Heart Attack (Myocardial Infarction)
As anyone with experience in plumbing can tell you, if you run a pump without any water it will burn out. The heart is also a pump, but instead of burning out, when its blood supply is interrupted, the heart muscle starts to die from lack of oxygen. This is called a myocardial infarction – more commonly known as a heart attack – and is the number one cause of death in the U.S., surpassing cancer, stroke, respiratory disease, and accidents. ,
Thanks to clot-busting drugs and other medications, more and more people are surviving heart attacks, but, as prominent Beverly Hills cardiologist Dr. Arash Bereliani warns, careful and diligent management of patients who have already suffered a heart attack is essential.
Heart Attack Symptoms
Despite what most people believe, symptoms of heart attack are not instantaneous, but rather develop over the course of a few minutes. Everyone experiences heart attack differently. Some people suffer from severe chest pain, sometimes radiating down the left arm, jaw, or back. Other people may experience shortness of breath, nausea, sweating, and palpitations. A heart attack may feel like indigestion or it may not feel like anything at all. Almost 25% of all heart attacks are silent heart attacks, which do not display any symptoms. People with diabetes are more likely to suffer a silent heart attack.
Heart Attack Risk Factors
People who are at high risk for a heart attack include diabetics, people with kidney disease, and those with high blood pressure or high cholesterol. Smoking, obesity, and a diet high in fat and cholesterol also figure prominently. However, at the Beverly Hills Institute of Cardiology and Preventive Medicine, we know there are many people who don’t fit into these categories, yet have a much higher risk of getting a heart attack based on genetic predisposition, which can now be identified using advanced diagnostic tests.
Heart Attack Prevention
Since half of the people who suffer their first heart attack don’t survive, Dr. Bereliani puts a great deal of focus on preventive cardiology and cardiac risk assessment. Using the latest generation of diagnostic lab tests and advanced scanning techniques, Dr. Bereliani is able to identify once-hidden risk factors for cardiovascular disease and formulate a personalized treatment plan designed to prevent heart attacks and other heart problems.
Treatment after a heart attack
Dr. Bereliani will help you manage your risk factors and help you to keep your heart healthy after a heart attack. From basic lifestyle modifications to a carefully-designed medication regimen, Dr. Bereliani will work with you to develop a comprehensive treatment plan that gives you the best chance of preventing another heart attack.
How do I find out more information?
Call the Beverly Hills Institute for Preventive Medicine and Cardiology at 310-550-8000 or click here to make an appointment. Our friendly, helpful staff will be glad to schedule a consultation for you with Dr. Bereliani, and to answer any questions you might have – about heart attack or anything else! See how our unique approach can help you. Our patients will tell you we are the premier preventive cardiology practice in Beverly Hills. Our location is convenient to all of greater Los Angeles.