Treatment FAQ

what is the most effective treatment for type a persons who have already suffered a heart attack?

by Mrs. Carmen Shields Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Medication

Transmyocardial revascularization (TMR):A laser is used to drill a series of holes from the outside of the heart into the heart’s pumping chamber. In addition to the above treatments, you might hear about implantable medical devices being used to treat certain heart attacks.

Procedures

For example, heart attack medication may help: Here’s a list of common heart attack medications, how they work, why they’re used, and examples of each. Beta-blockers are often considered standard treatment after a heart attack. Beta-blockers are a class of medications used to treat high blood pressure, chest pain, and abnormal heart rhythm.

Therapy

Additional tests. If you've had or are having a heart attack, doctors will take immediate steps to treat your condition. You might also have these additional tests. Chest X-ray. An X-ray image of your chest allows your doctor to check the size of your heart and its blood vessels and to look for fluid in your lungs.

What are the treatments for a heart attack?

Diagnosis. If you're in an emergency setting for symptoms of a heart attack, you'll be asked about your symptoms and have your blood pressure, pulse and temperature checked. You'll be hooked up to a heart monitor and have tests to see if you're having a heart attack.

What are the most common heart attack medications?

What are the additional tests for a heart attack?

What do they do in an emergency room for heart attack?

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What is the best treatment for heart attack victims?

Medications to treat a heart attack might include:Aspirin. Aspirin reduces blood clotting. ... Clot busters (thrombolytics or fibrinolytics). ... Other blood-thinning medications. ... Nitroglycerin. ... Morphine. ... Beta blockers. ... ACE inhibitors. ... Statins.

What is the treatment after a heart attack?

The two main treatments to open blocked vessels are: Thrombolytic medications, commonly known as clot busters – for best results, these should be given as soon as possible, definitely within a couple hours of the onset of the symptoms. Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), which is more commonly known as ...

What kind of treatment is usually given to a person with heart failure?

Medicines are the main treatment for heart failure, but for some people surgery may help. Operations that can help with heart failure include: heart valve surgery. a coronary angioplasty or bypass.

What is the best medicine for the heart?

Modern heart drug therapy includes the following “big six” medications:Statins — to lower LDL cholesterol. ... Aspirin — to prevent blood clots. ... Clopidogrel — to prevent blood clots. ... Warfarin — to prevent blood clots. ... Beta-blockers — to treat heart attack and heart failure and sometimes used to lower blood pressure.More items...•

Can a heart repair itself after a heart attack?

The heart is unable to regenerate heart muscle after a heart attack and lost cardiac muscle is replaced by scar tissue.

What is the best treatment for congestive heart failure?

ACE inhibitors or ARB drugs improve heart function and life expectancy. Digitalis glycosides strengthen the heart's contractions. Anticoagulants or antiplatelets such as aspirin help prevent blood clots. Beta-blockers improve heart function and chances of living longer.

What is the first line treatment for heart failure?

After a patient has been diagnosed with a type, stage, and class, treatment can be determined. First-line drug therapy for all patients with HFrEF should include an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor and beta blocker. These medications have been shown to decrease morbidity and mortality.

What is the latest treatment for heart failure?

Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Farxiga (dapagliflozin) oral tablets for adults with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction to reduce the risk of cardiovascular death and hospitalization for heart failure.

How long do you stay in hospital for after a heart attack?

Recovering from a heart attack You'll usually stay in hospital for about two to five days after having a heart attack. This depends on what treatment you've had and how well you're recovering. Many people make a full recovery after a heart attack, but you might not be able to do everything you used to.

How long does it take to recover after a heart attack?

Most patients stay in the hospital for about a week or less. Upon returning home, you will need rest and relaxation. A return to all of your normal activities, including work, may take a few weeks to 2 or 3 months, depending on your condition. A full recovery is defined as a return to normal activities.

What is the average life expectancy after a heart attack?

Indeed, data from the United States National Vital Statistics Reports shows the median life expectancy of non-MI individuals aged 65-69 is 18.7 years, while it's just 8.3 years for those who have suffered a heart attack.

What happens after you have a heart attack?

After a heart attack, it is likely you will stay in hospital for around 3-5 days so your condition can be stabilised and monitored. Some people develop other conditions linked to their heart attack, including: Increased blood sugar levels, which can be treated with insulin.

What are some ways to reduce the risk of heart attack?

Statins to help control and lower blood cholesterol, which can reduce the chances of a future heart attack or stroke. Anti-arrhythmics to treat certain arrhythmias. Pain relievers. Medication to help reduce anxiety.

What is the procedure for a heart attack?

If the heart attack is severe, the doctors may perform surgery. The most common emergency surgery doctors perform to treat heart attacks is percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). During PCI, doctors are able to see inside the arteries to look for the location of the blockage that’s causing the heart attack. Once that blockage is found, heart surgeons can take steps to treat it. Often, doctors will insert a stent to keep the artery open after the surgery.

