When it comes to minimizing the life-threatening damage that can occur during a heart attack, Dr Essam Nakhla, a Cardiovascular Disease (cardiology) Specialist at Waterbury Hospital, knows that “time is muscle.”

That is why he would like to see many more people trained in cardio pulmonary resuscitation, or CPR, along with a proliferation of publicly accessible automatic external defibrillators or AEDs. The easygoing physician spoke to The Newtown Bee recently as part of a flurry of Heart Month activities and community outreach sponsored every February by the regional hospital and recently certified Level II trauma center.

“Having a heart attack means you are experiencing an acute ischemic situation when your heart is not getting adequate blood supply and oxygen,” Dr Nakhla said. “When there’s acute, complete, or partial cessation of this blood flow in any of the main arteries [to the heart], you get the symptoms known as a heart attack.”

The physician explained there are three types of heart attacks, with one in particular that has immediate and intensive impact on the heart muscle.

He said in an ST-segment, or STEMI, elevation myocardial infarction, a coronary artery is completely blocked by cholesterol-filled plaque or by a blood clot. Deprived of oxygen and energy, heart muscle cells supplied by the blocked artery begin to shut down key functions, then begin to die.

“This type of heart attack is treated immediately with artery-opening angioplasty, plus a stent or clot-busting drugs,” he said.

In the other two cases, symptoms may be present, but the potential damage to the heart muscle can be significantly less, or there may be no permanent heart muscle damage at all.

Aaron Kandola at medicalnewstoday.com identifies NSTEMI heart attacks as occurring when the coronary artery is partially blocked and blood flow is severely restricted. While they are less dangerous than STEMI heart attacks, they can cause permanent damage.

A coronary artery spasm, or silent heart attack or unstable angina, occurs when the arteries connected to the heart contract, preventing or restricting blood flow to the heart, the site states. Symptoms do not cause permanent damage, and they are less severe than those of other types of coronary artery disease, but having a coronary artery spasm can increase the risk of having a more severe heart attack.

Dr Nakhla said the signs of a heart attack are fairly common and well-known: sudden, unexplained pain in your lower jaw, chest pain, and/or intense chest pressure. But those symptoms are more likely to signal a heart attack in men younger than about 80 years old, he added.

“With women patients and elderly men, symptoms can be what we call atypical — acute shortness of breath; indigestion; vague, dull chest discomfort; chest heaviness; shoulder pain; elbow pain; left arm numbness all can signal a heart attack,” Dr Nakhla said.

According to the cardiac specialist, there’s no way for the person experiencing it to know if sudden chest pain is being caused by indigestion, inflammation, or a cardiovascular emergency.

“That’s why if you feel like you might be having any of these symptoms, you should immediately seek medical help,” Dr Nakhla said. “You should not ignore your symptoms.”

The first thing to do when facing any combination or single symptom described is to call 911, Dr Nakhla said, and the second is to chew up four baby aspirin.

The thing that Dr Nakhla said a person should not do if they are alone and facing possible heart attack symptoms is to try and self-treat by either forcefully coughing or thumping one’s own chest.

“If anything, those are harmful maneuvers,” he said. “Coughing may give you some mental relief without actually addressing the problem. And hitting yourself in the chest could generate enough electrical energy to cause cardiac arrest. There is no home remedy for a heart attack.”

Because of the growing movement to install AEDs in public buildings and in workplaces, Dr Nakhla said having a heart attack in those locations puts victims in proximity to technology that can help restore a stopped heart.

“I ask everyone to try and locate one when they are out in public locations or at your workplace,” he said. “And more importantly, get certified in CPR. Everyone can learn CPR, thanks to resources provided by the American Heart Association.”

If a bystander comes upon somebody possibly suffering a heart attack, Dr Nakhla said to get on the line with a 911 dispatcher and follow their instructions and answer their questions. If the individual is unconscious, he reiterated the importance of trying to locate and attach an AED to the person. If they are not breathing, or if a heart beat is not detected, and there is no AED available, initiate CPR.

For those who have already suffered a heart attack, the American Heart Association helped to develop My Cardiac Coach, a free mobile app that can help individuals find their way to a healthier future. My Cardiac Coach is a personalized recovery toolkit you carry in your smartphone. It gives you anytime/anywhere access to everything you need, including:

*Trustworthy information from the experts at the American Heart Association;

*Interactive lessons to help you learn what you need to know;

*Progress-trackers for monitoring blood pressure and weight;

*Tools for logging physical activity and managing medications; and

*Connections to other survivors through our Support Network

For more information and resources on heart attack prevention, recognition, treatment, and survival, visit the American Heart Association at heart.org.

To learn more about Dr Essam Nakhla, call 203-573-1435 or click HERE.