Heart Attack

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

Signs/Symptoms

Hospital Care

Do's/Don'ts

Risks

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO

• Always take your medicine as directed by your doctor. If you feel it is not helping, call your doctor, but do not quit taking it on your own.
• Aspirin helps thin the blood so blood clots don't form. Do not take acetaminophen or ibuprofen instead.
• If you have other illnesses like diabetes or high blood pressure, you need to control them. Take medicines as directed. Because of these illnesses, you have a higher chance of getting a heart attack.
• Cardiac Rehabilitation: This is a special exercise program for persons who have had an MI. Ask your doctor for details.
• Exercise daily. It helps make the heart stronger, lowers blood pressure, and keeps you healthy. If your exercise plan is too hard or too easy, talk to your doctor.
• Get at least 7 hours of rest each night. Take a nap during the day if you are tired.
• Since it is hard to avoid stress, learn to control it. Learn new ways to relax (deep breathing, relaxing muscles, meditation, or biofeedback). Talk to someone about things that upset you.
• Quit smoking. It harms the heart and lungs. If you are having trouble quitting, ask your doctor for help.
• Weighing too much can make the heart work harder. If you need to lose weight, ask your doctor about the best way of doing it.
• A diet low in fat, salt, and cholesterol is very important. It keeps your heart healthy and strong. Ask your doctor what you should and should not eat.
• It may take time getting used to a new diet. Special cookbooks may help you and the cook in your family find new recipes.
• Ask your doctor how often you may have sex and whether you may drive.
• Do not lift or push or pull any thing heavy or work with your arms above shoulder level until your doctor says you may.
• For more information, contact the American Heart Association at 1-800-AHA-USA1 (1-800-242-8721) or call your local Red Cross.

Call Your Doctor If...

• You have chest pain anytime that does not go away with rest.
• You have chest pain that does not go away after using your medicine as directed by your doctor.
• You are light-headed or dizzy, sweaty, or nauseated after taking your medicine.
• Your blood pressure or pulse is higher or lower than usual.
• You have trouble breathing while resting, you have swelling in your feet or ankles, or you are more tired than usual.
• You are bleeding from your gums or nose, or have blood in your urine or stools. This may be due to your blood thinners.

Seek Care Immediately If...

• You have chest pain that spreads to your arms, jaw, or back, and find that you are sweating, sick to your stomach (nauseated), and are having trouble breathing. These are signs of a heart attack. THIS IS AN EMERGENCY. Call 911 or 0 (operator) to get to the nearest hospital or clinic. Do not drive yourself!

IF YOU'RE HEADING FOR THE HOSPITAL...

What to Expect While You're There

• Taking Vital Signs: These include your temperature, blood pressure, pulse (counting your heartbeats), and respirations (counting your breaths). A stethoscope is used to listen to your heart and lungs. Your blood pressure is taken by wrapping a cuff around your arm.
• Pulse Oximeter: While you are getting oxygen, you may be hooked up to a pulse oximeter (ox-IM-ih-ter). It is placed on your ear, finger, or toe and is connected to a machine that measures the oxygen in your blood.
• ECG: Also called a heart monitor, an electrocardiograph (e-LEK-tro-CAR-dee-o-graf), or EKG. The patches on your chest are hooked up to a TV-type screen or a small portable box (telemetry unit). This screen shows a tracing of each heartbeat. Your heart will be watched for signs of injury or damage that could be related to your illness.
• 12 Lead ECG: This test makes tracings from different parts of your heart. It can help your doctor gage the seriousness of the problem.
• Oxygen: Your body may need extra oxygen at this time. It is given either by a mask or nasal prongs. Tell your doctor if the oxygen is drying out your nose or if the nasal prongs bother you.
• IV: A tube placed in your vein for giving medicine or liquids. It will be capped or have tubing connected to it.
• Blood: Usually taken from a vein in your hand or from the bend in your elbow. Tests will be done on the blood.
• Blood Gases: Blood is taken from an artery in your wrist, elbow, or groin. It is tested for the amount of oxygen in your blood.
• Chest X-ray: This is a picture of your lungs and heart. The care givers use it to see how your heart and lungs are handling the illness.
• Medicine:
  • Heparin: Keeps the blood thin so no other clots form. It is given in an IV.
  • Other Blood Thinners: These include aspirin and warfarin. They are given by mouth as a replacement for heparin. Like heparin, they keep the blood from forming clots.
  • Clot Busters: Break clots apart. They are given in your IV, usually at the same time as heparin. This medicine can make you bleed or bruise easily.
  • Blood Pressure Medicine: Given for constant high blood pressure. At first it can be given in an IV, and later taken by mouth.
  • Pain Medicine: May be given in your IV, as a shot, or by mouth. If the pain does not go away or comes back, tell a doctor right away.
• Heart Tubes/Wires: You may be attached to many different tubes and wires. Some may enter your body under your collarbone or in your groin. They will then be threaded into your heart. They are attached to monitors that measure your heart while it's working. These readings help your doctor guide your treatment.
• Other Tests: May be needed to find out what is causing your chest pain.
  • Stress Test: Used to watch your heart during exercise.
  • ECHO: Also called an echocardiogram (ek-oh-CAR-dee-o-gram). This uses sound waves to view your heart while it is beating. It can help care givers decide what is causing your heart failure.
  • Cardiac Catheterization (cath-uh-ter-i-ZAY-shun): A test used to study the arteries sending blood to your heart.
• Angioplasty: A procedure that may be needed to open up a blocked artery to your heart.
• Surgery: May be needed if the arteries to your heart are severely blocked.