Both heart failure (HF) and heart attack are types of cardiac disease. While they share similar causes, they differ in significant ways. Most heart attacks occur suddenly when one of the arteries going to the heart becomes clogged and cuts off blood flow. The cardiac muscles begin to die when they are deprived of oxygen. On the other hand, HF refers to a medical condition of a patient when their heart muscle is either not pumping enough blood or unable to accommodate blood in ventricular chambers. One of the major causes of reduction in heart’s ability to pump blood is coronary artery disease (CAD) and heart attack. However, faulty heart valves, chronic blood pressure, or genetic disease can also be a cause of heart failure.
Heart attack and heart failure have different causes, symptoms, and treatments.
Dr. Rituparna Baruah, Senior Consultant Interventional Cardiologist, Apollo Hospitals, Guwahati says, “Heart attacks are frequently caused by coronary artery disease. With this condition, a substance called plaque has built up on the walls of the arteries through a process called atherosclerosis. The coronary arteries narrow as plaque builds. A blood clot can form when plaque within a coronary artery breaks or form ulcers. This blood clot can obstruct blood flow through the coronary arteries, resulting in a heart attack.”
“Heart failure can have various causes. Chronic diseases that weaken or damage the heart are frequently the cause of systolic failure. Coronary artery disease, damage from a previous heart attack, arrhythmias, and heart valve issues are a few examples. Diastolic failure can occur because of disorders that require your heart to work harder to pump blood. When this happens, the heart tissue can harden. High blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity are all causes of diastolic failure. Left-sided heart failure is frequently the cause of right-sided heart failure. As the left side of your heart weakens, blood backs up in the right side, making it work harder,” he adds.
Chest pain is a common symptom of a heart attack. The level of the discomfort might range from minor to severe. It could feel like pressure or fullness or squeezing. A heart attack might cause pain in other places, such as the arms, shoulders, back, neck, or jaw. Shortness of breath, cold sweats, feeling lightheaded or dizzy, nausea or vomiting, and extreme exhaustion are all indications of a heart attack
One of the most common signs of heart failure is shortness of breath. When your heart isn't pumping enough oxygen-rich blood into your body, your lungs have to work harder to take in more oxygen. Different types of heart failure can cause a variety of symptoms. Additional signs of left-sided heart failure include exhaustion, difficulty in coughing, difficulty in breathing, focusing, blue fingernails or lips, inability to sleep while lying flat. Other symptoms of right-sided heart failure, in addition to shortness of breath, include loss of appetite, stomach ache, nauseousness, swelling in the lower extremities or abdomen, unexplained weight gain and frequent urination.
According to Dr. Baruah, “Heart failure treatment aims to manage the conditions that contribute to heart failure, reduce strain on the heart, and prevent heart failure from becoming worse.
Making lifestyle changes is the first step to having a better and healthier heart. There are plenty of medications available that doctors might prescribe based on the diagnosis. In case if the doctors feel that the heart function cannot be restored with medication, they may use surgical interventions and implants to help provide patients with an improved quality of life.”
Treatment for a heart attack focuses on restoring blood flow to the affected area of the heart and preventing additional damage from occurring. For heart attack, Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) helps to open the blocked coronary artery and restore blood flow. A stent may also be placed to keep the artery open.
“Patients with severe heart failure or major arrhythmias may require implantable defibrillators or ICDs. When a life-threatening abnormal rhythm is detected, these devices give an electric shock to the heart. ICDs have saved millions of lives, however they are only recommended in certain situations. The choice to use an ICD is made by the doctor after careful consideration of the symptoms of the patient. Few patients with heart failure may experience abnormal conduction of the electrical system of the heart, which alters the efficient beating of the heart. In such circumstances, Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT), also known as biventricular pacing, may be recommended. These advanced therapies can help enhance cardiac function, lower the risk of hospitalisation, and improve life expectancy,” says Dr. Baruah.
Disclaimer: The information in this article is for educational purposes only and not meant to provide any medical or clinical advice. Please consult your doctor for more information.
No comments:
Post a Comment