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    Heart Attack: Book: Mayo Clinic Healthy Heart For Life!

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    A heart attack occurs when blood flow to the heart is blocked, usually due to a buildup of plaque in the coronary arteries. This plaque can rupture and form a blood clot, cutting off the blood supply to part of the heart muscle. Symptoms of a heart attack include chest pain or pressure, shortness of breath, nausea and dizziness. It is crucial to call emergency services immediately if a heart attack is suspected.

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    Heart Attack: Book: Mayo Clinic Healthy Heart For Life!

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    Anonymous JOOQkGbwoR
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    A heart attack occurs when blood flow to the heart is blocked, usually due to a buildup of plaque in the coronary arteries. This plaque can rupture and form a blood clot, cutting off the blood supply to part of the heart muscle. Symptoms of a heart attack include chest pain or pressure, shortness of breath, nausea and dizziness. It is crucial to call emergency services immediately if a heart attack is suspected.

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    A heart attack occurs when blood flow to the heart is blocked, usually due to a buildup of plaque in the coronary arteries. This plaque can rupture and form a blood clot, cutting off the blood supply to part of the heart muscle. Symptoms of a heart attack include chest pain or pressure, shortness of breath, nausea and dizziness. It is crucial to call emergency services immediately if a heart attack is suspected.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    26 views3 pages

    Heart Attack: Book: Mayo Clinic Healthy Heart For Life!

    Uploaded by

    Anonymous JOOQkGbwoR
    A heart attack occurs when blood flow to the heart is blocked, usually due to a buildup of plaque in the coronary arteries. This plaque can rupture and form a blood clot, cutting off the blood supply to part of the heart muscle. Symptoms of a heart attack include chest pain or pressure, shortness of breath, nausea and dizziness. It is crucial to call emergency services immediately if a heart attack is suspected.

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    of 3

    Overview

    Heart attack

    A heart attack occurs when the flow of blood to the heart is blocked. The blockage is most often
    a buildup of fat, cholesterol and other substances, which form a plaque in the arteries that feed
    the heart (coronary arteries).

    The plaque eventually breaks away and forms a clot. The interrupted blood flow can damage or
    destroy part of the heart muscle.

    A heart attack, also called a myocardial infarction, can be fatal, but treatment has improved
    dramatically over the years. It's crucial to call 911 or emergency medical help if you think you
    might be having a heart attack.

    Products & Services

     Book: Mayo Clinic Healthy Heart for Life!

    Symptoms
    Common heart attack signs and symptoms include:

     Pressure, tightness, pain, or a squeezing or aching sensation in your chest or arms that
    may spread to your neck, jaw or back
     Nausea, indigestion, heartburn or abdominal pain
     Shortness of breath
     Cold sweat
     Fatigue
     Lightheadedness or sudden dizziness

    Heart attack symptoms vary

    Not all people who have heart attacks have the same symptoms or have the same severity of
    symptoms. Some people have mild pain; others have more severe pain. Some people have no
    symptoms; for others, the first sign may be sudden cardiac arrest. However, the more signs and
    symptoms you have, the greater the likelihood you're having a heart attack.

    Some heart attacks strike suddenly, but many people have warning signs and symptoms hours,
    days or weeks in advance. The earliest warning might be recurrent chest pain or pressure
    (angina) that's triggered by exertion and relieved by rest. Angina is caused by a temporary
    decrease in blood flow to the heart.
    When to see a doctor

    Act immediately. Some people wait too long because they don't recognize the important signs
    and symptoms. Take these steps:

     Call for emergency medical help. If you suspect you're having a heart attack, don't
    hesitate. 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. Because your condition can worsen,
    driving yourself puts you and others at risk.

     Take nitroglycerin, if prescribed to you by a doctor. Take it as instructed while


    awaiting emergency help.
     Take aspirin, if recommended. Taking aspirin during a heart attack could reduce heart
    damage by helping to keep your blood from clotting.

    Aspirin can interact with other medications, however, so don't take an aspirin unless your
    doctor or emergency medical personnel recommend it. Don't delay calling 911 to take an
    aspirin. Call for emergency help first.

    What to do if you see someone who might be having a heart attack

    If you see someone who's unconscious and you believe is having a heart attack, first call for
    emergency medical help. Then check if the person is breathing and has a pulse. If the person isn't
    breathing or you don't find a pulse, only then should you begin CPR to keep blood flowing.

    Push hard and fast on the person's chest in a fairly rapid rhythm — about 100 to 120
    compressions a minute.

    If you haven't been trained in CPR, doctors recommend performing only chest compressions. If
    you have been trained in CPR, you can go on to opening the airway and rescue breathing.

    More Information

     Heart attack symptoms

    Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic

    Causes
    A heart attack occurs when one or more of your coronary arteries become blocked. Over time, a
    coronary artery can narrow from the buildup of various substances, including cholesterol
    (atherosclerosis). This condition, known as coronary artery disease, causes most heart attacks.
    During a heart attack, one of these plaques can rupture and spill cholesterol and other substances
    into the bloodstream. A blood clot forms at the site of the rupture. If large enough, the clot can
    block the flow of blood through the coronary artery, starving the heart muscle of oxygen and
    nutrients (ischemia).

    You might have a complete blockage or partial. A complete blockage means you've had an ST
    elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). A partial blockage means you've had a non-ST
    elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). Diagnostic steps and treatment might be different
    depending on which you've had.

    Another cause of a heart attack is a spasm of a coronary artery that shuts down blood flow to part
    of the heart muscle. Using tobacco and illicit drugs, such as cocaine, can cause a life-threatening
    spasm.

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