A heart attack, or myocardial infarction, is a medical emergency that occurs when blood flow to the heart stops or becomes much lower than normal, often due to a blood clot. You may experience warning signs like chest pain, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, and pain spreading into the arm or jaw. Immediate medical attention can be lifesaving, and treatment typically involves medications and procedures to restore blood flow as well as cardiac rehabilitation to support recovery. Exercising more, quitting smoking, and eating healthy foods — along with regular follow-up appointments and sticking to your medication schedule — can reduce your risk of future heart attacks.
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FAQ
What are the early signs of a heart attack?
Early signs include chest pain or discomfort as well as discomfort in the arms, neck, back, stomach, or jaw. Breathlessness, a rapid or uneven heartbe at, fatigue, dizziness, and nausea can also suggest a heart attack. Women may have different symptoms.
How can I prevent a heart attack?
Maintain a healthy diet, exercise regularly, and manage smoking, stress, and body weight to reduce your heart attack risk. Controlling underlying health conditions that increase heart attack risk, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol, is also crucial.
What should I do if I think I'm having a heart attack?
Call emergency services immediately or have someone drive you to the hospital if you suspect a heart attack. If you have no other option, drive yourself. If a doctor recommends taking aspirin, do so, as this may help to prevent clotting.
What are the long-term effects of a heart attack?
Long-term effects can include other health problems, including atrial fibrillation, stroke, peripheral arterial disease, and kidney failure — as well as a significantly increased risk of future heart attacks.
What are the risk factors for a heart attack?
Risk factors for heart attack include advanced age, being male, and having a family history of heart disease. Smoking, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, a sedentary lifestyle, obesity, an unhealthy diet, and excessive alcohol consumption also contribute to heart attack risk.
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Chung Yoon, MD, is a noninvasive cardiologist with a passion for diagnosis, prevention, intervention, and treatment of a wide range of heart and cardiovascular disorders. He enjoys...
Anurag Sahu, MD, is the director of the adult congenital heart program at Inova Health System in Fairfax, Virginia. Previously, he was an associate professor of medicine as well as...
Michael Cutler, DO, PhD, is a cardiac electrophysiologist at Intermountain Heart Rhythm Specialists in Salt Lake City, Utah. His research interests include understanding the cellul...
Natalia Johnsen, MD, is a triple board-certified physician in internal medicine, lifestyle medicine, and obesity medicine, practicing as an internist and consultant at the Vancouve...
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