OverviewA heart attack occurs when the flow of blood to the heart is severely reduced or blocked. The blockage is usually due to a buildup of fat, cholesterol and other substances in the heart (coronary) arteries. The fatty, cholesterol-containing deposits are called plaques. The process of plaque buildup is called atherosclerosis. Show
Sometimes, a plaque can rupture and form a clot that blocks blood flow. A lack of blood flow can damage or destroy part of the heart muscle. A heart attack is also called a myocardial infarction. Prompt treatment is needed for a heart attack to prevent death. Call 911 or emergency medical help if you think you might be having a heart attack. SymptomsSymptoms of a heart attack vary. Some people have mild symptoms. Others have severe symptoms. Some people have no symptoms. Common heart attack symptoms include:
Women may have atypical symptoms such as brief or sharp pain felt in the neck, arm or back. Sometimes, the first symptom sign of a heart attack is sudden cardiac arrest. Some heart attacks strike suddenly. But many people have warning signs and symptoms hours, days or weeks in advance. Chest pain or pressure (angina) that keeps happening and doesn't go away with rest may be an early warning sign. Angina is caused by a temporary decrease in blood flow to the heart. When to see a doctorGet help right away if you think you're having a heart attack. Take these steps:
What to do if you see someone who might be having a heart attackIf someone is unconscious and you think they're having a heart attack, first call 911 or your local emergency number. 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.
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practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail. CausesCoronary 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 ECG results to describe these types of heart attacks.
Not all heart attacks are caused by blocked arteries. Other causes include:
Risk factorsHeart attack risk factors include:
ComplicationsHeart attack complications are often due to heart muscle damage. Potential complications of a heart attack include:
PreventionIt'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.
It's also a good idea to learn CPR properly so you can help someone who's having a heart attack. Consider taking an accredited first-aid training course, including CPR and how to use an automated external defibrillator (AED). The Mayo Clinic experience and patient storiesOur patients tell us that the quality of their interactions, our attention to detail and the efficiency of their visits mean health care like they've never experienced. See the stories of satisfied Mayo Clinic patients.
Can you have a heart attack with normal cholesterol levels?After studying more than 1,000 people who'd had heart attacks, the researchers concluded that most major heart attacks occur in people with normal cholesterol levels.
Can you have normal blood pressure and have a heart attack?During a heart attack, blood pressure can rise, fall, or stay the same. As a result, blood pressure change without other symptoms is not a reliable sign of a heart attack.
Can you have clogged arteries with normal cholesterol and blood pressure?A whole host of other factors can also lead to clogged arteries, heart attack and other heart problems, even with normal cholesterol or low cholesterol, per Harvard Health Publishing.
What percent of heart attack victims have normal cholesterol?"We found that less than 2 percent of heart attack patients had both ideal LDL and HDL cholesterol levels, so there is room for improvement," said Fonarow.
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