Health Booklet

INSTITUT JANTUNG NEGARA National Heart Institute HEART ATTACK Protect Our HEART with

TABLE OF OVERVIEW SYMPTOMS CONTENT RISK FACTORS COMPLICATION RECOVERING PREVENTION

1. What is heart attack? A heart attack happens when the flow of oxygen rich blood in one or more of the coronary arteries, which supply the heart muscle, suddenly becomes blocked, and a section of heart muscle can’t get enough oxygen. The blockage is usually caused when a plaque ruptures. If blood flow isn’t restored quickly, either by a medicine that dissolves the blockage or a catheter placed within the artery that physically opens the blockage, the section of heart muscle begins to die. A heart attack occurs when a coronary artery, which supplies blood to your heart, becomes blocked. This stops the blood flow and reduces the amount of oxygen that gets to your heart muscle. A heart attack, also called a myocardial infarction, happens when a part of the heart muscle doesn’t get enough blood. The more time that passes with- out treatment to restore blood flow, the greater the damage to the heart muscle.

2. If you have any of these signs, call and get to a hospital right away. Heart Attack Symptoms in Men vs. Women 1. Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, full- ness or pain in the center of your chest. Women It lasts more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back. Women with coronary artery disease a buildup of fatty substances in the lining of the arteries that 2. Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, prevents blood flow to the heart muscle and expe- the back, neck, jaw or stomach. Short- rience more chest pain from plaque buildup than ness of breath with or without chest dis- men, even though they have less narrowing in their arteries, a recent study has found. 3. Other signs such as breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness. Men Men also have heart attacks earlier in life compared to women. If you have a family history of heart dis- ease or a history of cigarette smoking, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, obesity, or other risk factors, your chances of having a heart attack are even higher. 4. As with men, women’s most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort. But women are somewhat more likely than men to experience some of the other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea/ vomiting and back or jaw pain.

3. SYMPTOMS Chest pain or discomfort It’s important to know that not everyone expe- Feeling weak riences severe chest pain. This is particularly the case with many women. The pain can often be mild Pain or discomfort and mistaken for indigestion. Abnormal sweating It’s the combination of symptoms that’s important Shortness of breath in determining whether a person is having a heart attack and not the severity of chest pain. Symptoms of a heart attack can include: - Chest pain or discomfort - Feeling weak - Pain or discomfort - Abnormal sweating - Shortness of breath It’s the overall pattern of symptoms that helps to determine whether you are having a heart attack.

4. RISK FACTORS Half of all Americans have at least one of the three key risk factors for heart disease which is high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, and smok- ing. Some risk factors cannot be controlled, such as Age Smoking your age or family history. But you can take steps Obesity to lower your risk by changing the factors you can Infections Unhealthy control. food The factors are include : 6,262.9 Blood 1. Age preasure 2. Smoking deaths 3. Obesity 4. Unhealthy food Female 5. Infections Global Death Cases 12,878.3 17.9M 85% deaths people die of all CVD deaths Male each year are due to heart attacks and strokes.

COMPLICATION 5. 2. PULMONARY EMBOLISM A pulmonary embolism is similar to a stroke, but the blocked blood vessel is in the lungs instead of the brain. Symptoms include shortness of breath, chest pain on breathing, and bluish skin. 1. HEART FAILURE 3. STROKE Heart failure occurs when the heart A stroke occurs when one of these cannot adequately pump blood clots lodges in a blood vessel in the throughout the body. The heart mus- brain and cuts off blood flow. This is cle is very strong. However, over time, called an ischemic stroke. the muscle can be affected and have trouble doing its job.

6. RECOVERING Recovering from a heart attack can take several months, and it’s very important not to rush your rehabilitation. The recovery period which include : Exercise specialists Nurses Physiotherapists These healthcare professionals will support you physically and mentally to ensure your recovery is conducted safely and appropriately. The recovery process usually happens in stages, starting in hospital, where your condition can be closely monitored and your individual needs for the future can be assessed. Dietitians Pharmacists

PREVENTION 7. Making lifestyle changes is the most effective way 1. to prevent having a heart attack (or having another heart attack). Eat healthy food There are 3 main steps you can take to help prevent 2. a heart attack (as well as stroke): Stop smoking 1. Eat a healthy - Continuing to eat high-fat foods will cause more 3. fatty plaques to build up in your arteries. Do some exercise 2. Do not smoke - Smoking is a major risk factor for heart attack because it causes atherosclerosis and raises blood pressure. 3. Maintain your healthy level - Being active and doing regular exercise will low- er your blood pressure by keeping your heart and blood vessels in good condition.

8. Medication you can take after recovery. Diclofenac 50mg Paracetamol Tablets Consistent with COX-2 inhibitors, diclofenac is currently contraindicated in people with ischemic heart disease, peripheral artery disease, cerebro- vascular disease, and congestive heart failure. Diclofenac is approved by the FDA for arthritis that affects the spine. It may be more effective at low- er doses than ibuprofen. Diclofenac and ibuprofen, like most NSAIDs, can help with pain and inflamma- tion management.

9. ABOUT IJN IJN was established on 1st August 1992 as a heart specialist institution committed to delivering ad- vanced standards in cardiovascular and thoracic medicine for adult and paediatric heart patients. Since the foundation of the institute, IJN has treat- ed over 4 million patients and gained recognition as one of the leading Cardiovascular and Thoracic Health Centre in the region. Today IJN provides a full range of cardiac services. The institute also houses a number of associated cardiac treatment clinics. The institute is staffed by an experienced and committed team of specialist cardiologist, surgeons, anaesthesiologists, para- medics and clinical support staff. The medical staff are fully supported by the modern technology al- lowing IJN to treat the most complicated cases. To ensure IJN continues to be the leading heart insti- tution in the region there are a number of on-going support training schemes and a series of research and development activities. There are also collab- orations with leading international medical estab- lishments such as the UK’s Papworth Hospital and the Herz-und in Germany, allowing IJN to introduce modern clinical techniques.

INSTITUT JANTUNG NEGARA National Heart Institute Contact Info No 145 Jalan Tun Razak Kuala Lumpur 50400, Malaysia Website: www.ijn.com.my/ Phone: +603 2617 8200 Email: [email protected]