A heart attack is when a coronary artery is blocked, stopping blood flow. Heart attacks usually cause irreparable damage to your heart muscle; heart attacks are also called a myocardial infarction, or “heart muscle” and “tissue death”.
Symptoms – take immediate action
Heart attacks can be slow, mild pain, or sudden and intense. If you experience any of the following signs, do not wait long before getting help.
- Chest discomfort. This discomfort may last more than a few minutes or disappear and reappear. This pain can be described as squeezing, fullness, or an uncomfortable pressure.
- Discomfort in other areas of the upper body. This includes the back, neck, jaw, one or both arms, or stomach.
- Shortness of breath, with or without chest discomfort.
- Other signs may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea, or lightheadedness.
If you are experiencing symptoms of a heart attack, call 911. The faster you receive treatment, the better chance of minimizing damage to your heart muscle and saving your life.
Causes
Heart attacks are usually caused by coronary artery disease, or when the coronary arteries experience a buildup of plaque. This plaque can block the artery’s blood flow or cause blood clothes. Some heart attacks are also caused by spasms in the artery.
Prevention
Living a heart-healthy life can maintain healthy cholesterol and blood pressure, keep clear arteries, and ultimately prevent a heart attack.
- Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat protein like nuts and fish
- Exercise regularly
- Maintain a healthy weight and keep diabetes under control
- Quit smoking
Diagnostic Tests
- Cardiac Catheterization
- Cardiac MRI
- Echocardiography
- Electrocardiograms (EKG, ECG)
- Nuclear Cardiology and Heart Perfusion Imaging
- Stress Testing
- Cardiac Rehab
- Heart Failure Management
