reatment for a heart attack is aimed at increasing blood flow by opening arteries blocked or narrowed by a blood clot.
- Medicines used to achieve this include aspirin, heparin, and clot-busting (thrombolytic) drugs.
- Other medications can be used to slow the heart rate, which decreases the workload of the heart and reduces pain.
- Angioplasty is a way of unblocking an artery. Angiography is done first to locate narrowing or blockages. A very thin plastic tube called a catheter is inserted into the artery. A tiny balloon on the end of the catheter is inflated. This expands the artery, providing a wider passage for blood. The balloon is then deflated and removed. Sometimes a small metal scaffold called a stent is placed in the artery to keep it expanded.
- Surgery may be required if medical treatment is unsuccessful. This could include angioplasty or cardiac bypass.