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Heart attacks, or myocardial infarctions, occur when the blood flow to the cardiac organ is obstructed which results in immediate cell death in the heart tissues. Blood flow can be interrupted for a variety of reasons, but most commonly a “thrombosis,” or blood clot, forms on the build up of plaques in the coronary artery causing a backflow of blood, or in more severe cases, a rupture of the artery. A heart attack is an extremely serious medical emergency, and requires immediate attention. Common early warning signs include:
Chest pain behind the breastbone which can radiate to the head, shoulder, back, and abdomen that is similar to:
• squeezing, aching, tightness, or pressure
• a tight band on the chest
• "an elephant sitting on my chest"
•"bad indigestion" or heartburn
Pain may be intense or subtle; however, there may be no any pain at all
Other warning signs include:
•sudden shortness of breath
•sweating
•nausea or vomiting
•light-headedness, dizziness, or fainting
If you experience any of these symptoms, you need to seek immediate medical attention.
Less commonly, heart attacks occur when blood pressure rises to an unhealthy level. This elevation can be caused by disease, accident, or injury, but can also derive from a chemical imbalance in the body, sometimes caused by a medication. Because Bextra is a COX-2 Inhibitor, it interferes with prostaglandins, which are chemicals that help the kidneys regulate pressure after they filter impurities out of the blood stream. Taking Bextra has shown to increase blood pressure, which can exacerbate heart conditions in some patients. Unfortunately, many patients were unaware of potential dangers such as heart attacks because pharmaceutical companies failed to adequately test the long range health risks.
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