Heart attack, known as myocardial infarction in medical terminology, took over 28,000 lives in India from 2019 to 2022, according to the National Crime Record Bureau's (NCRB) Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India Report. The alarming statistics are a good enough indicator to ensure the significance of an effective myocardial infarction treatment.
What are the treatments for heart attack?
The more plaque in the walls of our arteries, the greater the risk that one of them will crack all of a sudden, like a crack in the wall, forming a blood clot and blocking the arteries. This entire process results in a myocardial infarction or heart attack. If the arterial blockage stays, it may result in heart failure or, in severe cases, even death. The treatment for a heart attack involves a combination of surgeries and medication, depending on whether it is a case of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) or non-STEMI. The medications used in myocardial infarction supportive therapy may include:
- Anticoagulants or blood-thinning medicines like heparin or warfarin
- Aspirin to prevent the formation of blood clots
- Nitroglycerin to relieve chest pain and allow the blood to flow through narrow spaces.
- Fibrinolysis via thrombolytic drugs or clot-busters like tissue plasminogen activator (tPA)
- Antiarrhythmic drugs to restore normal heart rhythm.
- Morphine to relieve pain
- Statins to reduce cholesterol levels
- Vasodilators or blood vessel-widening medication
- Beta-blockers to decrease the heart's demand for oxygen by reducing its workload
- Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors to dilate blood vessels and lower blood pressure
Myocardial infarction treatment may include the following surgical procedures as well:
- Balloon or laser angioplasty
- Atherectomy to open arteries blocked by plaque
- Heart valve surgery
- Coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG)
- Transmyocardial revascularization (TMR)
- Stent procedure
Conclusion
Engaging in regular exercise, adhering to a plant-based diet, reducing obesity and quitting tobacco and alcohol go a long way in the treatment of heart attacks. Nonetheless, health insurance from ICICI Lombard will certainly prevent our “dil” from going for a “dil ka daura”.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult your general physician or another certified medical professional for any questions regarding a medical condition. Relying on any information provided in this blog is solely at your own risk, and ICICI Lombard is not responsible for any effects or consequences resulting from the use of the information shared.