DIAGNOSING A HEART ATTACK
by Jinky C. Mesias

The first step in diagnosing a heart attack is to be mindful that a heart attack is occurring. In cases wherein an individual feels severe chest pain there should already be a suspicion that a heart attack is occurring. However, a problem arises whenever the symptoms of a heart attack leave out chest pain because a heart attack may not be suspected and therefore the some of the appropriate tests may not be performed.

In addition, there is a gadget that is used to record the electrical activity of the heart. This gadget is called the electrocardiogram which aside from recording abnormal electrical activity of the heart also identifies the areas of the heart muscle that are lacking in oxygen as well as determine areas of the heart muscle that have died. Moreover, for patients experiencing typical symptoms of heart attack, the electrocardiogram is an effective way of securing a diagnosis of the heart attack thus giving way for the immediate treatment of the heart attack. However, there are some cases wherein diagnosis for a heart attack may become less secure, and example of which are patients experiencing symptoms that are rather vague or atypical that are the results of pre-existing electrocardiogram (ECG) abnormalities resulting from previous heart attacks or some abnormalities in the electrical patterns that makes the interpretation of the ECG difficult to diagnose. In such case, diagnosis can be made only hours later through the detection of elevated cardiac enzymes in the blood.

Another way of determining heart attack is by means of blood tests since cardiac enzymes are proteins that are released into the blood by dying heart muscles. These cardiac enzymes are usually elevated in the blood several hours after the start of a heart attack. Moreover, series of blood tests for the enzymes especially when performed during a 24 hour period are very useful not only in aiding the diagnosis of heart attack but also helps in determining the changes in the levels of the enzyme in the blood over time and then correlates with the amount of heart muscle that has died.

Still nothing can compare to a prompt medical attention in diagnosing and treating a heart attack. The quick evaluation allows for the early treatment of potential heart attack symptoms like abnormal rhythms such as ventricular fibrillation. Aside from that, early evaluation of heart attack symptoms also results in early reperfusion which is a procedure to unclog the blocked coronary arteries. Moreover, the faster the blood flow is reestablished the more heart muscle that is saved.

About the author:

Author’s Bio: Jinky C. Mesias is a lover of simple things and of nature. She spend most of her time reading and writing poetry.

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