Sept_13

SILVER LINING BY V S NATARAJAN
Revised condition: Age changes the heart
We are all aware that as we age, our chances of getting a
heart attack increase. A recent study says that the mere
fact that a person has been born in India makes him more
prone to heart attacks! This is a tragic fact, but let us analyse
the reasons for the problem, the country notwithstanding.
The three blood vessels supplying the heart with blood
shrink with age. As fat gets deposited in the walls of these
blood vessels, they get blocked and disrupt blood supply to
the heart. The eventual problem: heart attack.
Symptoms of heart attack
If a middle-aged person suffers from a heart attack, he
experiences severe chest pain. This pain spreads from the
chest to the left shoulder and then to the left hand. It travels
to the right hand and back, sides of the neck and the chin.
The person suffering starts sweating profusely, and his body
becomes cold. Some people may faint or vomit. But only
some of these symptoms may be seen in silvers. For some,
the symptoms may be different. One may feel extremely
tired and breathless. An older person suffering a heart attack
may faint, fall down or even suffer a paralytic stroke.
Silent heart attack
For some, the clear cut symptoms of heart attack do not
reveal themselves. There is no pain or other related problems,
but the ECG reveals the problem. This is called a
silent heart attack.
As we age, our nerves lose their ability to sense pain. More
particularly, diabetics do not have chest pain when they
have a heart attack. With progressing years, blood is supplied
to the heart through smaller blood vessels (called collaterals)
as well. Despite blocks in the bigger blood vessels,
the heart gets a decent supply of blood and hence there is
no pain.
Some elderly suffer from dementia in old age. They experience
chest pain during an attack but can’t communicate
the need for help.
Problems related to heart attack
Many silvers tend to ignore chest pain, thinking that it
may be owing to gastric problems. This, in turn, delays the
treatment and hence unwanted results follow. The heart
becomes weak, its rhythm changes and sometimes fluid is
collected in the lungs. Owing to sudden shortage of blood
supply to some parts, they may also have a paralytic stroke.
To avoid these problems, the right treatment at the right
time is a must. On experiencing an uneasy feeling in the
chest, or a burning sensation, they must be immediately
taken to a doctor. ECG and relevant blood tests, and if
necessary ECHO, should be done. Based on these, the
correct treatment can be given. Normally, heart attack
in the younger years is very severe and may cause death,
but in old age, heart attacks are not so severe and mostly
not fatal.
28 harmony celebrate age september 2013