What is the procedure to open a heart artery after a heart attack?

Another surgery often done after a heart attack is a coronary artery bypass graft (CABG). This surgery helps restore blood flow to the heart muscle through the coronary arteries by routing blood vessels around the blocked area.

What to do if there is a defibrillator?

If there is a defibrillator around, have someone else run to get it while you administer CPR. Defibrillators are easy to use, and they all come with instructions. Some 911 operators may talk to you and tell you what to do. Learn more about Beaumont's Advancements in Heart Surgery and Recovery.

How long does it take to recover from a heart attack?

The initial rehabilitation period after a heart attack will most likely last between six and eight weeks. You should expect to be about 80% recovered by that time.

How to get over a heart attack?

If you’re overweight, talk to your doctor about a safe weight reduction plan. Talk to your doctor about whether a cardiac rehabilitation plan is right for you. Consider joining a support group for heart attack and heart surgery survivors.

What is the difference between ACE inhibitors and beta blockers?

ACE inhibitors to lower blood pressure and slow down the process that weakens the heart. Beta blockers to decrease the workload the heart needs to do, to relieve chest pain, to help prevent another heart attack, and to treat irregular heartbeats.

What is a heart attack called?

The type of heart attack (also called myocardial infarction, or MI) you experienced determines the treatments that your medical team will recommend. A heart attack occurs when a blockage in one or more coronary arteries reduces or stops blood flow to the heart, which starves part of the heart muscle of oxygen.

What is a stent used for?

Stent procedure: A stent is a wire mesh tube used to prop open an artery during angioplasty. Transmyocardial revascularization (TMR): A laser is used to drill a series of holes from the outside of the heart into the heart’s pumping chamber.

What is the alternative to bypass surgery?

Minimally invasive heart surgery: An alternative to standard bypass surgery. Radiofrequency ablation: A catheter with an electrode at its tip is guided through the veins to the heart muscle to destroy carefully selected heart muscle cells in a very small area.

What is the early invasive strategy?

The early invasive strategy will start with the use of various drugs (antiplatelet agents and anticoagulants) to inhibit blood clot formation, but might also proceed to a medical therapy, a PCI with stenting or coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), followed by certain types of post-hospital care.

What is the ischemia guided strategy?

Both may involve a test called cardiac catheterization to examine the inside of your heart: The ischemia-guided strategy uses various drugs (antiplatelet agents and anticoagulants) to inhibit blood clot formation. The early invasive strategy will start with the use of various drugs (antiplatelet agents and anticoagulants) to inhibit blood clot ...

What is PCI in hospitals?

About 36 percent of hospitals in the U.S. are equipped to use a procedure called percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), a mechanical means of treating heart attack. At a hospital equipped to administer PCI, you would likely be sent to a department that specializes in cardiac catheterization, sometimes called a “cath lab.”.

Can calcium channel blocker be used for high blood pressure?

They may be prescribed for outpatient high blood pressure use if the patient is at risk for heart failure. Calcium channel blocker: Interrupts the movement of calcium into the cells of the heart and blood vessels. May decrease the heart’s pumping strength and relax the blood vessels.

What is the best treatment for a heart attack?

Beta-blockers are often considered standard treatment after a heart attack. Beta-blockers are a class of medications used to treat high blood pressure, chest pain, and abnormal heart rhythm. These medications block the effects of adrenaline, which makes it easier for your heart to do its job.

How does blood flow improve after a heart attack?

They block, or inhibit, the production of an enzyme that causes your vessels to narrow. This can help improve your blood flow by relaxing and widening your blood vessels . Improved blood flow can help reduce heart strain and further damage after a heart attack.

How do antiplatelets help with clotting?

Antiplatelet agents prevent clotting in your arteries by keeping blood platelets from sticking together, which is usually the first step in blood clot formation. Antiplatelet agents are typically used by people who have had a heart attack and are at risk for additional clotting.

How do anticoagulants work?

Anticoagulant drugs reduce the risk of clotting in people who have had heart attacks . Unlike antiplatelets, they work by affecting the coagulation factors that are also involved in the blood clotting process.

What are some examples of beta blockers?

Some examples of beta-blockers for people who have had a heart attack include: atenolol (Tenormin) carvedilol (Coreg) metoprolol (Toprol)

When to use thrombolytics?

Thrombolytic drugs, also called “clot busters,” are used immediately after a heart attack. They’re used when angioplasty can’t be done to widen the blood vessel and improve blood flow to the heart. A thrombolytic is given in a hospital through an intravenous (IV) tube.

Can ACE inhibitors reverse heart attack?

ACE inhibitors may even help reverse structural changes to the heart caused by long-term high blood pressure. This can help your heart work better in spite of the damaged muscle segments caused by a heart attack. Examples of ACE inhibitors include:

How to prevent heart attack?

Exercise. Regular exercise helps improve heart muscle function after a heart attack and helps prevent a heart attack. Get at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity a week, or a combination of moderate and vigorous activity. Maintain a healthy weight.

