What Causes A Heart Attack??

The rate of heart attacks has increased alarmingly over the years. Heart attack, medically termed as Myocardial Infraction occurs as a result of damage caused in heart muscles, due to a lack in the supply of oxygen. This might occur due to the presence of a clot or obstruction in the artery, coronary spasms and so on.

What is Heart Attack?

Our heart requires a steady supply of oxygenated blood for life functions, which are supplied by the coronary arteries. In cases where these arteries narrow, the blood supply dwindles causing deposition of plaques which eventually form blood clots. These plaques are usually fat deposits caused due to our eating habits and other lifestyles.

If the clots grow bigger, they completely block the supply of blood, effectively starving the heart muscles off oxygen. This leads to damage or death of the muscles. The death of heart muscle tissues culminates in heart attack. As each of the coronary arteries supply blood to different regions of the heart, the intensity and effect of heart attack depends on the size of clot and the artery affected.

The healing process after a heart attack takes about 8 weeks. The damage caused to the muscles heals to form scar tissues. These tissues do not contract and hence people experience lesser pumping after the occurrence of an attack.

Symptoms of Heart Attack

• Heaviness, pressure or discomfort felt in chest, below breast bone and arms
• Feeling full in stomach, indigestion or heartburn, combined with the other symptoms
• Pain radiating towards back, throat, neck and jaws
• Irregular, rapid hear beat
• Shortness of breath, anxiety and extreme fatigue
• Sweating, dizziness and nausea

Medical attention should be obtained within an hour or two after the symptoms are felt, for effective treatment.

Heart Attack Treatment

Heart attack treatment mainly involves administering medications of anti-platelets and anti-coagulants to prevent the formation and growth of clots in artery, clot dissolving medicines to open up the arteries and methods to improve oxygen flow to heart muscles.

Cardiac surgery is done in cases where rapid opening of arteries is a necessity to improve the condition of the patient. Interventional methods like angioplasty are also performed to remove clots from the arteries.

Dr. Kuldeep Chulliparambil is a leading cardiac surgeon based in Kochi with an experience over carrying out more than ten thousand heart surgeries.

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Keyhole Heart Surgery In Kerala

Keyhole heart surgery a relatively new procedure when compared to the traditional techniques of heart surgery. Keyhole or minimally invasive surgery avoids making an incision of a minimum of 8 to 12 inches to get the right access to the heart.

How is Keyhole Heart Surgery Performed?

This surgery is performed using the most sophisticated and advanced technology. This allows the surgeon to perform the procedure easily, making use of small surgical instruments. The surgeon is able to monitor every move on a video screen. This is possible as live pictures are being broadcast to the screen from a tiny digital camera, which is inserted through the side of the chest.

Keyhole surgery is carried out through a smaller incision between the ribs, which means less surrounding tissue damage often with no broken bone. This, in turn, can lead to faster recovery. The surgeon then inserts specially designed instruments, along with tiny cameras which allow them to see the heart and blood vessels on a screen.

What is the Difference between Traditional Heart Surgery and Keyhole Heart Surgery?

Heart Surgery is done through a deep cut down to the middle of the chest, which includes a full cut through the breastbone. This procedure is complicated and also, it can take 12 weeks or more before the wound is completely healed. This can cause a delay in returning to normal activities.

What are the Benefits of Minimally Invasive Heart Surgery?

• A smaller wound means less surrounding tissue damage which in turn contributes to quicker recovery.
• Less pain after the procedure.
• Early return to normal activities such as work and hobbies.
• A smaller incision usually gives a better cosmetic outcome.

Dr. Kuldeep Chulliparambil chairs Cochin Cardiac associates which is widely regarded as the best cardiac surgery team in Cochin, Ernakulam area of Kerala, India. He has performed over 7000 heart operations including high quality coronary bypass surgeries and keyhole valve surgeries.

Visit Us : heartsurgeonindia.com

Mail Us : heartsurgeonindia@gmail.com