Heart attacks are life-threatening events, but when they are diagnosed on time, doctors can prevent irreversible damage. However, there are a few cases where complications may arise as a consequence of a heart attack, and cardiogenic shock is one such example. What do you need to know about it?
1. Less urinating is a sign of cardiogenic shock
When thinking about the complications that could arise from having a heart attack, a lot of people think of the usual signs that accompany just that: a heart attack. It’s true that cardiogenic shocks and heart attacks do share a lot of symptoms, but there are also some other ones to take into consideration.
On the other hand, people who are having a heart attack may experience shortness of breath, pressure or pain in the chest area, pain that radiates to the arms, shoulders, or jaw, excessive sweating, shortness of breath, sudden dizziness, nausea or vomiting.
2. Cardiogenic short is damage to the left ventricle of the heart
The main reason for a heart attack is the heart’s failure to pump enough blood for its tissues to survive. This usually occurs because of an obstruction in the coronary arteries, which is caused by a blood clot, as a consequence of hypercholesterolemia. Then the heart doesn’t receive enough oxygen, and its left ventricle is damaged.
As the heart muscle is deprived of blood and oxygen, it can go into cardiogenic shock. In very rare cases, cardiogenic shock can be induced by the heart’s right ventricle, but it’s not a normal occurrence.
3. Cardiogenic shock can have multiple causes
Aside from the damaged caused to the left ventricle, cardiogenic shock can also be induced by:
- Myocarditis, the inflammation of the heart muscle
- Endocarditis, a heart valve infection
- Weakened heart (regardless of cause)
- Drug overdose
- Substances that affect the pumping ability of your heart.
4. Women are more likely to develop cardiogenic shock
Certain risk factors make it more likely for different categories of people to go into cardiogenic shock. Gender is one of these factors: it turns out that women are more likely to experience cardiogenic shock as a complication of a heart attack. Other risk factors include a history of heart failure, heart attacks, hypertension, diabetes, or coronary artery disease.
5. Cardiogenic shock is a medical emergency
And should be treated as such. When you end up in the emergency room, doctors will perform a series of tests in order to determine what the causes are. Such tests include:
- Blood tests to see if a heart attack has caused any organ damage.
- EKGs to check the electrical impulses of your heart and determine if there is any heart muscle damage.
- Echocardiograms, a sound wave technique that also looks for heart attack damage.
- Chest X-rays to see if there is any fluid build-up in the lungs, but also to monitor the size and shape of the heart.
6. Cardiogenic shock may require emergency life support
Since the main cause of cardiogenic shock is damage to the heart muscle due to lack of oxygen, treatment is focused on minimizing the damage. As a general note, people who go into cardiogenic shock will require an extra supply of oxygen. It’s not uncommon for those who end up in the emergency room with such a problem to be connected to a ventilator that helps them breathe. They will likely be connected to an IV line as well, one that will supply the body with medication and fluid.
7. Cardiogenic shock may require surgery
Generally speaking, people who go into cardiogenic shock will be given medication or have to undergo some medical procedures. However, in more severe cases, these people may not respond to either approach, in which case they might need surgery.
There are four different types of surgery to help someone who is in cardiogenic shock:
- Coronary artery bypass surgery. This is open-heart surgery performed to create a new route for blood to follow, bypassing the clot that’s preventing blood from reaching the heart. This surgery can be performed either on an urgent basis or after the patient has somewhat recovered from their heart attack.
- Heart transplant. This is typically the last resort because people who need a heart transplant have to be accepted and added to a waiting list, which could take forever. A heart transplant isn’t that common because people have to wait in order to have a heart available for them, but they also have to meet certain criteria.
- Ventricular assist device implant. This type of surgery involves the insertion of a mechanical device that helps the heart pump. This solution can prolong the lifespan of people who need a new heart but aren’t eligible or have to wait in order to receive a heart transplant.
- Heart repair surgery. If someone has a tear in one of their heart’s chambers or have a damaged heart valve, a surgery might fix the problem.
8. Cardiogenic shock requires IV medication
People that end up in the emergency room due to cardiogenic shock will be administered medication through an IV line:
- Inotropic agents are given to help improve the heart’s function.
- Thrombolytics are a class of drugs that can dissolve blood clots in the coronary arteries.
- The antiplatelet medication works similarly to aspirin, helping in the prevention of new blood clot formation.
- Aspirin is typically an emergency drug that’s given in case of cardiogenic shock, with the purpose of reducing the risk of new blood clots, but also to help blood flow smoother through a narrow coronary artery.