drramjimehrotra Blog

Heart Attack, Cardiac Arrest, and Stroke Symptoms

The terms Heart Attack, Cardiac Arrest, and Stroke are often used interchangeably but they are not the same. They are three different problems with different causes and treatments. Heart attack and cardiac arrest are involved with the heart, while stroke is involved with the brain. When blood flow to the part of heart muscle stops due to complete blockage in the artery which supplies blood to that part of heart muscle, the muscle dies and this is called heart attack. Cardiac arrest happens when the heart suddenly stops beating. When the blood supply to the brain is interrupted stroke occurs.

Heart Attack

A blocked artery can prevent blood from reaching the heart. This can be due to the build-up of plaque in the arteries and causes a heart attack. The blocked artery must be reopened quickly to avoid permanent damage to the heart.

The heart attack symptoms may be immediate or may also start slowly and persist for a few days or weeks before the attack. The symptoms of the heart attack can be different in both men and women. The common heart attack symptoms in men include:

  • Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, or pain in the centre of the chest
  • Discomfort in the arms, neck, jaw, back, or stomach.
  • Shortness of breath with discomfort in the chest
  • Cold sweat, nausea, or light headedness

In women, chest pain or discomfort is the most common symptom of a heart attack.  Other symptoms include shortness of breath, back or jaw pain, nausea, and vomiting.

Cardiac Arrest

Cardiac arrest is the abrupt loss of functioning of the heart. Unlike heart attack which is a circulation problem, cardiac arrest results from a problem with the heart’s electrical system which disrupts the heart’s pumping action and stops blood flow. A heart attack is a common cause of cardiac arrest, though most heart attacks do not lead to cardiac arrest.

Sudden cardiac arrest often occurs with no warning and can lead to sudden collapse, loss of consciousness, no breathing, and no pulse. Sometimes there are symptoms observed in advance such as shortness of breath, chest discomfort, palpitations, etc.

Cardiac arrest stops the heart from beating and causes the stoppage of blood and oxygen to the brain, lungs, and other organs. If not treated immediately, cardiac arrest can lead to brain damage and also death within a few minutes. However, according to leading cardiac surgeon Dr. Ramji Mehrotra, chances of survival can be as high as 90 percent if treatment is initiated immediately with CPR and a shock with a defibrillator to jump-start the heart after sudden cardiac arrest.

Stroke

Strokes also deals with blood flow, but are not in the heart. A stroke occurs when blood supply to the brain is reduced, thereby blocking oxygen and nutrients.  The two major types of strokes are Ischemic and Haemorrhagic. When a vessel supplying blood to the brain is obstructed or clots, ischemic stroke occurs. Almost 90 percent of all strokes are ischemic strokes. Haemorrhagic stroke is caused when a weakened blood vessel or small aneurysm in brain vessel ruptures and bleeds. Uncontrolled high BP is the most common cause of haemorrhagic stroke.

Symptoms of a stroke include severe headache, sudden numbness or weakness; paralysis, difficulty with speech, loss of balance, unconsciousness etc. Risk factors that can cause stroke include smoking, high BP, high blood cholesterol, obesity, and type 2 diabetes.

Almost 75 percent of all strokes occur in people over the age of 65.

Conclusion

Dr Ramji Mehrotra says that heart attack, cardiac arrest, and stroke are all life-threatening emergencies. He is of the opinion that their risk can be minimized by getting regular check-ups, being screened for cardiovascular disease, and taking the prescribed medications and regular follow up with the doctor.. Dr. Mehrotra also highlights the importance of adopting a healthy lifestyle by quitting smoking and tobacco in any form, avoiding alcohol, exercising regularly, having a low-fat diet, keeping weight under control, managing diabetes, hypertension and other health conditions.

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When should you have a Heart Health Check-up?

The heart is a crucial organ of the human body that beats more than 100,000 times a day. It starts functioning even before our birth and continues to do so till our last breath without a break. Heart disease accounts for the death of the maximum number of men and women globally every year and many do not know they have heart disease or risk factors which cause heart disease, hence it is very important to take care of the heart.

One solution to reduce the number of deaths is preventive healthcare with identification of risk factors, mitigating them and taking regular check-ups by a cardiologist. Without regular heart check-ups, many health issues may go undetected. On the other hand, regular check-ups can ensure that potential risk factors are detected and timely action can be taken.

Among the many types of heart disease, coronary artery disease is a major problem and causes heart attack. To rule out the possibility of coronary artery disease, a heart check-up is recommended regularly. With earlier detection, people with risks can make modifications to their lifestyle and lead a healthy life.

Reasons to visit a Heart Specialist

There are multiple reasons why it is important to visit a cardiologist and get a thorough check-up regularly. If you have any of the risk factors listed below, it is essential to schedule an appointment with the cardiologist without fail.

  1. High blood pressure: High blood pressure increases the risk of stroke and heart attack.
  2. Diabetes: Diabetes and cardiovascular disease are correlated. Uncontrolled blood sugar increases the risk of coronary artery disease.
  3. High cholesterol: High cholesterol leads to plaque formation in the arteries and must be controlled to lower the chances of heart disease.
  4. Lack of exercise: Lack of exercise or inadequate physical activity can lead to fatty material build-up in the arteries leading to a possible heart attack.
  5. Heart disease in the family: Heart disease is sometimes genetic and the early onset of heart disease in close relatives can be an indicator of risk.
  6. Tobacco use in any form: Tobacco consumption increases the probability of heart attacks and strokes drastically. Tobacco in any form and smoking specially increases plaque formation in blood vessels and increases the risk of death.
  7. Alcohol: Regular drinking of alcohol can increase blood pressure and the level of fat in the blood. It increases the risk of heart attack. It can also cause cardiomyopathy or heart muscle disease.
  8. Fast food: Fast food has saturated fat that can raise LDL or bad cholesterol. This increases the risk of cardiovascular disease.
  9. Chronic kidney disease: Kidney disease is also linked with coronary artery disease and high blood pressure which affect the heart.

