Heart Attack Specialist

What is a heart attack?

A heart attack, known clinically as a myocardial infarction, occurs when there is a sudden blockage of blood flow to the heart muscle. Heart attacks are usually due to blood clots or plaque in one of the three main arteries that feed the heart.

For example, many patients have plaque on the insides of their arteries as a result of high cholesterol. These plaques are sometimes soft, mushy, and prone to rupture. If the soft plaque breaks, it can block your arteries.

Your platelets see the rupture as an injury and initiate clot formation. Clotting can exacerbate the condition by causing further blockage.

What are the signs of a heart attack?

Severe chest pain is the primary symptom of a heart attack. You might feel like an elephant is sitting on your chest. You might also have shortness of breath or dizziness or left arm pain.

Women, elderly patients, and people with diabetes often have atypical symptoms like sweating, fatigue, shortness of breath, palpitations or flutters, dizziness, and abdominal pain. Around 20% of heart attacks don’t cause noticeable symptoms.

What should I do if I think I’m experiencing a heart attack?

If you think you have a heart attack, call 911 immediately or go to your nearest emergency room. Getting treatment, such as a coronary intervention, as quickly as possible can save your life. The first hour following a heart attack is called the “Golden Hour.”

Emergency treatment for a heart attack focuses on opening your blocked arteries and restoring blood flow to your heart. After stabilization, Dr. Siva of Sunshine Cardiovascular & Vein provides additional treatment to restore your heart health and support your recovery.

How do you treat heart attacks?

The first step in treating a heart attack is to open and clear the blocked artery. Dr. Siva places stents in the arteries that act like scaffolding and hold the artery open. He uses a minimally invasive catheter procedure that takes approximately an hour.

After your surgery, Dr. Siva prescribes medications; they may include:

• Blood thinners
• Aspirin
• Plavix®
• Effient®
• Brilinta®

These medications prevent clots from forming around the stent. Your body sees the stent as a foreign body, which can trigger the clotting process. After approximately a year, your body accepts the stent, and you might be able to reduce or stop taking blood thinners.

Dr. Siva might also prescribe statins to reduce the cholesterol in your bloodstream and prevent plaque from rupturing.

Dr. Siva provides referrals for cardiac rehabilitation to help you recover from a heart attack. You might need to adjust your diet and add exercise to your daily routine to improve and protect your heart health.

Call Sunshine Cardiovascular & Vein, or make an appointment with Dr. Siva online today, for expert diagnosis and treatment for a heart attack.

We are located in 5340 Gulf Drive, Suite 101, New Port Richey, FL 34652. Call us to book your appointment today.