Treatments

There are different treatment guidelines for before, during, and after a heart attack.

Initial stage:

The usual treatments that are started immediately when a possible heart attack is suspected even without confirmation are oxygen therapy, aspirin to prevent blood clotting, and nitroglycerin which lets the heart to not have to work so hard (How is a heart attack treated, 2013).

Confirmation stage:

When a heart attack is confirmed, the most common treatments are putting the patient on medicines that bust clots, and performing a procedure to open up the blocked coronary arteries, called a coronary angioplasty (How is a heart attack treated, 2013). The clot buster medicines are best when given immediately. These clot busters work the best when they are given to the patient within a few hours from when the first heart attacks symptoms started (How is a heart attack treated, 2013). 

A coronary angioplasty is when a small tube that has a balloon inside is inserted through a blood vessel and is placed in the coronary artery that is being blocked (How is a heart attack treated, 2013). The balloon is then inflated which opens up the artery and blood flow increases through the heart.

Other medicines used to treat heart attack and symptoms:

Beta blockers – treats chest pain, decreases heart’s workload

ACE inhibitors – decrease blood pressure

Anticoagulants – prevent blood clots from forming

Anticlotting medicines – stop platelet formation     

(How is a heart attack treated, 2013).

Other medical procedures used to treat heart attack and symptoms:

A coronary artery bypass is another procedure used to treat heart attack. A vein from the body is used in the heart, which allows blood to flow through a new passage (How is a heart attack treated, 2013).

Post hospital:

Treatment may include the previous listed medications. Non-pharmacological treatment include more exercise, having a healthy diet, being active, maintaining a healthy weight, and not smoking (How is a heart attack treated, 2013). There is cardiac rehabilitation that can also help patients recover from a heart attack. During this rehabilitation there is exercise training and education, counseling, and training to understand the heart condition and ways to reduce risk for future problems (How is a heart attack treated, 2013).

How is a heart attack treated? – national Heart, lung, and Blood Institute. (2013, December). Retrieved February 2/14/15. From http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/heartattack/treatment

How is a Heart Attack Treated – youtube.com. (2004, March. Retrieved February 14, 2015, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApJvxgjUOjc

Your guide to coronary bypass surgery - heart disease treatment - youtube.com. (2014, February). Retrieved February 14, 2015. from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8b1FQJcRE1k