How You Can Lead A Healthy Life After Heart Attack?

Don’t lose heart. Even after a heart attack, you can lead a healthy and productive life.

- Dr Mahantesh R. Charantimath

With the progressive hardening and narrowing of coronary blood vessels, the blood supply to the heart muscle starts diminishing. As long as the blood supply is adequate to meet the demands of the heart an individual will not have any symptoms. Initially the blood supply may be adequate at rest, but becomes inadequate during activity (The demand of the heart for oxygen increases with activity). This inadequate blood supply leads to chest pain. The chest pain disappears soon after the activity is stopped. This is known as Angina. The chest pain is usually over the centre of the chest, feels like tightness in chest, comes on exertion, relieved by rest and lasts for couple of minutes.

A small blood clot may suddenly block this narrowed blood vessel and totally obstruct the blood flow to that part of the heart. This total stoppage of blood circulation leads to Heart attack (Myocardial infarction). The pain is more severe, lasting for nearly an hour or more and usually associated with sweating and breathlessness. If the damage is very severe, it may lead to stopping of the heart and sudden death. If the pain is mild and subsides with rest, consult doctor at the earliest. If the pain occurs during activity, stop the activity and sit and rest till the pain stops. If the pain is very severe, rush to the nearest hospital urgently.