A
heart attack occurs when blood flow to a section of
heart muscle becomes blocked. If the flow of blood isn’t restored quickly, the section of
heart muscle becomes damaged from lack of oxygen and begins to die.
Heart attack is a leading killer of both men and women in the United
States. But today there are excellent treatments for
heart attack that can save lives and prevent disabilities. Treatment is most effective when started within 1 hour of the beginning of
symptoms.
Overview
Heart attacks occur most often as a result of a
condition called
coronary artery disease (CAD). In CAD, a fatty material called plaque (plak) builds up over many years on the inside walls of the coronary arteries (the arteries that supply blood and oxygen to your
heart). Eventually, an area of plaque can rupture, causing a
blood clot to form on the surface of the plaque. If the clot becomes large enough, it can mostly or completely block the flow of oxygen-rich blood to the part of the
heart muscle fed by the artery.
Heart With Muscle Damage and a Blocked Artery
Figure A is an overview of a
heart and coronary artery showing damage (dead
heart muscle) caused by a
heart attack. Figure B is a cross-section of the coronary artery with plaque buildup and a blood clot.
During a
heart attack, if the blockage in the coronary artery isn’t treated quickly, the
heart muscle will begin to die and be replaced by scar tissue. This
heart damage may not be obvious, or it may cause severe or long-lasting problems.
Severe problems linked to
heart attack can include
heart failure and life-threatening arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats).
Get Help
Acting fast at the first sign of
heart attack symptoms can save your life and limit damage to your
heart. Treatment is most effective when started within 1 hour of the beginning of symptoms.
The most common
heart attack signs and symptoms are:
- Chest discomfort or pain—uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain in the center of the chest that can be mild or strong. This discomfort or pain lasts more than a few minutes or goes away and comes back.
- Upper body discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach.
- Shortness of breath may occur with or before chest discomfort.
- Other signs include nausea (feeling sick to your stomach), vomiting, lightheadedness or fainting, or breaking out in a cold sweat.
If you think you or someone you know may be having a
heart attack:
- Call 9–1–1 within a few minutes—5 at the most—of the start of symptoms.
- If your symptoms stop completely in less than 5 minutes, still call your doctor.
- Only take an ambulance to the hospital. Going in a private car can delay treatment.
Outlook
Each year, about 1.1 million people in the United States have
heart attacks, and almost half of them die. CAD, which often results in a
heart attack, is the leading killer of both men and women in the United States.
Many more people could recover from attacks if they got help faster. Of the people who die from
heart attacks, about half die within an hour of the first symptoms and before they reach the hospital.
