Heart problems and Stroke

The heart is a muscle that pumps blood around the body, which it does with the help of the thick-walled and muscular arteries and the other vessels of the circulatory system. The heart is controlled by regular electrical impulses that tell it when to contract. Like all other muscles, the heart needs its own blood supply  and this is provided by the coronary (heart) arteries. When this  blood supply fails to run smoothly, the body starts to experience problems, such as angina pectoris (angina) and heart attack. Either of these may lead to the heart stopping (cardiac arrest).

ANGINA. Throughout life, arteries are clogging up with fatty deposits. As these fatty deposits cause the coronary and other arteries to become narrower, it becomes increasingly difficult for blood to flow around the body. The clogged coronary arteries can just about supply blood to the heart when it is pumping at a normal rate but when the heart rate speeds up the arteries cannot cope with the demand. This leads to an angina attack, a frightening, severe, crushing chest pain that acts as a warning to the victim to calm down or to rest.

TREATMENT

1. Sit the victim down and reassure her. This reduce the demands being placed on the heart.
2. Angina sufferers may have medicine that will help relieve an attack. This is often in the form of a puffer or a pill that is placed under the tongue. The drug works by dilating the blood vessels, thereby increasing circulation to the heart. Help the victim to take this medication.
3. Call an ambulance if the pain does not appear to ease or if the victim is not a known angina sufferer.
4. If the victim has regular attacks, listen to what she wants to do next.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF ANGINA

• Evidence of recent exertion
• Previous history of angina attacks
• Gripping chest pain, often described by the sufferer as vise-like
• Pain spreading up into the jaw or down into the left arm
• Feeling of tingling down the arm
• Shortness of breath
• Dizziness and confusion
• Anxiety
• Pale skin which possible blue tinges
• Rapid, weak pulse

HEART ATTACK. If a coronary artery becomes completely blocked, the area of the heart being supplied by that particular blood vessel will be starved of oxygen and will eventually die. This blockage may be caused by a clot, a condition often referred to as a coronary thrombosis.

     The development of advanced cardiac care in hospital and good post-hospital care means that heart attack patients have a good chance of making a full recovery. This is important information to remember when you are reassuring somebody having a heart attack.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF HEART ATTACK

This signs and symptoms are generally the same as those of angina-- indeed, the patient may initially suffer an angina attack that becomes a heart attack. The key difference is that heart attacks do not always follow physical exertion. While angina sufferers will recover from their attack on resting, heart attack patients do not tend to improve without medical treatment.

TREATMENT

1. Move the victim into semi-sitting position head and shoulders supported and knees bent, as this is generally the best position to breathe in.
2. Reassure the victim and do not let her move, as this will place an extra strain on the heart.
3. Call for an ambulance as soon as possible because the victim needs hospital care.
4. If the victim has angina medication, let her take this. If you have an ordinary aspirin, give her one to chew (without water).
5. Keep a continual check on the breathing and pulse and be prepared to resuscitate in necessary.

STROKE

A stroke occurs when a blood clot or bleeding cuts off the blood supply, and therefore the oxygen, to part of the brain. The affected area of the brain will eventually die. The effect of a stroke depends on how much of the brain is affected and where the clot or bleeding is. Different parts of the brain control different functions, so a clot in the part of the brain that controls speech, for example, will result in slurred or confused speech. Often the signs will be confined to one side of the body.

EFFECTS OF STROKE. If the bleeding or clot is in one of the larger blood vessels supplying a large area of the brain, then the stroke will often be immediately fatal. However, many people do survive, with some making a full recovery. Others may need extensive periods of rehabilitation and support to manage stroke-related problems such as reduced mobility.

TREATMENT. Monitor airway and breathing and be prepared to resuscitate if necessary. Place the person in the recovery position if she becomes unconscious. If she is conscious, help her to lie down with the head and shoulders slightly raised. Provide support and reassurance. The person will often be disoriented and may be speaking nonsense if the speech center is affected. Equally, she may hear what you are saying but not understand it. Speak in a reassuring tone with confidence. Call an ambulance. Wipe any dribbling away from the side of the face and be prepared for the person to vomit.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
Any combination of the following may be present. In minor strokes, the signs and symptoms may be very limited.

• History-- the sufferer may have a history of smaller strokes over previous years, or may have been feeling unwell for some days with no known cause.
• Headache
• Blurred vision, partial loss of sight, or seeing flashing lights.
• Confusion and disorientation, often mistaken for drunkenness.
• Signs of paralysis or weakness, often only down one side of the body (confirm by asking the patient to hold out both arms in front of her and look for drooping or shaking).
• Difficulty speaking; drooping mouth or smile (caused by minor paralysis).
• Dribbling from one side of the mouth
• Loss of consciousness (this can be gradual or sudden).
• Sometimes the pulse will be full and throbbing, the person's breathing noisy, and the skin flushed.

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Written by Unknown

Frederick Luneta is a 24-year old guy and he is a Computer Engineering student and a young part time blogger. Currently lives in the Philippines. He knows a lot about computer.