Types of Tests

By taking the right tests at the right time, heart issues can be identified and heart disease can be prevented, thereby promoting the overall health and well-being of individuals. Some of the important tests include:

  • Blood pressure tests: BP tests can help to monitor heart health by recording the pressure in the arteries. It is essential to get the BP checked regularly as high BP does not have any symptoms but increases the risk of heart attack, congestive heart failure, etc.
  • Blood tests: Blood tests can help to determine cholesterol levels, blood glucose, triglyceride levels, etc. High levels of good cholesterol (HDL) indicate good heart health, while high levels of bad cholesterol (LDL and VLDL) or triglycerides point to a greater risk of heart disease.
  • Electrocardiogram (ECG): ECG shows the heart’s electrical activity and heartbeat patterns by which the cardiologist can assess how the heart is working and detect heart rhythm problems like arrhythmia.
  • Echo-cardiogram (echo test): In an echo-cardiogram, ultrasound imaging is used to take pictures of the heart as it beats. This helps the cardiologist to diagnose symptoms of heart trouble.
  • Calcium scoring tests: Calcium scoring tests use CT scans to check for calcium in the coronary arteries. This can indicate plaque build-up and lead to clogged arteries leading to an increased risk of heart disease.
  • Cardiac imaging tests: These include Chest X-rays, Cardiac CT scans, Angiogram, etc. These tests create images of the heart and blood vessels and help the cardiologist in diagnosis.

Conclusion

Leading cardiologist Dr Ramji Mehrotra has said that regular examinations and screenings related to heart health are a must and should be done specially in patients with risk factors.  At least once at approximately 40years age. Yearly appointments should be scheduled with the cardiologist and patients with high risk should get their check-ups even more frequently. He gives emphasis on lifestyle modifications also to mitigate the risk of heart disease.

Dr. Mehrotra has also said that with early diagnosis and treatment, the risk of heart disease complications such as stroke and heart attack can be reduced greatly and patients can lead a long, healthy life.

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Dr Ramji Mehrotra – A Cardiac Surgeon par Excellence

Dr. Ramji Mehrotra is a renowned cardiac surgeon based in Delhi. He is one of the leading names in the field of Cardio Thoracic and Vascular Surgery in India. He is presently working as a Principal Director & Chief in Cardio Thoracic and Vascular Surgery (CTVS) Department at BLK Super Speciality Hospital, New Delhi.

Highly Qualified Practitioner

Dr. Mehrotra is a highly qualified practitioner having been educated in and associated with very prestigious medical institutions like BHU, AIIMS and Harvard Medical School. His qualifications include: MBBS, MS – General Surgery, MCh – Cardio Thoracic Vascular Surgery, Fellowships in Cardiac Surgery.

Specialization 

Dr Ramji Mehrotra is a versatile surgeon. His forte lies in operating CABG on Beating Heart, Total Arterial CABG, Minimal Access Mitral and Aortic Valve repair and replacement.

Surgeries:

  • Cardiac Surgery
  • Cardio Thoracic Surgery
  • Cardiovascular Surgery
  • Beating Heart CABG,
  • Total Arterial CABG
  • Minimal Access Mitral Surgery
  • Aortic Valve Surgery
  • Valve repair surgeries.

Achievements

Dr. Mehrotra is credited to have performed the first successful arterial switch operation in Mumbai, India. He has the credit for setting up the pediatric Cardiac Surgery facility at Asian Heart Institute, Mumbai.

Dr Ramji Mehrotra has performed the first total arterial revascularization and first total arterial revascularization using bilateral mammary arteries at Indraprastha Apollo Hospital. New Delhi. He is also the one to perform a total arterial CABG on the youngest patient in India aged 10 years.

Dr. Mehrotra has presided over and presented many papers in national and international conferences.

Patient Testimonials

  • Dr. Mehrotra is admired by all his patients for his dedicated efforts in restoring them to good health. His patients often send personal thank you notes to express their gratitude.
  • Neeti Rawat, who is a staff member at Fortis Escorts Heart Institute, has said that Dr. Mehrotra has a unique way of caring for his patients and is a unique clinician. She added that his patients are given as less trouble as possible with minimum incisions during the surgery. She called him an “angel in disguise.”
  • Vijay Sen, whose mother was treated by Dr Ramji Mehrotra, has said that he has the magical power of healing touch towards the patients. He thanked Dr. Mehrotra for the care, support and motivation given to his mother during her bypass surgery. He said that Dr. Mehrotra used to positively respond to her when she called despite his busy schedule.
  • Niharika Verma said that Dr. Mehrotra is a very experienced and skilled surgeon who gave her husband Nishith Verma a new life.  She said that the operation was successful and they are thoroughly satisfied by his work.
  • Anoop Chitkara said that Dr. Mehrotra is a thorough professional and personally supervises the treatment right from the admission till discharge and post operation follow up. He added that Dr. Mehrotra is an amazing cardiologist and a very skilled heart surgeon.

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