What is the best medicine for heart failure?

Beta blockers. These medications help relax your heart muscle, slow your heartbeat and decrease blood pressure, making your heart's job easier. Beta blockers can limit the amount of heart muscle damage and prevent future heart attacks. ACE inhibitors.

How does an echocardiogram help?

An echocardiogram can help identify whether an area of your heart has been damaged. Coronary catheterization (angiogram). A liquid dye is injected into the arteries of your heart through a long, thin tube (catheter) that's fed through an artery, usually in your leg or groin, to the arteries in your heart.

How long does it take to recover from a cardiac rehab?

Most hospitals offer programs that might start while you're in the hospital and continue for weeks to a couple of months after you return home. Cardiac rehabilitation programs generally focus on four main areas — medications, lifestyle changes, emotional issues and a gradual return to your normal activities.

How long does it take to recover from a heart attack?

If possible, however, you might have bypass surgery after your heart has had time — about three to seven days — to recover from your heart attack.

What to do after a heart attack?

Having a heart attack is scary, and you might wonder how it will affect your life and whether you'll have another one. Fear, anger, guilt and depression are all common after a heart attack. Discussing them with your doctor, a family member or a friend might help.

What tests are done to check for a heart attack?

If you've had or are having a heart attack, doctors will take immediate steps to treat your condition. You might also have these additional tests. Chest X-ray. An X-ray image of your chest allows your doctor to check the size of your heart and its blood vessels and to look for fluid in your lungs. Echocardiogram.

What is the treatment for a heart attack?

This is called dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT).

What is a heart attack called?

The type of heart attack (also called myocardial infarction, or MI) you experienced determines the treatments that your medical team will recommend. A heart attack occurs when a blockage in one or more coronary arteries reduces or stops blood flow to the heart, which starves part of the heart muscle of oxygen.

How to manage risk factors after a heart attack?

After a heart attack, it’s important to manage risk factors (such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes) by taking medications, quitting smoking, eating healthy food and getting active. Find out more about managing your risk factors. Learn about other lifestyle changes.

What to do after a heart attack?

After a heart attack, it’s important to manage risk factors (such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes) by taking medications, quitting smoking, eating healthy food and getting active. Find out more about managing your risk factors. Learn about other lifestyle changes.

What is cardiac rehab?

Cardiac rehabilitation is a medically supervised program designed to help you recover after a heart attack. You should have received a referral to cardiac rehab when you were discharged from the hospital – if you didn’t, ask your doctor about it. Learn more about cardiac rehab. Get support.

How to reduce risk of cardiac event?

Take your medications as prescribed. Certain medicines can greatly lower your risk of another cardiac event. That’s why it’s important for you to understand your medicines and take them correctly. Learn about managing your medications.

How long do you live after a heart attack?

After a first heart attack, most people go on to live a long, productive life. However, around 20 percent of patients age 45 and older will have another heart attack within five years of their first.

Is it normal to feel scared after a heart attack?

It’s normal to feel scared, overwhelmed or confused after a heart attack. Getting support from loved ones or from people who have also experienced a heart attack can help you cope. Connect with other heart attack survivors and caregivers through our Support Network. Manage your risk factors.

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Diagnosis

Treatment

Clinical Trials

Lifestyle and Home Remedies

Medically reviewed by
Dr. Kabir Sethi
Your provider will work with you to develop a care plan that may include one or more of these treatment options.
Treatment depends on the severity. The main goal is to prevent further damage to the heart and to restore blood flow quickly, for which there are several medications and surgical treatments.
Medication

First aid: Oxygen therapy and drugs that reduce blood clotting and help in maintaining blood flow are given.

Aspirin . Nitroglycerine


Thrombolytics: Clot-busting medicines are recommended to dilute the clots formed in the arteries.

Tenecteplase . Alteplase . Urokinase . Reteplase


Supportive medicines: ACE inhibitors used to reduce strain on the heart. Anticoagulants, beta blockers, and statin medicines.

Quinapril . Clopidogrel . Atenolol . Atorvastatin

Procedures

Coronary angioplasty and stenting: Metal mesh stent is inserted into the artery to keep it open and restore blood flow to heart.

Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG): Bypass surgery that allows blood flow to the heart. Usually recommended depending on the location of the blockage and if the stenting is not suitable.

Therapy

Rehabilitation:Cardiac rehabilitation is a medically supervised personalised program which may include exercise, lifestyle chages and diet is usually recommended.

Specialist to consult

Cardiologist
Specializes in the diagnosis and management heart related disorders.

Coping and Support

Preparing For Your Appointment

  • Each minute after a heart attack, more heart tissue is damaged or dies. Urgent treatment is needed to fix blood flow and restore oxygen levels. Oxygen is given immediately. Specific heart attack treatment depends on whether there's a partial or complete blockage of blood flow.
See more on mayoclinic.org

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