New Therapy For Heart Attacks

New drugs can stop or limit the damage of a heart attack, but

only if the patient gets help immediately, experts say.  Once

the flow of blood to a portion of the heart is blocked for

several hours, the damage is irreversible.

Knowing the symptoms of a heart attack, which can be wide-ranging

and confusing, is extremely important.  So is knowing risk

factors, such as obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and family

history.

Typical symptoms of a heart attack include a crushing pain in the

chest, sweating, difficulty breathing, weakness and pain in the

arms, particularly the left.  Symptoms one could attribute to

something else can cause devastating delays in seeking treatment. 

These include feelings of indigestion, back shoulder and neck pain

and nausea.  Early signs of trouble may appear during physical

activity and disappear with rest.  Any numbness of tingling of the

fingers or toes, dizziness, shortness of breath or difficulty in

breathing should not be ignored.

Clinical studies, laboratory investigations and a number of surveys

show certain personal characteristics and life-styles pointing to

increased danger of heart attack.  These danger signs are called

"risk factors."  These well established risk factors are high blood

pressure, high blood cholesterol, cigarette smoking and diabetes

mellitus.

Attempts at modifying risk factors most certainly have contributed

to the declining death rate from heart attacks in the United States. 

During the 1960's, U.S. death rates from heart attacks were still

rising, but today's figures show that heart attacks have fallen

dramatically.  And, overall, heart-related problems have declined

about 25 percent in the last decade.  This decrease undoubtedly is

due to better medical care of heart attack victims, but it is likely

that a sizable percentage is related to modification of risk factors.

Medical technology is advancing at an increasingly rapid rate.  More

drugs and medical technology are available than ever before and the

entire population is now more aware of the seriousness of heart

attacks.  There has been an increased interest in learning CPR and

many community organizations now offer this valuable training. 

Of particular concern by doctors and researchers is the role that

the American diet plays in the health of one's heart.  Obesity

predisposes individuals to coronary heart disease.  Some of the

reasons for this are known, but others are not.  The major causes

of obesity in Americans are excessive intake of calories and

inadequate exercise.  When caloric intake is excessive, some of

the excess frequently is saturated fat, which further raises the

blood cholesterol.  Thus, obesity contributes to higher coronary

risk in a variety of ways.

Many of the major risk factors for a heart attack are silent and

much of the responsibility for their detection lies with each of

us as individuals.  Regular checkups are particularly necessary

if there is a family history of heart attacks of heart disease,

high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels or diabetes. others

are not.