The man who suffered a heart attack had an underlying history of hypertension, was on medication but did not attend regular follow-up visits, and had a 30-year habit of smoking.

A 58-year-old man was diagnosed with diverticulitis from symptoms often overlooked by many Vietnamese

According to reports, for the past three days, the man with diverticulitis had been experiencing dull abdominal pain around the navel and right flank, occasionally with cramping, and passing loose stools 1–2 times per day.

A 56-year-old man suffered a heart attack after smoking for 30 years

According to Tam Anh General Hospital, doctors there recently received and treated Mr. Bay, a 56-year-old male patient who had an acute myocardial infarction.

The patient had a 30-year history of smoking. Prior to hospitalization, he experienced dull chest pain for four days. He first sought care at a local clinic and was prescribed medication, but his symptoms did not improve. He then visited Tam Anh General Clinic. Test results showed an extremely elevated cardiac enzyme level of 1228 ng/L (normal is below 14 ng/L).

Based on electrocardiogram and echocardiogram findings, doctors diagnosed him with a non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). This is a type of acute coronary syndrome that occurs when one or more coronary arteries are partially blocked, reducing blood flow to corresponding areas of the heart muscle.

Dr. Nguyễn Xuân Vinh of the Interventional Cardiology Center explained that the patient had hypertension, which was being treated with medication, but he did not attend regular follow-ups. He had smoked about one pack of cigarettes per day for 30 years. “Long-term smoking accelerates arterial damage, and when combined with poorly controlled hypertension, it becomes one of the leading causes of acute myocardial infarction,” Dr. Vinh said.

Coronary angiography revealed narrowing in all three major coronary arteries. Without timely intervention to restore blood flow, the patient could have faced dangerous complications such as arrhythmia, heart failure, or sudden cardiac death.

In response, Dr. Nguyễn Văn Dương and his team performed two separate interventions. First, they used a specialized catheter to aspirate the blood clot and restore blood flow. Then they dilated the narrowed segments with a balloon and placed two stents in the left anterior descending artery and the distal right coronary artery. After the first procedure, the patient’s chest pain improved, and he was prescribed anticoagulants along with optimized medical therapy for his underlying conditions.

Four days later, the team placed two additional stents in the narrowed segments of the circumflex artery. Post-procedure imaging confirmed that the stents were fully expanded, with no complications and restored blood flow to the heart. The patient’s chest pain resolved, his condition stabilized, and he was discharged two days later.

Smokers should be alert to warning signs of heart attack

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), tobacco smoke is one of the main causes of non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease, stroke, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Cigarette smoke contains more than 7,000 chemicals, including over 70 carcinogens.

Among them, nicotine, carbon monoxide (CO), and tar directly damage the endothelium (the inner lining of the coronary arteries). This damage promotes the deposition of cholesterol and fats, leading to atherosclerosis. Over time, the plaques grow, narrowing the coronary arteries and restricting oxygen-rich blood supply to the heart muscle.

Smoking also increases the risk of blood clot formation on ruptured or unstable plaques. Such clots can completely block an artery, resulting in acute myocardial infarction.

Dr. Vinh advised that people over 50 years old who smoke, have hypertension, diabetes, or dyslipidemia should undergo regular health screenings to prevent heart attacks. If they experience symptoms such as dull chest pain, tightness, angina, pain radiating to the neck, jaw, shoulder, arm, or back, or episodes of fainting, they should immediately seek care at the nearest medical facility for timely intervention.