Myocardial infarction, also known as heart attack, coronary thrombosis or coronary occlusion, is the sudden blockage of one or more coronary arteries. If the blocked artery affects a large area, the person could die. Otherwise, heart tissue necrosis and scarring will still occur, but other vessels may be able to take the place of the damaged areas. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay If a myocardial infarction is suspected, it is imperative that the patient seek immediate medical attention. An electrokaryogram will be performed along with several blood tests to assess the severity of the attack. After a myocardial infarction the sedimentation rate of red blood cells is almost always higher. The greatest dangers after a heart attack are arrhythmias and cardiac arrest. An abnormal heart rate and rhythms in a patient after a heart attack often mean that the left ventricle is not pumping adequately. Congestive heart failure can pose a threat at this time. Symptoms of a heart attack may begin suddenly, with a sharp, intense pain in the chest that may radiate to the left arm and shoulder. Other symptoms may include restlessness and confusion; skin may be cold and clammy, shortness of breath, cyanosis, drop in blood pressure, and drop in body temperature. A rapid, irregular pulse can also be a sign of a recurrent heart attack. In the early twentieth century, bed rest was the only thing that could be done for heart attacks. Then it was discovered that nitroglycerin restored coronary circulation and relieved pain. Digitalis has been found to be effective in treating abnormal heart rhythms and diuretics have been found to be effective in removing water, thus reducing hypertension. With these and many other treatments, cardiology became one of the most dramatic fields in the history of medicine (Kenneth, 674). Another major concern of heart patients is the prevention of a second heart attack. There are several tests that can be performed to evaluate a patient's condition. The doctor may want the patient to wear a heart rate monitor, also known as an ambulatory electrocardiograph or Holter monitor. This device graphically records the electrical currents generated by the heart. The purpose of the ambulatory electrocardiograph is to document and describe the occurrence of abnormal electrical behavior of the heart. This is done over a period of time while the patient goes about his or her normal daily activities. It will help determine whether heart malfunctions occur randomly, spontaneously, while the patient is sleeping or while under stress. Your doctor may also want to perform other tests such as cardiac catheterization or a coronary arteriography. A cardiac catheterization is a procedure in which a doctor guides a thin plastic tube through an artery or vein in the arm or leg to the heart and coronary arteries of the heart. It is carried out to measure blood pressure and oxygen in the blood. It also provides information on the pumping capacity of the heart muscle. During an arteriography, an opaque dye is injected into the bloodstream and then X-rays are taken to see if the arteries are damaged or blocked. The blood pressure of all cardiac patients should be monitored carefully. A sphygmomanometer is the instrument used to measure blood pressure. This test measures systolic pressure when the heart is beating and diastolic pressure when the heart is at rest. Although blood pressure readings may vary, a typical value for an adultit would be around 130/80. Many doctors focus on preventative medicine, which includes teaching the importance of diet, exercise and ways to relieve stress. Stress can refer to physical but also mental tension. Numerous scientific evidence points to a link between the risk of heart disease and psychosocial and environmental factors such as work stress, social isolation and certain personality traits. Diet is an important factor in preventing heart attacks. Low fat and low cholesterol foods are easily available nowadays because so many people care about health. Particular attention should be paid to portion size, as most people tend to overeat. Potassium is an important element as well as an essential electrolyte for the growth and maintenance of the body. Some foods high in potassium include bananas, cantaloupe, oranges, and tomato juice. It's best to consult your doctor about your diet if you are at risk for heart problems. Other important nutritional factors to consider are fat, cholesterol and sodium (American Heart Association). A successful exercise program that involves frequent physical activity that gets the blood flowing. Walking, jogging, hiking, and swimming are all good examples of ways to get your heart in shape and reduce stress. An exercise program should also be discussed with your doctor in case there are limitations related to your condition. There are times when diet and exercise alone are not enough and a doctor may want to start drug therapy. This could be in the form of taking vitamins as a dietary supplement or prescribing something that helps strengthen the contraction of the heart muscle and slow the heart rate. You may also want to prescribe a diuretic to rid your body of excess fluid. This helps relieve the heart's workload, as there is less fluid to pump throughout the body. There are some cases where medications are not enough and more extreme measures must be taken. Coronary artery bypass surgery is performed to restore adequate blood flow to the heart muscle when a blockage occurs. In this surgery, a vein is taken from the leg to replace a blockage in an artery near the heart. Although there is some danger, this is a fairly common surgery today. After a bypass, patients are encouraged to get out of bed and walk within the first 24 hours to prevent thrombosis. Arrhythmias are another concern for cardiac patients. They are caused by a disruption in the normal functioning of the heart's electrical conduction system. Some types of arrhythmias include tachycardia, which is a fast heartbeat, or bradycardia, which is a slow heartbeat. If the heart beats too slowly, the lack of oxygen can cause damage to the body's organs. Other types of arrhythmias may include fibrillation, atrial flutter, ventricular tachycardia, or sinus bradycardia. Some of these can be life-threatening and require immediate attention to prevent the patient's death. There are still other conditions that can affect the heart, such as a life-threatening infection known as bacterial endocarditis. This is an infection and inflammation of the lining and valves of the heart. Two out of three patients present the subacute form, which manifests itself with fever, malaise, bacteremia and heart murmurs. Several microbes can cause endocarditis, but most are due to bacteria such as streptococcus or staphylococcus, which are found in the mouth or throat (black646). Endocarditis.