A heart attack is a situation wherein a part of a heart muscle isn’t receiving enough blood. With this interrupted supply, the heart muscles may weaken and die. Without immediate treatment to restore blood circulation, these cardiac tissues will experience irreversible damage that might cause long-term health risks or even death.
Because of this, urgent medical care is necessary to fix blood circulation and restore oxygen levels immediately. Therefore, cardiac patients’ family members and nearby relatives need sufficient knowledge to help them survive this condition.
4 Most Common Heart Attack Treatment Options
This article provides you with the four most common heart attack treatment options to help you be well-informed in case it happens to you or your loved one.
Intraosseous Cannulation
Intraosseous cannulation is a medical procedure in which tools like spring-loaded and advanced power drills enable needle insertion through thick cortical bone. This method provides vascular access if intravenous access is impossible due to cardiovascular collapse. Such a procedure is necessary to deliver fluids and medications to the heart attack patient.
Medical practitioners use intraosseous access systems like SAM IO to make it possible to reach higher flow rates, especially when using a needle to infuse fluid. In addition to this tool, they also use other products like sterile saline, gloves, towels, antiseptic solutions, IV connection fluids, and syringes to ensure the effectiveness of this option.
Before taking this treatment, the patient or their guardians must make the doctor aware of any medication they take and all their allergies. On the day of the procedure, the patient must bring a robe to wear as they wait for the medical activity and the toiletries they’ll need to make their stay more convenient. During the test, the provider will inject a numbing medicine underneath the skin using a small needle and might ask the patient to turn their head to help position the catheter.
Balloon Angioplasty
Another standard heart attack treatment option is a minor surgery called balloon angioplasty. This procedure opens clogged heart arteries by using a small balloon dilator to widen and enhance blood circulation to the heart. Instead of going through open-heart surgery, this minimally invasive procedure reduces the narrowing of the artery, enabling the patient to return to their day-to-day activities shortly after the treatment.
During the scheduled activity, the individual must strictly follow instructions about when to stop eating and drinking because failing to abide by these regulations may force the doctor to cancel the treatment. In addition, the patient may be asked to remove metal objects attached to their body, including their dental appliances, wristwatch, eyeglasses, hearing aids, and piercings. After the procedure, the patient needs to ensure they have someone to take them home because anesthesia might make it unsafe for them to drive themselves.
Stent Placement
A blocked artery can cause potentially life-threatening health issues, preventing critical organs from getting the necessary oxygen to keep an individual alive and functioning. Fortunately, stenting offers life-saving treatment for severe medical conditions like stroke and heart attack by reducing angina and other symptoms of heart ailments. In addition to decreasing the risk of heart diseases, this procedure can restore blood circulation to the legs and improve kidneys. Stents are tiny metal tubes that serve as scaffolding to keep the artery open. This procedure can be done after the balloon angioplasty for longer-term treatment.
To prepare for stent placement, the patient has to stay hydrated, communicate with their doctor about which medications to avoid, and make arrangements for after the treatment. The medical practitioner will numb the area during this procedure but won’t use general anesthesia. After the treatment, the patient can return to their routine but must avoid extreme physical activities that require lifting heavy objects for at least a day.
Coronary Bypass Surgery
Coronary artery bypass surgery is a standard treatment that involves a surgeon taking blood vessels from another area of the patient’s body to go around a blocked artery. This procedure increases oxygen and blood circulation to the heart again. Consequently, it can reduce the risk of heart-related issues and make the patient feel better by enabling them to return to their daily activities. However, the individual still needs to follow a healthy diet, take ongoing medication, and do minimal exercise to prevent another possible blockage.
Before the surgery, the patient has to go through chest X-rays using a special dye to show blood movement through the arteries, a couple of blood evaluations, and an electrocardiogram (EKG). Additionally, the surgeon will advise them to change their lifestyle and diet a few days before the procedure in case their current medicines affect their risk of bleeding. During the activity, the patient will be asleep the entire period while a breathing tube stays in their mouth as it’s attached to a ventilator to allow them to breathe.
Key Takeaway
As someone close to an individual who shows risks of heart illness, you must gain sufficient knowledge about the possible procedures they may take in the future. You should familiarize yourself and your other family members with the four heart attack treatment options. Once you do so, you can provide your family members with the necessary guidance as they go through this process in the future and ensure a successful treatment.
Disclaimer
The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
