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CHAPTER 8
Risk Factors & Diagnosis
The more risk factors a person has, the greater the chance that he or she will have a heart attack. Fortunately, most of the risk factors for heart attack are controllable:
- High blood cholesterol, particularly high LDL-cholesterol
- High blood pressure
- Overweight or obesity
- Smoking or using tobacco in any form
- Diabetes
- Lack of exercise
- Unmanaged response to stress
Risk factors that can't be controlled include:
- Genetics (family history of early heart disease)
- Aging
Diagnosis
Electrocardiograms (EKGs) and blood tests are the most important tests to determine if someone is having, or has had, a heart attack. EKGs are the first tests done. Electrodes are attached to the patient's skin to record the electrical activity of the heart, displayed as "waves" on a monitor or printed on paper. Because injured heart muscle doesn't conduct electrical impulses normally, the EKG shows if the patient had a heart attack or if one is in progress.
Blood samples are also taken. When heart muscle is damaged or dies, certain chemicals (called cardiac markers) that it contains are released into the bloodstream. Blood levels of these chemicals remain elevated for about 2 days after a heart attack.
Other tests may be performed during or after hospitalization.
- Holter monitors are portable EKGs that record the heart's activity for 24 hours or more
- Exercise stress tests (EKGs done while exercising) can help determine if ischemia is still present
- Echocardiograms
- Chest X-rays
- Nuclear heart scans
- Angiograms
Understanding Heart Attacks (VIDEO)
Your Heart Needs Blood
Your Beating Heart
Atherosclerosis & Cholesterol
Angina & Coronary Heart Disease
Heart Attack Symptoms
What Is a Heart Attack?
Risk Factors & Diagnosis
Treating Heart Attacks
Restoring Blood Flow
Rehabilitation
Related Health Centers:
Aneurysm and Stent, Angioplasty, Arrhythmia, Cardiovascular Continuum, Cholesterol and Atherosclerosis, Coronary Bypass Surgery, Heart Attack and Angina, Hypertension, Stroke, Thrombosis and Embolism, Women and Cardiovascular Health