for Heart Blockage: How Doctors Do It

Doctors use special tools to figure out if you have a heart blockage. It’s a bit like being a detective trying to solve a mystery. They might use:

• Electrocardiogram (ECG): This is like taking a picture of your heart’s electricity. It helps doctors see if your heart’s signals are going where they should.
• Echocardiogram (ECHO): Think of this as taking a video of your heart. It shows if there’s something wrong with how your heart is working.
• Stress Test: This is like checking how your heart behaves when you’re moving around. It can show if your heart is strong or if it’s having trouble.
• Coronary Angiography: This is like using a special camera to look inside your pipes (blood vessels). Doctors can see if there’s a blockage or something that needs fixing.

Taking Care of Your Heart: Treatment Options

If your doctor finds a heart blockage, there are things you can do to help your heart:

1. Changing How You Live: Eating good foods, moving around, and not smoking can make your heart happy.
2. Medicines: Your doctor might give you special pills to keep your heart healthy and prevent more problems.
3. Procedures and Surgery: If your heart is in trouble, doctors can do some special things to fix it. They might use tiny balloons to open up your pipes, or they might create new pathways for the blood to flow.

Stopping Heart Blockage Before It Starts

You can be a heart hero by doing these things:

• Eat Well: Fill your plate with yummy things like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Try to avoid too much junk food, salty stuff, and sugary drinks.
• Stay Active: Move your body in fun ways – walk, run, dance, or play a sport you like.
• Manage Stress: Find things that make you feel happy and calm, like listening to music or taking deep breaths.
• Regular Check-ups: Visit your doctor regularly to make sure your heart is doing well. Don’t smoke and don’t drink too much alcohol.

In Conclusion: Keeping Your Heart Safe

Remember, your heart works hard for you every day, so it’s important to take good care of it. If you ever feel any of the signs we talked about, don’t wait – talk to a doctor. By being aware and taking care of your heart, you can lower the chances of having heart blockage and other heart problems. Your heart will thank you for it!