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A heart attack occurs when the supply of blood and oxygen to an area of heart
muscle is blocked, usually by a clot in a coronary artery. Often, this blockage
leads to arrhythmias (irregular heartbeat or rhythm) that cause a severe
decrease in the pumping function of the heart and may bring about sudden death.
If the blockage is not treated within a few hours, the affected heart muscle
will die and be replaced by scar tissue.
A heart attack is a
life-threatening event. Everyone should know the warning signs of a heart attack
and how to get emergency help. Many people suffer permanent damage to their
hearts or die because they do not get help immediately.
Each year, more
than a million persons in the U.S. have a heart attack and about half (515,000)
of them die. About one-half of those who die do so within 1 hour of the start
of symptoms and before reaching the hospital.
Emergency personnel
can often stop arrhythmias with emergency CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation),
defibrillation (electrical shock), and prompt advanced cardiac life support
procedures. If care is sought soon enough, blood flow in the blocked artery can
be restored in time to prevent permanent damage to the heart. Yet, most people
do not seek medical care for 2 hours or more after symptoms begin. Many people
wait 12 hours or longer.
A heart attack is an emergency. Call 9-1-1
if you think you (or someone else) may be having a heart attack. Prompt
treatment of a heart attack can help prevent or limit lasting damage to the
heart and can prevent sudden death.
Other Names for Heart
Attack
Most heart attacks
are caused by a blood clot that blocks one of the coronary arteries (the blood
vessels that bring blood and oxygen to the heart muscle). When blood cannot
reach part of your heart, that area starves for oxygen. If the blockage
continues long enough, cells in the affected area die.
Coronary Artery
Disease (CAD) is the most common underlying cause of a heart attack. CAD is the
hardening and narrowing of the coronary arteries by the buildup of plaque in the
inside walls (atherosclerosis). Over time, plaque buildup in the coronary
arteries can:
A
less common cause of heart attacks is a severe spasm (tightening) of the
coronary artery that cuts off blood flow to the heart. These spasms can occur in
persons with or without CAD. Artery spasm can sometimes be caused by:
What Makes a Heart Attack More
Likely?
Certain factors make it more likely that you will develop
CAD and have a heart attack. These are called risk factors. Risk factors
you cannot change include:
Risk factors that you can change include:
What Are the Signs and
Symptoms of a Heart Attack?
The warning signs and symptoms of a
heart attack can include:
Signs and
symptoms vary from person to person. In fact, if you have a second heart attack,
your symptoms may not be the same as for the first heart attack. Some people
have no symptoms. This is called a “silent” heart attack.
The symptoms
of angina can be similar to those of a heart attack. If you have angina and
notice a change or a worsening of your symptoms, talk with your doctor right
away.
Know the warning signs of a heart attack so you can act fast to
get treatment. Many heart attack victims wait 2 hours or more after their
symptoms begin before they seek medical help. This delay can result in death or
lasting heart damage.
If you think you may be having a heart attack,
or if your angina pain does not go away as usual when you take your angina
medicine as directed, call 9-1-1 for help. You can begin to receive life-saving
treatment in the ambulance on the way to an emergency room.
How
is a Heart Attack Diagnosed?
Diagnosis (and treatment) of a heart
attack can begin when emergency medical personnel arrive after you call 9-1-1.
Don’t put off calling 9-1-1 because you are not sure that you are having a heart
attack.
At the hospital emergency room, doctors will work fast to find
out if you are having or have had a heart attack. They will consider your
symptoms, medical and family history, and test results. Initial tests will be
quickly followed by treatment if you are having a heart attack.
Tests
used include:
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