Heart Attack Symptoms, Risk and Recovery

What is a heart attack?

A heart attack also called a myocardial infarction, occurs when a portion of the heart muscle doesn't get enough blood.
The further time that passes without treatment to restore blood flow, the higher damage to the heart muscle.
Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of myocardial infarction. A less common cause is a severe spasm or sudden contraction of a coronary artery that can stop blood inflow to the heart muscle.

What are the symptoms of a heart attack?

The main symptoms of a heart attack are

Chest pain or discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center or left side of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes or goes away and comes back. The discomfort may feel like uncomfortable pressure, tightness, fullness, or pain.

Feeling weak, light-headed, or faint. You may also have cold sweats.

Pain or discomfort in the jaw, neck or back.

Pain or discomfort in one or both arms or shoulders.

Shortness of breath. This is often accompanied by chest discomfort, but the shortness of breath can also occur before the chest discomfort.

Other symptoms of a heart attack may include unusual or unexplained tiredness and nausea or vomiting. Women are more likely to have these other symptoms. Learn more about women and heart disease.

Dial 9-1-1 if you notice symptoms of a heart attack.

However, call 911 immediately, If you notice the symptoms of a heart attack in yourself or someone else. The sooner you get to the emergency room, the sooner you can get treatment to reduce the amount of damage to your heart muscle. In the hospital, medical professionals can perform tests to determine if a heart attack is occurring and decide on the best treatment.

In some cases, a heart attack requires cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or an electric shock (defibrillation) to the heart to get it pumping again. Bystanders trained in the use of CPR or a defibrillator can help until emergency medical personnel arrive.

Remember that the earlier emergency treatment begins, the better the chances of surviving a heart attack.

What are the risk factors for heart attack?

Various health conditions, your lifestyle, your age, and your family history can increase your risk of heart disease and heart attack. These are called risk factors. About half of all Americans have at least one of the three main risk factors for heart disease: high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, and smoking.2

Some risk factors cannot be controlled, such as age or family history. But you can take steps to reduce your risk by changing the factors you can control.

Learn more about risk factors for heart disease and heart attacks.

What can I do to recover after a heart attack?

If you had a heart attack, your heart may be damaged. This could affect the rhythm of your heart and its ability to pump blood to the rest of your body. You may also be at risk for another heart attack or conditions such as stroke, kidney problems, and peripheral arterial disease (PAD).

You can reduce your risk of future health problems after a heart attack by taking these steps:

Physical activity: Talk to your healthcare team about the things you do every day in your life and work. Your doctor may ask you to limit your work, travel, or sexual activity for a while after a heart attack.

Lifestyle changes: Eating healthier, increasing physical activity, quitting smoking, and managing stress, in addition to taking prescribed medications, can help improve heart health and quality of life. Ask your healthcare team about a program called cardiac rehabilitation to help you make these lifestyle changes.

Cardiac Rehabilitation: Cardiac rehabilitation is an important program for anyone recovering from a heart attack, heart failure, or other heart condition that requires surgery or medical attention. Cardiac rehabilitation is a supervised program that includes

  • Physical activity
  • Education on healthy lifestyles, including healthy eating, taking medications as prescribed, and ways to help you quit smoking.
  • Tips for Finding Ways to Relieve Stress and Improve Mental Health

A team of people can help you during cardiac rehabilitation, including your healthcare team, exercise and nutrition specialists, physical therapists, and counselors or mental health professionals.

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