A heart attack is a serious medical condition that results from a blockage of blood supply to a part of the heart. Generally the blockage is caused from the buildup of fat, cholesterol, or other substances called plaques in the arteries. When oxygen rich blood is unable to reach a section of tissue in the heart, this is known as ischemia. When the deprivation of oxygen and nutrients results in damage or death to the heart muscle, this is called a heart attack or myocardial infarction. The saying “time is tissue” can be used in this scenario. The longer the heart tissue goes without oxygen, the worse off the patient will be. There are several risk factors that increase the likelihood of developing a heart attack. Lifestyle factors including diet, exercise, smoking, and alcohol consumption can greatly impact your risk of suffering a heart attack during your life. Heart attacks are often fatal, however, the earlier it is identified and treated the better the outcome will be. After a heart attack occurs the heart can take several weeks to heal and recovery time depends on the severity of the heart muscle damage. Generally, the heart is not permanently damaged from a heart attack and will, at least in-part, heal.

The signs and symptoms of a heart attack can vary, but the most common heart attack symptoms include: Pressure, tightness, pain, or squeezing sensation in the chest or arms that may spread to the neck, jaw, or back Nausea, heartburn, indigestion, or abdominal pain; may feel like you’re choking Shortness of breath Fatigue Cold Sweats Sudden dizziness or lightheadedness Rapid or irregular heartbeats Every person is different and not everyone has the same symptoms or severity of symptoms. In fact, some people may experience a sudden heart attack without any warning signs or symptoms. This is called a “silent” myocardial infarction, or silent heart attack. Most people however, will have several of these signs or symptoms for hours, day, or even weeks before the heart attack occurs. Generally the earliest warning signaling is chest pain that is triggered by exertion and relieved by rest. Women may experience different heart attack symptoms than men. For example, women may have a heart attack without any chest pressure. Instead, women often feel short of breath combined with upper back pressure and dizziness, which can sometimes be misdiagnosed as acid reflux, the flu, or just normal aging. Therefore, if you are experiencing any of these symptoms it is important to always confer with a medical professional to ensure that it is not a more serious condition.

Generally, a primary care doctor will screen your risk factors for developing a heart attack and regularly schedule physical exams that will identify if you have any heart attack symptoms. In an emergency situation, however, doctors will perform a variety of tests to identify and confirm if you are having a heart attack. These tests include : Electrocardiogram (ECG): This test is often the first test performed to diagnose a heart attack. It is performed by measuring the electrical activity of your heart via electrodes attached to the skin. If you have had a heart attack, your heart will not beat properly, and therefore will not conduct electrical impulses properly, which the ECG can detect. Overall, this test measures whether your heart is beating properly, which will not happen during or after a heart attack. Blood tests: In the case of a heart attack, certain heart proteins begin to leak into the blood. These proteins can be detected via a simple blood tests, and can suggest whether you may have or are having a heart attack. Chest X-ray : A chest X-ray is an image the doctor uses to examine the size of your heart and blood vessels. It can also be used to check for fluid in the lungs.

Heart attacks are the result of an unwanted buildup of plaques within the heart’s arteries. There are certain risk factors that make this unwanted buildup more likely to occur. These factors include Age: Men ages 45+ and women ages 55+ are more likely to have a heart attack than younger men and women. Gender: Overall, men have a greater risk of heart attack than women and they often have heart attacks earlier in life than women. However, women are more likely to die from a heart attack than men. Tobacco usage: Long-term exposure to smoke , whether through smoking yourself or secondhand smoke increases the risk of a heart attack. High blood pressure: Blood pressure refers to the amount of pressure the blood puts on the body’s circulatory system. High blood pressure means that the pressure in the veins and arteries of the circulatory system is high. This elevated pressure can damage the circulatory system and make it more difficult for the heart to pump blood throughout the body. It also can increase the buildup of fat in the circulatory system. High blood pressure combined with other risk factors including smoking, high cholesterol, and diabetes increases the risk of a heart attack even more than just high blood pressure by itself.

As each heart attack is unique to the individual, the treatment a doctor uses will vary from person to person. Although there are numerous heart attack treatments, they are divided into two categories: medication or procedural. Medication given to treat a heart attack includes Aspirin : Aspirin in an over-the-counter medication that works by reducing blood clotting and helping to main blood flow through a clogged artery. An emergency medical professional, including a 911 operator, may suggest that you take an aspirin if you are experiencing symptoms of a heart attack. Thrombolytics: Thrombolytics are drugs used to help dissolve a blood clot that is preventing proper blood flow through your artery and to your heart. This is often a first defense medication, and the sooner you take a thrombolytic after a heart attack the better it is for you heart. Antiplatelet agents: These drugs are given to prevent new clots or by keeping older clots from growing larger. Blood thinners: Doctors prescribe blood thinners to allow easier blood flow through clogged arteries. An example of a common blood thinner given to heart attack patients is heparin. Pain relievers : Heart attacks are painful events that can cause severe discomfort. Therefore, doctors will sometimes prescribe pain killers to improve your comfort level and decrease pain.