heart attack

Click a letter for the index

Or search the encyclopaedia:

 

 

Go

 

Sudden onset of gripping central chest pain, often accompanied by sweating and vomiting, caused by death of a portion of the heart muscle following obstruction of a coronary artery by thrombosis (formation of a blood clot). Half of all heart attacks result in death within the first two hours, but in the remainder survival has improved following the widespread use of thrombolytic (clot-buster) drugs.

After a heart attack, most people remain in hospital for seven to ten days, and may make a gradual return to normal activity over the following months. How soon a patient is able to return to work depends on the physical and mental demands of their job.

Women are less likely to suffer heart attack than men. However, as heart disease in women tends to be given lower priority because of lower incidence, they tend to be more likely to die as a result. The best predictor of heart attacks among older people may be an echogram (sonogram) of carotid arteries.

Nordic flags bearing the Scandinavian cross are based on the Danish flag, known as the Dannebrog, ‘Danish cloth’. Effective date: 1 May 1893. >>