 Your
Heart
The heart is a strong hollow muscle which acts as a pump. Its job is
to pump blood rich in oxygen and nutrients through arteries to all parts
of your body.
The heart is divided into the right and left sides. The right side of the heart receives blood from all parts of the body and pumps it to the lungs. The left side receives the oxygen-rich blood from the lungs and then pumps it back to the body. The oxygen in the blood keeps your body working.
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Coronary Arteries
The heart muscle also needs an oxygen-rich blood supply to work. It has its own delivery system called the coronary arteries. It is these coronary arteries that are involved when a heart attack/ angina occurs.
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Coronary Artery Disease
Little by little your coronary arteries have become narrowed with deposits of fat products and cholesterol. The accumulation of these deposits leads to an obstruction which may favour blood clot formation. This obstacle prevents blood from circulating freely in the blood vessels, and deprives the heart, which is a muscle, of the oxygen and essential nourishment that it needs to work properly.
This condition of the coronary arteries, which is called coronary
artery disease (CAD) can make itself felt in two ways: either
through angina pectoris or myocardial infarction
(heart attack).
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What is Angina?
Angina pectoris literally means "pain in the chest". The pain occurs when the heart does not receive enough oxygen- rich blood to do its work. The cause is the narrowing of the coronary arteries which reduces the blood supply to the heart muscle. However, some blood is getting through and no damage to the heart muscle occurs.
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What is a Heart Attack?
Heart attack or Myocardial Infarction (M.I.) occurs when an area of the muscle dies because it has failed to receive a sufficient amount of oxygen over to long a period of time. This is caused by blockage in a coronary artery.
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Differences between Angina and a Heart Attack (M.I.)
1. What happens to
blood flow. |
Temporary interruption. |
Blockage:no flow past
the point of obstruction. |
| 2. Chest pain. |
Starts and stays in
same area. |
May spread to neck, jaw,
shoulders, arms and back. |
3. Shortness of breath
Light head/dizzy
Cold sweat
Nausea |
Decreases or stops with
rest and/or nitro. |
Increases or persists in
spite of rest and nitro. |
| 4. When |
Usually related to exercise,
emotional stress, large
meal,exertion of any type
(eg. going to bathroom). |
Can occur anytime. |
| 5. Effect of nitro. |
Usually relieves pain. |
Does not relieve pain. |
| 6. Effects on heart . |
Normally no damage to
heart muscle. |
Permanent damage to
portion of heart muscle. |
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What does heart
pain feel like?
When you have heart trouble, you may feel one or more of these sensations:
- chest fullness
- squeezing in the chest
- chest pressure
- chest tightness
- toothache
- jaw pain
- neck pain
- indigestion
- nausea
- discomfort from your ears to your chest and back
- arm discomfort
- sweats - warm feeling, flush, clammy
If you have any of these feelings, tell your doctor or nurse immediately.
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How does the
doctor know your heart is affected?
Your doctor can tell what is wrong with your heart by:
- the description of your symptoms that brought you to the hospital
- the results of electrocardiograms
- the results of blood tests, such as heart enzymes
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What is an
Electrocardiogram?
An electrocardiogram, or E.C.G., is a test that shows the rhythm of your heart beat. If your heart has been damaged there may be changes on your E.C.G. The test will need to be done several days in a row.
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What are heart
enzymes?
Heart enzymes are substances which are released into the bloodstream when damage to your heart occurs. The blood tests measure the amount of these enzymes. The amount of blood taken from you is small, and is quickly replaced by your body.
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