ECG for the diagnosis of a heart attack | How to prevent a heart attack

ECG for the diagnosis of a heart attack

An electrocardiogram (ECG) is a recording of the electrical activity of all heart muscle fibers. It is a very uncomplicated, fast and non-invasive diagnostic procedure, which can be used to detect the heart activity and possible disturbances.If a heart attack is suspected, it is one of the standard procedures to diagnose it. In the same way, cardiac arrhythmias, which are a risk factor for the development of a heart attack, can be diagnosed and circulatory disorders in the context of coronary heart disease (CHD) can be detected.

A CHD represents a narrowing of coronary arteries and can be considered a precursor of a heart attack. To be able to make a reliable diagnosis, a stress ECG can be written in addition to a simple resting ECG. In this case, the heart activity during physical stress is observed.

This is usually done on an ergometer, i.e. a stationary bicycle, on which the pedaling resistance is gradually increased. Under this load, circulatory disorders of the heart become even more apparent than in an electrocardiogram. Another possibility for a more detailed examination of the heart activity is the application of a long-term ECG, in which an ECG is written over 24 hours. The equipment required for this is quite small and can be worn around the neck so that the patient is not restricted in his or her everyday activities.

Therapy after a heart attack

The therapy of an acute myocardial infarction is extensive and includes a number of drugs, and often the use of a cardiac catheter to reopen the occluded vessel. However, the most important prerequisite for healing of the damaged heart muscle cells is and remains the timely recognition of the symptoms of a heart attack. Every minute is important; the quicker treatment can begin, the less damage the infarction causes.

However, curing the underlying problems and diseases is a complicated matter. A heart attack is usually the result of irrevocably damaged coronary vessels. Bypass operations, in which the blood supply to the heart muscle is secured by the insertion of new blood vessels, or by the insertion of stents, can in some cases prevent the recurrence of heart attacks.

However, in order for this to be guaranteed in the future, it is necessary to change one’s own bad habits. This is the only way to ensure a certain degree of certainty that you will not suffer another heart attack. If a cardiac catheter examination reveals a relevant narrowing, whether during an examination for coronary artery disease or during a heart attack, the cardiologist can find the narrowing with a thin wire and expand it with a balloon.

A small wire cylinder (stent) is inserted to keep the expanded area open. Through the cage-like openings of the cylinder, the innermost layer of blood vessels can grow back in and line the stent. Until this happens, inhibitors of platelet function must be ingested, otherwise they will be activated by the “bare” cage and could clog the stent. The cardiologist decides how long the platelet inhibitors must be taken based on the type of stent used.