Caring For A Heart Attack Teaching Plan
Caring For A Heart Attack Teaching Plan
Caring For A Heart Attack Teaching Plan
a Heart
Attack
GRACE GINDLESPERGER
6/5/2024
Purpose
A heart attack is when there is a reduction or complete blockage of blood flow to the heart from
the coronary arteries. This can be further defined as either a STEMI or an NSTEMI.
STEMI NSTEMI
▪ ST-elevated myocardial infarction ▪ Non-ST- elevated myocardial infarction
▪ A complete and prolonged blockage of ▪ A transient or temporary occlusion of a
a coronary artery. coronary artery often caused by narrowing.
▪ Changes in your EKG, known as ST ▪ Elevated cardiac lab values without any EKG
elevation, and elevated cardiac lab changes are used to diagnosis this.
values are used to diagnosis this.
https://www.cvphysiology.com/CAD/CAD012
Coronary Artery Anatomy Simplified
• Left Main Coronary Artery (LMC) – delivers blood into the left
side of the heart. This artery has two branches that help supply
the left side of the heart.
• Circumflex Artery (LCx)
• Left Anterior Descending Artery (LAD)
https://www.lybrate.com/topic/coronary-arteries-image
What Causes a Heart Attack?
Signs for heart attacks can present differently between men and women. While any of these symptoms are
important to watch for, be aware that not all heart attacks look the same!
Some immediate treatment options are available when you arrive to the hospital after a heart attack and will depend on your
condition, other health concerns, and your Doctor’s recommendations:
• Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI)- a stent placed in the coronary artery to help open it back up and return blood
flow to the heart.
• Thrombolysis – a medication given through an IV that helps break up the clot and return normal blood flow.
• Balloon angioplasty- a procedure that helps to open the coronary artery by deploying a small balloon to break up the
blockage.
• Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG)- an open-heart procedure that creates new pathways for the blood to flow around
the blockage.
In some cases, a heart attack can be medically managed. Some medications that could be started include:
• Anticoagulants (blood thinners) – to help break up and prevent blood clots from forming
• Examples: Heparin, Coumadin (Warfarin), Lovenox, Apixaban (Eliquis), Rivaroxaban (Xarelto)
• Antiplatelet – to help keep clots from forming by stopping platelets from sticking together
• Examples: Clopidogrel (Plavix), Ticagrelor (Brilliant), Aspirin
• Vasodilators – relaxes the blood vessels to help increase how much blood can be delivered to the heart
• Examples: Nitroglycerin, Morphine
Medication Management After Discharge
• Beta Blockers- help reduce strain on the heart and improve blood flow by
lowering your heart rate and blood pressure.
• Examples: Metoprolol (Lopressor). Atenolol (Tenormin), Bisoprolol (Emcor)
• ACE Inhibitors- help lower blood pressure and reduce strain on the heart.
• Examples: Captopril (Capoten), Lisinopril (Prinivil), Ramipril (Altace)
Ways to Reduce your Chances of a Heart Attack!
While waiting for emergency assistance to arrive, chew and swallow a 325mg Aspirin to help
reduce heart damage that may be occurring.
http://www.bayeraspirin.com/products/genuine-bayer-aspirin/
What’s Next?
• Learn what signs you are looking for and know when to
seek medical assistance.
• Buttaro, T. M., Polgar-Bailey, P., Sandberg-Cook, J., & Trybulski, J. (2021a). Chapter 102: Chest Pain and Coronary Artery
Disease. In Primary care: Interprofessional collaborative (6th ed., pp. 559–578). essay, Elsevier.
• Cleveland Clinic . (2022, October 30). Heart attack: Symptoms and treatment. Cleveland Clinic.
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/16818-heart-attack-myocardial-infarction#symptoms-and-causes
• Daga, L. C., Kaul, U., & Mansoor, A. (2011, December 1). Approach to STEMI AND NSTEMI. The Journal of the Association
of Physicians of India. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22624277/#:~:text=STEMI%20results%20from%20complete
%20and,thrombus%20and%2For%20atheromatous%20material.
• Mayo Clinic. (2022, June 29). What to do when someone is having a heart attack. Mayo Clinic.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/first-aid/first-aid-heart-attack/basics/art-20056679
• Tayrien, C., Wojcik, S., & Kang, S. (2022, January 10). Anatomy and function of the coronary arteries. Anatomy and
Function of the Coronary Arteries - Health Encyclopedia - University of Rochester Medical Center.
https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?contenttypeid=85&contentid=p00196