My grandpa just had a heart attack and there's "permanent damage"... what does this mean?

Question

My grandpa had a heart attack.
My dad says he didn't get to the hospital in time (he's in there now) so there's "permanent damage".
What would this entail?

It was his first heart attack, and he's still alive.

Answer 1

When a heart attack occurs, part of the heart is starved for blood. And, as a result, part of the heart muscle dies. It is thus scarred, and unlike the liver, the heart can't grow back, so permanent damage is done.

It is of the utmost importance to get to the hospital immediately when a heart attack is suspected, as the sooner a doctor can start to work on the patient, the more of the heart muscle that can be saved. Ideally, the work should start within an hour---which we call "the golden hour." We can then open the clogged artery and restore blood flow to the heart by various means, before a lot of the muscle dies.

Unfortunately, at least 30% of heart attacks are silent or unrecognized, and the patient presents late or not at all. And the heart attack is only discovered later, when certain heart tests (like EKGs, echocardiograms, etc.) are done or when the patient presents in what is called congestive heart failure, with fluid build up related to a weakened heart muscle. This is especially common in the elderly and in patients with diabetes, who don't always have typical heart attack symptoms.

How the patient does long term depends upon how much heart muscle died, along with the patient's age and other medical conditions. Good luck to your grandpa.

Answer 2

Heart Attack Red Flags:

1. Extreme fatigue In the days or even weeks before a heart attack, more than 70% of women experience debilitating, flulike exhaustion. You may suddenly feel too tired to cook dinner or lift your laptop.
2. Mild pain Rather than the elephant on the chest, women may feel less severe pain?and not always in the region of the heart. Pressure or achiness can occur in the breastbone, upper back, shoulders, neck, or jaw.
3. Profuse sweating You may find yourself suddenly drenched in perspiration for no apparent reason, or your face may be pale or ashen.
4. Nausea or dizziness Prior to a heart attack, women often have indigestion or even vomit. You may also feel like you're about to pass out.
5. Breathlessness Almost 58% of women report panting or inability to carry on a conversation because they couldn't catch their breath.
6. Sleeplessness Nearly half of women have trouble falling asleep or wake up during the night in the weeks before a coronary.
7. Anxiety "Many women experience a sense of impending doom or fear before a heart attack," says Dr. Legato, though experts don't necessarily understand why. Nonetheless, it's real and it matters. "That's your body telling you to pay attention. Trust those instincts," she advises.

Answer 3

Anytime an organ (like the heart) is deprived of oxygen which ultimately leads to a heart attack, the muscle is damaged and loses some of it's function. If not treated, the person can go into cardiac arrest or cardiogenic shock and die. Best rule of thumb, if you're having chest pain, call 911 or get to the ER right away.

Answer 4

A "heart attack" is when some of the cardiac "muscle" dies because blood flow has been stopped or occluded from that particular area. Only time will tell how extensive the damage will be.But yes,once the cardiac muscle goes without its blood supply that carries oxygen etc,that tissue will not live. Your Grandfather is in the very best place the Cardiac Care Unit,he will get the best of care with excellent MD's and RN's that specialize in heart patients.Many miracles happen there,trust them, and pray for his recovery.Life saving procedures and new and better medicines are now available. God bless you and your family,take care. SW RNP

Answer 5

Without seeing your grandpa's cardiac tests, it's hard to say.

A heart attack is death of heart muscle. It cannot grow back. Sometimes the electrical system of the heart is damaged too.

What this means for your grandpa could be anything from a bit of cardiac rehab and life as usual, or the need for a pacemaker or bypass surgery, and limited activity for the rest of his life.

Let him know you care about him. That will certainly do his heart some good!

Answer 6

permanent damage to the heart muscles means there is a portion of the myocardium ( heart muscles ) that has already been scarred,and just like any scarred tissue, it wont function normally again...

there will be some limitation of his activity if he survives this attack, but assuming that what gave him the attack ( medical term is myocardial infarct ) will be treated he should live a fairly normal life after...

his cardiologist should be able to stratify the risk of further attacks and should be able to classify the limits of his physical activities... ( see Goldmans Criteria in any search engine )

Answer 7

It means that an area in his heart as in effect has died. Which is not uncommon with heart attacks. Hopefully with medical intervention he will be able to recover and live out the rest of his life. Good luck.

Answer 8

That means he have to take it easy in a fool meaning of that word. Second heart attach might be last one. Make sure everything is fine around him and life is pretty. He cannot stress over anything, no viagra, no cigarets, no coffee, and anything that would cause a heart to go into shock and cause another attack.

Answer 9

Well now I guess u have to take care of him be sweet as u can be. But I tell u one thing u can be a life saver the next time. If he has another one. And you are not able to get him there in time give him a aspirin.That way he wouldn't suffer as bad as he did the first one.Thaat aspririn will save him..

Answer 10

Simply putting what the doctor meant was that the muscles of the heart cannot function again, due to heart attack.
But after six weeks new small arteries will regrow.