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A myocardial infarction ( MI ), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when blood flow decreases or stops in one of the coronary arteries of the heart, causing infarction (tissue death) to the heart muscle. [1] . The most common symptom is retrosternal chest pain or discomfort that classically radiates to the left shoulder, arm, or jaw. [1] .
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•Overview
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•Causes
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Symptoms of a heart attack vary. Some people have mild symptoms. Others have severe symptoms. Some people have no symptoms.
Common heart attack symptoms include:
•Chest pain that may feel like pressure, tightness, pain, squeezing or aching
•Pain or discomfort that spreads to the shoulder, arm, back, neck, jaw, teeth or sometimes the upper belly
•Cold sweat
•Fatigue
Get help right away if you think you're having a heart attack. Take these steps:
•Call for emergency medical help. If you think you're having a heart attack, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number. If you don't have access to emergency medical services, have someone drive you to the nearest hospital. Drive yourself only if there are no other options.
•Take nitroglycerin, if prescribed to you by a health care provider. Take it as instructed while awaiting emergency help.
•Take aspirin, if recommended. Taking aspirin during a heart attack may reduce heart damage by preventing blood clotting.
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Coronary artery disease causes most heart attacks. In coronary artery disease, one or more of the heart (coronary) arteries are blocked. This is usually due to cholesterol-containing deposits called plaques. Plaques can narrow the arteries, reducing blood flow to the heart.
If a plaque breaks open, it can cause a blood clot in the heart.
A heart attack may be caused by a complete or partial blockage of a heart (coronary) artery. One way to classify heart attacks is whether an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) shows some specific changes (ST elevation) that require emergency invasive treatment. Your health care provider may use electrocardiogram (ECG) results to describe these types of heart attacks.
•An acute complete blockage of a medium or large heart artery usually means you've had an ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).
•A partial blockage often means you've had a non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). However, some people with non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) have a total blockage.
Not all heart attacks are caused by blocked arteries. Other causes include:
Heart attack risk factors include:
•Age. Men age 45 and older and women age 55 and older are more likely to have a heart attack than are younger men and women.
•Tobacco use. This includes smoking and long-term exposure to secondhand smoke. If you smoke, quit.
•High blood pressure. Over time, high blood pressure can damage arteries that lead to the heart. High blood pressure that occurs with other conditions, such as obesity, high cholesterol or diabetes, increases the risk even more.
•High cholesterol or triglycerides. A high level of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (the "bad" cholesterol) is most likely to narrow arteries. A high level of certain blood fats called triglycerides also increases heart attack risk. Your heart attack risk may drop if levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol — the "good" cholesterol — are in the standard range.
•Obesity. Obesity is linked with high blood pressure, diabetes, high levels of triglycerides and bad cholesterol, and low levels of good cholesterol.
Heart attack complications are often due to heart muscle damage. Potential complications of a heart attack include:
•Irregular or atypical heart rhythms (arrhythmias). Heart attack damage can affect how electrical signals move through the heart, causing heartbeat changes. Some may be serious and can be deadly.
•Cardiogenic shock. This rare condition occurs when the heart is suddenly and abruptly unable to pump blood.
•Heart failure. A lot of damage to the heart muscle tissue can make the heart unable to pump blood. Heart failure can be temporary or long-lasting (chronic).
•Inflammation of the saclike tissue surrounding the heart (pericarditis). Sometimes a heart attack triggers a faulty immune system response. This condition may be called Dressler syndrome, postmyocardial infarction syndrome or postcardiac injury syndrome.
•Cardiac arrest. Without warning, the heart stops. A sudden change in the heart's signaling causes sudden cardiac arrest. A heart attack increases the risk of this life-threatening condition. It can lead to death (sudden cardiac death) without immediate treatment.
It's never too late to take steps to prevent a heart attack — even if you've already had one. Here are ways to prevent a heart attack.
•Follow a healthy lifestyle. Don't smoke. Maintain a healthy weight with a heart-healthy diet. Get regular exercise and manage stress.
•Manage other health conditions. Certain conditions, such as high blood pressure and diabetes, can increase the risk of heart attacks. Ask your health care provider how often you need checkups.
•Take medications as directed. Your health care provider may prescribe drugs to protect and improve your heart health.
•Ceramide testing reveals risk of heart attack
•Close-to-home care critical for heart attack survivor
Dec 2, 2022 · A heart attack is when blood flow to the heart is blocked. It’s a circulation problem. With sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), the heart malfunctions and suddenly stops beating.
A myocardial infarction, also and commonly called a heart attack, happens when a blood vessel in the heart suddenly becomes blocked. Blood vessels carry blood and oxygen. When a blood vessel in the heart gets blocked, blood cannot get to part of the heart. This part of the heart does not get enough oxygen. This is called ischemia. When the ...
A heart attack (myocardial infarction) is an extremely dangerous condition that happens because you don’t have enough blood flow to some of your heart muscle. This lack of blood flow can occur because of many different factors but is usually related to a blockage in one or more of your heart’s arteries.
Coronary artery disease (CAD), also called coronary heart disease (CHD), ischemic heart disease (IHD), myocardial ischemia, or simply heart disease, involves the reduction of blood flow to the cardiac muscle due to build-up of atherosclerotic plaque in the arteries of the heart.
Oct 9, 2023 · Doctors & departments. On this page. Diagnosis. Treatment. Self care. Coping and support. Preparing for your appointment. Diagnosis. Ideally, a health care provider should screen you during regular checkups for risk factors that can lead to a heart attack. A heart attack is often diagnosed in an emergency setting.
